Working Together to Increase the Participation of Urban Aboriginal People in Atlantic Canada

HALIFAX, NS, Jan. 19, 2015 /CNW/ - The Honourable Peter MacKay, Minister of Justice, Attorney General of Canada and Regional Minister for Nova Scotia on behalf of the Honourable Bernard Valcourt, Minister of Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development, today announced support to the Mi'kmaw Native Friendship Society to help increase the participation of urban Aboriginal people living in Atlantic Canada to take advantage of the local economy.

With support from the Harper Government, the Mi'kmaw Native Friendship Society will develop community strategic plans to better address barriers to employment for urban Aboriginal people living in Atlantic Canada. They will work in collaboration with Friendship Centres, Congress of Aboriginal Peoples regional affiliates and key stakeholders in five key urban centres in Atlantic Canada (Halifax, Fredericton, Charlottetown, St John's, and Happy Valley-Goose Bay). The community plans will form the basis of the Atlantic Urban Aboriginal Strategy plan. Both the regional and community strategic plans will ensure a coordinated and focussed effort in support of urban Aboriginal peoples across the province in acquiring the necessary skills for employment.

Funding is provided as part of the Government of Canada's Urban Aboriginal Strategy aimed at increasing the participation of urban Aboriginal people in Canada's economy by developing partnerships and supporting initiatives in communities across the country.

Quick Facts

• The Mi'kmaw Native Friendship Society is receiving $77,055 in support from the Urban Partnerships program from Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development Canada's improved Urban Aboriginal Strategy.
• The mission of the Mi'kmaw Native Friendship Society is to provide structured, social-based programming for Urban Aboriginal People while serving as a focal point for the urban aboriginal community to gather for a variety of community functions and events.
• The Mi'kmaw Native Friendship Society is an incorporated, non-profit Aboriginal organization that currently operates nine core programs for Aboriginal people living in or relocating to Halifax, Nova Scotia.
• 56% of all Aboriginal people in Canada live in urban areas.

Quotes

"Our Government is proud to provide funding to the Mi'kmaw Native Friendship Society. Supporting measures that help create jobs and encourage Aboriginal participation in the economy is key to a more prosperous and vibrant Canada."

Bernard Valcourt
Minister of Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development

"Through this Mi'kmaw Native Friendship Society initiative, urban Aboriginal people in Atlantic Canada will benefit from economic opportunities provided by large urban centres. It is our Government's priority to provide jobs, growth and economic prosperity for all Canadians."

Peter MacKay
Minister of Justice, Attorney General of Canada and Regional Minister for Nova Scotia

"We welcome the opportunity to collaborate with all stakeholders to assist the urban aboriginal population to identify barriers to employment; this will assist them to seize opportunities to participate fully in the Canadian economy."

Pam Glode-Desrochers
Executive Director, Mi'kmaw Native Friendship 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 Supports
Frequently Asked Questions: The Improved Urban Aboriginal Strategy

Additional links

Mi'kmaw Native Friendship Centre
Urban Aboriginal Peoples
National Association of Friendship Centres

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; 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.