10 December 2010
St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador
GOVERNMENT OF CANADA INVESTMENT SUPPORTS ESTABLISHMENT OF FIRST NATIONS TRUST
Conne River, NL (December 10, 2010) –The Honourable Keith Ashfield, Minister of National Revenue, Minister of the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency (ACOA) and Minister for the Atlantic Gateway,today announced an investment of $75,000 to assist the Miawpukek Band Government implement the business and revenue development strategy for the First Nations Trust.
"Our government's assistance will help the Miawpukek Band Government establish a trust whose objective is to support strategic economic development for the community," said Minister Ashfield."
Specifically, the funding will enable the trust to engage expert advice to refine and help implement a revenue development strategy, develop a marketing and publicity campaign and assist the trust in gaining charitable status.
The First Nation's Trust of Newfoundland and Labrador was established by the Miawpukek First Nation to foster and promote, through education, the preservation and growth of the culture, language, history, beliefs and spirituality of the Mi'kmaq people of Newfoundland and Labrador.A three-member board of directors will oversee the operation of the First Nations Trust.The board includes Saqamaw M'isel Joe as Chair, Tammy Drew as Secretary/Treasurerand Phillip Jeddore as Director.A volunteer advisory board will provide additional direction and support.
"We recognize that the First Nations Trust will require time to build its profile among the corporate and philanthropic communities and establish sustaining revenues," said Saqamaw M'isel Joe."We will use the First Nations Trust to help us leverage partnerships with public and private enterprise.In addition, we plan to leverage further funding from provincial and federal government sources to support the community's future cultural development. The Miawpukek First Nation is contributing $58,000 to this initiative through an in-kind salary position of $26,000 and a cash investment of $32,000."
The Miawpukek First Nation has been working diligently to recover the cultural, linguistic and spiritual traditions of the Newfoundland Mi'kmaq, and the First Nations Trust will provide a funding vehicle that will assist in these efforts.
This initiative is being funded under ACOA's Business Development Program.
FOR BROADCAST USE:
ACOA Minister Keith Ashfield today announced an investment of $75,000 to assist the Miawpukek Band Government implement a business and revenue development strategy for the First Nations Trust.
The Trust will engage expert advice to assist in establishing an office; as well as the development of a marketing and publicity campaign and the development of a website.
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Doug Burgess
Director, Public Affairs
Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency
709-772-2935
Tammy Drew
Secretary-Treasurer
First Nations Trust
Conne River, NL
709-882-2470
