Harper Government Helps to Create Opportunities for Urban Aboriginal People in Winnipeg

News Release

Enabling Aboriginal people to take full advantage of the Canadian economy

March 5, 2015 – Winnipeg, MB – Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development Canada

From left to right: Wayne Helgason, President at Center for Aboriginal Human Resource Development, Minister Shelly Glover, and Leslie Spillett, Executive Director of Ka Ni Kanichihk Inc.

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The Honourable Shelly Glover, Minister of Canadian Heritage and Official Languages and the Member of Parliament for Saint Boniface, on behalf of the Honourable Bernard Valcourt, Minister of Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development, today announced that the Government of Canada is helping increase jobs and opportunities for urban Aboriginal people living in Winnipeg.

Through the National Association of Friendship Centres, these strategic community investments are designed to enhance the participation of urban Aboriginal people in their local economies.

A number of organizations across Canada are receiving support for projects that aim to promote skills and training, entrepreneurship and supporting Aboriginal women, children and families.

Minister Glover congratulated the Centre for Aboriginal Human Resource Development Inc. and Ka Ni Kanichihk Inc. for receiving $120,000 each, which will help them build improved partnerships that understand the issues facing the local Aboriginal population while working to encourage growth in numbers of Aboriginal people in the workforce, and increase support for trained, skilled workers.

The improved Urban Aboriginal Strategy recognizes the important role urban Aboriginal organizations play, and further helps to promote community engagement, planning and partnerships with the goal of increasing the participation of urban Aboriginal people in the Canadian economy.

Quick facts

On February 6, 2014, the Government of Canada announced an improved Urban Aboriginal Strategy that supports urban Aboriginal programming through the new Community Capacity Support program. This program is delivered through the National Association of Friendship Centres.
These organizations were selected through an adjudicated call for proposals process that was administered by the National Association of Friendship Centres.
According to 2011 Census data, 56 per cent of all Aboriginal people in Canada live in urban areas.

Quotes

“I am proud that our Government is supporting both the Centre for Aboriginal Human Resource Development Inc. and Ka Ni Kanichihk Inc. Individually these organizations will be integral to understanding the barriers faced by the Winnipeg Aboriginal population when it comes to employment. Through educational programs and skills training, both organizations will ensure that participants are better prepared to participate fully in Canada’s growing economy. Our Government’s Urban Aboriginal Strategy is about supporting the measures that help create jobs for Aboriginal people for the benefit of all Canadians and for the communities in which they live.”
- Shelly Glover,
Minister of Canadian Heritage and Official Languages and Member of Parliament for Saint Boniface

“For over half a century Friendship Centres across Canada have been addressing the needs of urban Aboriginal people through our unique wrap-around service delivery model. We welcome the Centre for Aboriginal Human Resource Development Inc. and Ka Ni Kanichihk Inc. into the network of this service delivery under the Urban Aboriginal Strategy.”
- Nelson Mayer,
President, National Association of Friendship Centres

“We’re grateful for the funding that we’ve received from the National Association of Friendship Centres through the Community Capacity Support program. The funding is for our Holistic and Healthy Living Program that is essential to support the developmental services our students require to be successful in their education, training and employment.”
- Marileen Bartlett,
Executive Director, Centre for Aboriginal Human Resource Development Inc.

“Funding support from National Association of Friendship Centres (NAFC), Community Capacity Support (CCS) program has contributed significantly to ensuring that Ka Ni Kanichihk's core operations are both efficient and effective and delivering programs and services that are meeting their intended training and employment outcomes. This partnership with NACF also ensures that members of the Aboriginal community are receiving consistently high quality services. Ka Ni Kanichihk is appreciative of its partnership with NACF and the CCS funding opportunity.”
- Leslie Spillett,
Executive Director, Ka Ni Kanichihk Inc.

Associated links

Contacts

Emily Hillstrom
Press Secretary
Office of the Minister of Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development
819-997-0002

Media Relations
Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development Canada
819-953-1160

Alysha Akoodie
Communications and Social Media Officer
National Association of Friendship Centres
613-563-4844

Marileen Bartlett
Executive Director
Centre for Aboriginal Human Resource Development Inc.
204-989-7112

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Harper Government Helps to Create Opportunities for Urban Aboriginal People in Winnipeg

News Release

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