August 12, 2009
HALIFAX - The Honourable Helena Guergis, Minister of State (Status of Women), today announced support to the Mi'kmaq Native Friendship Society for a project that will provide programming for urban Aboriginal women and a focal point for the urban Aboriginal community to gather for community functions and events.
The project, Women Are the Medicine - WAM,will provide 24 Learning Circles, or workshops, to inform and empower urban and off-reserve Aboriginal women on issues such as family violence, relationship violence, pre-employability support, entrepreneurship, addictions, family health and self-reliance. The workshop materials and related resources will be developed with participants and then shared with four other Native Friendship Centres in the Atlantic region.
"Aboriginal women who leave their communities can experience difficulties when entering a new community. The Mi'kmaq Native Friendship Society is addressing those needs through community-based initiatives that support Aboriginal women living off-reserve and in urban settings," said the Honourable Peter MacKay, Minister of National Defence and Minister for the Atlantic Gateway and MP for Central Nova. "This project provides programming, activities and events that will help strengthen these women's sense of identity and provide a sense of community."
"Women Are the Medicine - WAM is creating vital connections with other key service organizations that support Aboriginal women and equip them to build their economic security," said Minister of State Guergis. "The Government of Canada supports projects like this because they yield concrete results for women and girls. This is particularly important in addressing the unique realities of Aboriginal women and girls. This project will ensure that culturally sensitive tools are used to help empower these women."
"There are few structured services to address the despair, abuse, addiction, poverty and hopelessness that Aboriginal women living off-reserve experience. There is a need to educate, empower and connect Aboriginal women to community," said Mr. Gordon King, Executive Director of the Mi'kmaq Native Friendship Society. "Our centre has the knowledge and capacity to achieve positive and lasting change for First Nations women. Thanks to the support of the Government of Canada, we are able to reach out to and empower them."
The Mi'kmaq Native Friendship Society will receive $208,000 over 24 months through the Women's Community Fund of Status of Women Canada. The objective of this Fund is to address the economic and social situation of women and their participation in democratic life through projects that directly support women in their communities.
Status of Women Canada is a federal government agency working to promote equality for women, and their full participation in the economic, social and democratic life of Canada.
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For more information, please contact:
Sherine Mansour
Director of Communications
Office of the Minister of State (Status of Women)
819-956-4000
Nanci-Jean Waugh
Director General, Communications and Strategic Planning
Status of Women Canada
613-995-7839
