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Labrador and Aboriginal Affairs
March 25, 2010

The following statement was given today in the House of Assembly by the Honourable Patty Pottle, Minister of Aboriginal Affairs:

Aboriginal Women Explore Resource Sector Opportunities

I rise today to inform honourable members of the fifth annual two-day Aboriginal Women's Conference which took place this week in St. John's. This year's theme, the Path to the Good Life - Evolving Opportunities for Aboriginal Women, focuses on growing opportunities in our expanding natural resources sector.

In a keynote address to the conference Tuesday evening, my Cabinet colleague, the Honourable Kathy Dunderdale, Minister of Natural Resources and Minister Responsible for the Status of Women, pointed out how the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador, along with the Federal Government, Nunatsiavut Government, the Innu Nation, the Labrador Metis Nation, and Nalcor Energy, recently announced a $30 million training initiative for Aboriginal women and men throughout Labrador.

By providing training opportunities and improving the labour market for Aboriginal people, we are not only increasing our skilled workforce, we are helping to enrich and improve the lives of many families, which will in turn improve the economic and social make-up of communities.

I was very pleased to have the opportunity to address the conference during a breakfast gathering on Wednesday, where I was joined by my Cabinet colleague, the Honourable John Hickey, Minister of Labrador Affairs.

These women always go out of their way to make me feel welcome, like family. I pointed out that the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador is a proud supporter of Aboriginal women and continues to invest in areas that are important to themselves and their communities.

As well, I had the great pleasure of taking part in a tribute to the late Flossie Oliver, an elder from Happy Valley-Goose Bay. She was known simply as Aunt Flossie, and was indeed a strong force in her community. I understand she provided much guidance to her family, her community, and to other Aboriginal women.

It was a great honour to join her family, her daughter Jenny, and her son Valance, who works in our Labrador Affairs offices, and take part in a moving dedication to her. She will be a hard act to follow.

Aboriginal women are the keepers of culture and traditions and they are a great source of strength in their communities. And like all women, they can be a profound force for positive social change. That is why the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador is so pleased to lend its support to this conference, which provides an opportunity for Aboriginal women from all over the province to gather, exchange ideas and viewpoints, and give inspiration and support to each other.

2010 03 25                                                 1:55 p.m.


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