Executive Council
May 19, 2015

The following statement was given today in the House of Assembly by the Honourable Keith Russell, Minister of Labrador and Aboriginal Affairs:

Aboriginal Affairs Working Group Works towards Stronger Aboriginal Communities

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to update this Honourable House on the Aboriginal Affairs Working Group meetings which I had the pleasure to attend in Yellowknife last week. Provincial and territorial ministers responsible for Aboriginal Affairs, along with leaders of national Aboriginal organizations gathered to work together to improve opportunities for First Nation, Inuit and Métis people throughout Canada.

At this meeting, Ministers of Aboriginal Affairs from across the country and leaders from the five national Aboriginal organizations engaged in discussions, heard from a number of informative presenters and endorsed recommendations on important issues such as education, economic development, housing, ending violence against Aboriginal women and girls, disaster mitigation and emergency management in Aboriginal communities.

Mr. Speaker, one of the key topics of our meeting was discussing the outcomes of the first National Roundtable on Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls which was held in Ottawa on February 27. Last week, all leaders in attendance called on the Federal Government to join in the development and implementation of a prevention and awareness campaign aimed at ending violence against Aboriginal women and girls. We also continue to call for a national inquiry into missing and murdered Aboriginal women and girls. Personally, I want to take this moment to acknowledge and remember Bernice Rich and Loretta Saunders as two of my reasons for supporting an inquiry.

The Provincial Government has worked hard to support an end to violence against Aboriginal women and children and we continue to provide support for violence prevention projects sponsored by Aboriginal governments and organizations through the Aboriginal Women's Violence Prevention Grants Program.

Mr. Speaker, the Aboriginal Affairs Working Group also discussed and acknowledged the barriers which Aboriginal women face in gender equality, education and workplace opportunities and the need to continue work for the development of a Socio-Economic Action Plan for Aboriginal Women. In addition, leaders considered work completed on the issue of Aboriginal children in care with a view to reducing the number of children in care and improving their outcomes.

In July, Premiers and National Aboriginal Organizations leaders will meet in Happy Valley-Goose Bay to discuss the recommendations from this Yellowknife meeting. I look forward to welcoming the leaders of our country to the Big Land and to showcase our famous Labrador hospitality.

Mr. Speaker, I believe it is important that all of us work together to further support and ensure a stronger future for Aboriginal communities across this province and country.

Thank you.

2015 05 19                              1:45 p.m.