Executive Council
August 19, 2014
Strengthening Relationships with Aboriginal People
Premier Announces New Initiatives to Support Awareness of Aboriginal Culture and Public Service Representation
The Honourable Tom Marshall, Premier of Newfoundland and Labrador, today announced several new initiatives to support building Aboriginal capacity and expertise within government.
“We appreciate that Aboriginal cultures in this province are rich and vibrant, and the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador is committed to creating a diverse workforce to help ensure Aboriginal perspectives are respectfully represented and considered. By implementing these new initiatives, we are also committing to building a more effective, collaborative and respectful relationship with Aboriginal governments and organizations.”
- The Honourable Tom Marshall, Premier of Newfoundland and Labrador
The Provincial Government will build Aboriginal capacity and expertise through three initiatives:
- The development of a Land Claims and Self-Government Agreements Implementation Policy;
- The development and implementation of an Aboriginal Human Resource Strategy; and
- A review of Aboriginal content and delivery in provincial school curriculum.
This work will be supported by the creation of a new Aboriginal Liaison position within the Labrador and Aboriginal Affairs Office. Further information about these initiatives is provided in the backgrounder below.
“Aboriginal cultures are unique with varying social, historical, cultural and economic factors which require special consideration in order to meet the specific needs of Aboriginal people. The Provincial Government’s commitment to building Aboriginal capacity and expertise will positively impact service delivery and policy development and will contribute to the province’s continued collaboration and strong relationships with Aboriginal people.”
- The Honourable Nick McGrath, Minister Responsible for Labrador and Aboriginal Affairs
Through the negotiation and implementation of land claims, self-government and other agreements, the Provincial Government is facilitating the greater autonomy of Aboriginal people. The Provincial Government is also continually seeking to adapt its programs and services in a manner that respects and promotes Aboriginal cultures and identities.
QUICK FACTS
- Premier Tom Marshall today announced three new initiatives to support building Aboriginal capacity and expertise in the public sector.
- Priority areas are the development of a Land Claims and Self-Governance Agreements Implementation Policy, development and implementation of an Aboriginal Human Resources Development Strategy and a review of Aboriginal content and delivery in provincial school curriculum.
- This announcement also includes the creation of a new Aboriginal Liaison position within the Labrador and Aboriginal Affairs Office.
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Media contacts:
| Milly Brown Director of Communications Office of the Premier 709-729-3570 millybrown@gov.nl.ca |
Kevin Guest Press Secretary Office of the Premier 709-729-4304, 730-2320 kevinjguest@gov.nl.ca |
|
Scott Barfoot Director of Communications Department of Transportation and Works 709-729-3015 scottbarfoot@gov.nl.ca |
BACKGROUNDER
New Initiatives to Support Aboriginal Capacity and Expertise
Within the Provincial Government
The Provincial Government recognizes that in order to be more effective in improving Aboriginal relationships and addressing Aboriginal issues, it must build upon its Aboriginal expertise and capacity. Aboriginal expertise and capacity involves awareness and understanding of the province’s Aboriginal people and their unique histories, demographics, circumstances, and needs, as well as the need to be cognizant of that in service delivery and policy and program development. To that end, the Provincial Government has identified three new Aboriginal initiatives:
- Development of a Land Claims and Self-Government Agreements Implementation Policy
This new policy will detail a collaborative and coordinated government-wide approach to the implementation of land claims and self-government agreements, including the Labrador Inuit Land Claims Agreement (LILCA), and any future land claims and/or self-government agreements. The policy will define, among other matters, the role of Provincial Government departments in the implementation of these agreements, including the coordination and oversight role of the Labrador and Aboriginal Affairs Office. It will further define the responsibility of departments to designate individuals to be responsible for implementation of their respective department’s obligations, and the expectation of departments to report on the status of the implementation of their obligations. - Implementation of an Aboriginal Human Resources Development Strategy
The Provincial Government will conduct a Count Yourself In survey to determine how many of its employees self-identify as Aboriginal, and establish benchmarks to determine where within the Provincial Government Aboriginal capacity and expertise is required. Opportunities to enhance Aboriginal knowledge and capacity of all current employees will include e-learning modules, information sessions and workshops. The Provincial Government will also explore targeted hiring practices. - Review of Aboriginal Content and Delivery in Provincial School Curriculum
Consistent with the 2011 Blue Book commitment to “take additional steps to reflect the province’s Aboriginal heritage in K-12 curriculum”, the Provincial Government will review public school curriculum and delivery to ensure its relevancy, consistency and effectiveness. This will include the continued development of culturally appropriate resource materials, in partnership with Aboriginal groups, and professional learning opportunities for teachers.
2014 08 19 3:55 p.m.