Harper Government Helps to Create Opportunities for Urban Aboriginal People in the Northwest Territories

Enabling Aboriginal people to take full advantage of the Canadian economy

OTTAWA, April 7, 2015 /CNW/ - The Honourable Bernard Valcourt, Minister of Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development, in partnership with the National Association of Friendship Centres, today announced support for seven organizations in the Northwest Territories (NWT) through the Urban Partnerships program.

Through the National Association of Friendship Centres, the Government of Canada is making strategic community investments 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 Valcourt congratulated the NWT organizations' efforts to target over $800,000 in funding. This funding will help the organizations improve partnerships that address the issues facing urban Aboriginal populations, while working to encourage growth in the number of Aboriginal people in the workforce and increase the number of trained, skilled urban Aboriginal people.

The improved Urban Aboriginal Strategy results in more funding being available to support community organizations and projects. This new approach 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

• Through the National Association of Friendship Centres' portion of the Urban Partnerships program, seven organizations in the NWT will receive over $800,000 in funding to deliver initiatives that increase the participation of urban Aboriginal people in the economy.
• These organizations were selected through an adjudicated call for proposals process that was administered by the NT NU Host Agency (Tree of Peace Friendship Centre).
• According to 2011 Census data, 56 per cent of all Aboriginal people in Canada live in urban areas.
• Cities with the largest Aboriginal populations were Winnipeg (78,420), Edmonton (61,765), Vancouver (52,375), Toronto (36,995), Calgary (33,370), Ottawa-Gatineau (30,570), Montreal (26,280), Saskatoon (23,895), and Regina (19,785).

Quotes

"Our Government is delivering results for Canadians and supporting measures that will help create jobs and opportunities for urban Aboriginal people. Aboriginal participation in the economy is key to a more prosperous and vibrant Canada. Congratulations to the seven organizations in the Northwest Territories that received funding."
Bernard Valcourt
Minister of Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development

"This announcement is the result of our renewed partnership with the Government of Canada. For over half a century, Friendship Centres have been addressing the needs of urban Aboriginal people through our unique wrap-around service delivery model and we welcome these organizations into the network of service delivery under the Urban Aboriginal Strategy."
Nelson Mayer
President, National Association of Friendship Centres

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Fact Sheet: The Improved Urban Aboriginal Strategy: Urban Partnerships and Community Capacity Support
Frequently Asked Questions: The Improved Urban Aboriginal Strategy
Urban Partnerships program
Fact Sheet - 2011 National Household Survey Aboriginal Demographics, Educational Attainment and Labour Market Outcomes

Associated Links

Urban Partnerships program
Urban Aboriginal Peoples
National Association of Friendship Centres – For more information on organizations being funded
Tree of Peace Friendship Centre

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SOURCE Government of 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