Enabling Aboriginal people to take full advantage of the Canadian economy
OTTAWA, March 13, 2015 /CNW/ - Bernard Valcourt, Minister of Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development, in partnership with the National Association of Friendship Centres, today announced support for the Skookum Jim Friendship Centre in their work to address barriers urban Aboriginal youth face so they can fully participate in the local economy.
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 and entrepreneurship, and that support Aboriginal women, children and families.
Minister Valcourt congratulates the organization's efforts to target $60,000 in funding. This funding will help the organization improve partnerships that take into account the issues facing urban Aboriginal populations, while working to encourage growth in numbers of Aboriginal people in the workforce and increase the number of trained, skilled urban Aboriginal people.
The improved Urban Aboriginal Strategy results in more dollars 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 Urban Partnerships program, Skookum Jim Friendship Centre will receive $60,000 in funding as part of our Government's improved Urban Aboriginal Strategy.
- These organizations were selected through an adjudicated call for proposals process that was administered by the British Columbia Association of Aboriginal Friendship Centres.
- This funding will help them build improved partnerships to address the issues facing urban Aboriginal populations while working to encourage growth in numbers of Aboriginal people in the workforce, and increase support for trained, skilled workers.
- 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 Yukoners and supporting measures, like the programs delivered through the Skookum Jim Friendship Centre, that will help create jobs and opportunities for our First Nations people. First Nation participation in the economy is key to a more prosperous and vibrant Yukon."
Ryan Leef
Member of Parliament for Yukon
"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 are pleased the Skookum Jim Friendship Centre is expanding its service delivery under the Urban Aboriginal Strategy."
Nelson Mayer
President, National Association of Friendship Centres
"Skookum Jim Friendship Centre is known for its long-standing commitment to urban Aboriginal people in the Yukon. We are pleased the Centre's work in promoting and presenting unique opportunities for Aboriginal youth is continued through the Urban Partnerships Program."
Paul Lacerte
Executive Director, British Columbia Association of Aboriginal Friendship Centres
"The Skookum Jim Friendship Centre is committed to developing a framework that supports urban Aboriginal youth in meaningful, long-term engagement with the labour market. The funding that the Friendship Centre has received through the Urban Partnership program is helping foster this commitment through the creation of an arts intensive project aimed at reducing individual and societal barriers to employment, generating increased confidence in skills and abilities, and developing workforce attachments through social enterprise opportunities. The project is titled Splintered Craft, and the Friendship Centre encourages people to drop in and see for themselves the impact of such a space."
Marney Paradis
Executive Director, Skookum Jim Friendship Centre
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
Fact Sheet - 2011 National Household Survey Aboriginal Demographics, Educational Attainment and Labour Market Outcomes
Associated Links
Urban Partnerships
Urban Aboriginal Peoples
National Association of Friendship Centres
Skookum Jim Friendship Centre
BC Association of Aboriginal Friendship Centres
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; 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.
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