STEPHENVILLE, NL - Aboriginal women on the island portion of Newfoundland and Labrador will have the opportunity to develop their community leadership skills, thanks to an investment by the Government of Canada.
Senator Ethel Cochrane, on behalf of the Honourable Josée Verner, Minister of Canadian Heritage, Status of Women and Official Languages, and representing the Honourable Loyola Hearn, Minister of Fisheries and Oceans and Minister Responsible for Newfoundland and Labrador, today announced funding to the Newfoundland Aboriginal Women's Network for their project, Aboriginal Women on the Verge of Rising (Kiskat-pukuwit): Breaking Barriers, Building Strong Minds.
Funding for the project in the amount of $156,507 was approved under the Women's Community Fund of the Women's Program of Status of Women Canada. This Fund supports eligible organizations in carrying out projects at the local, regional and national level. To qualify, the initiatives must work toward the equality and full participation of women in the economic, social and democratic life of Canada.
"This is a wonderful opportunity for the Government of Canada to support Aboriginal women as leaders in their communities," stated Minister Verner. "By funding the work of the Newfoundland Aboriginal Women's Network, an organization that promotes Aboriginal women's health and their social, economic, cultural and political well-being, our Government is helping to create lasting change. We are making an impact at the grass-roots level, particularly on the lives of Aboriginal women and girls."
"This exciting new project, which will take participants through cultural rediscovery and self-awareness to leadership authority, will help to ensure that Aboriginal women have the tools they need to become leaders and decision-makers," said Senator Cochrane.
"By training Aboriginal girls and women to become leaders, we are demonstrating our support for Aboriginal communities and our respect for their capacity to address their own challenges," said Minister Hearn.
Aboriginal Women on the Verge of Rising (Kiskat-pukuwit): Breaking Barriers, Building Strong Minds is a 14-month multi-phase project that will apply a cultural foundation to the design of a program to train Aboriginal women as community leaders. Through the project, the Newfoundland Aboriginal Women's Network will develop a community action plan that will serve as a guide to Aboriginal women throughout the various stages of leadership development and empowerment.
"We are pleased to have the support of the Government of Canada in this ambitious new project, which seeks to produce powerful, educated women ready to make positive change in 26 Newfoundland communities," said Ms. Sheila Robinson, President of the Newfoundland Aboriginal Women's Network.
As announced in Budget 2008, the Government of Canada will develop an Action Plan to advance equality for women by improving their economic and social conditions, and their participation in the democratic life of the country.
Status of Women Canada is a federal government agency working to promote the full participation of women in the economic, social and democratic life of Canada.
For more information on Status of Women Canada, visit http://www.swc-cfc.gc.ca/.
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For more information, please contact:
Dominic Gosselin
Press Secretary
Office of the Minister of Canadian Heritage, Status of Women and Official Languages
819-997-7788
Nanci-Jean Waugh
Director General, Communications and Strategic Planning
Status of Women Canada
613-995-7839
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