Harper Government Helps to Create Opportunities for Urban Aboriginal People in Clearwater British Columbia

Enabling Aboriginal people to take full advantage of the Canadian economy

CLEARWATER, BC, Feb. 20, 2015 /CNW/ - Cathy McLeod, Member of Parliament Kamloops-Thompson-Cariboo, 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 British Colombia.    

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.

McLeod congratulated the North Thompson Aboriginal Cultural Centre Society for receiving $120,000 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 Canada is supporting the North Thompson Aboriginal Cultural Centre Society so that they can offer programs that provide Aboriginal youth with valuable skills, training and experience in the local tourism industry, and in a culturally sensitive way. Our Government's Urban Aboriginal Strategy is about supporting the measures that help create jobs for Aboriginal people and encourage their participation in the economy for their benefit and for the communities in which they live."

Cathy McLeod
Member of Parliament for Kamloops‑Thompson‑Cariboo

"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 North Thompson Aboriginal Cultural Centre Society into the network of this service delivery under the Urban Aboriginal Strategy."

Nelson Mayer
President, National Association of Friendship Centres

"Our organization is dedicated to creating relationships and raising cultural awareness while building capacity among the local Aboriginal community. We are thrilled to be receiving this funding which will support Aboriginal youth and other community members to gain employment skills and work experience in the tourism, non-profit, and community service sectors. We will also be able to offer programs enabling Elders to mentor families and increase awareness of how Aboriginal identities, cultures and language can contribute to raising healthy children."

Cindy Wilgosh
Executive Director, North Thompson Aboriginal Cultural Centre Society

Related Products

News Release: Harper Government invests in Aboriginal People Living in Urban Centres 
Backgrounder: Urban Aboriginal Programming, Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development Canada 
Fact Sheet: The Improved Urban Aboriginal Strategy: Urban Partnerships and Community Capacity Support 
Frequently Asked Questions: The Improved Urban Aboriginal Strategy

Associated Links

Urban Aboriginal Peoples 
National Association of Friendship Centres 
North Thompson Aboriginal Cultural Centre Society

SOURCE Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development Canada

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; Cindy Wilgosh, Executive Director, North Thompson Aboriginal Cultural Centre Society, 250-674-3703; You can subscribe to receive our news releases and speeches via RSS feeds or e-mail. For more information or to subscribe, visit www.aandc.gc.ca/subscriptions.