Blackbear

FROM: CANADA NEWS WIRE - TELBEC WEBSITE

http://www.canadanewswire.ca/en/rele.../17/c0434.html

Attention News Editors:

Government acts on commitment to improve the lives of Aboriginal women


OTTAWA, May 17 /CNW Telbec/ - The Government of Canada takes an important
step in improving the lives of Aboriginal women by funding the work of the
Native Women's Association of Canada (NWAC) to address racialized and sexualized
violence(1).

Over a five-year period (2005-2010), the federal government will provide
$5 million to NWAC in response to its Sisters in Spirit proposal. These are
funds which were designated in the Government of Canada's February 2005 budget.
The funding will support NWAC's work with other Aboriginal women's
organizations and the federal government on activities aimed at ending racialized and
sexualized violence against Aboriginal women.

"Aboriginal women have clearly stated their concerns, and the Government
of Canada is responding," said the Honourable Liza Frulla, Minister of
Canadian Heritage and Minister responsible for the Status of Women. "We want Canada
to be a nation in which Aboriginal women are free from discrimination, fear and
violence. We must reduce their marginalization by addressing the root causes
that put them in danger."

The Government of Canada's response involves Status of Women Canada,
working in collaboration with Indian and Northern Affairs Canada to support NWAC
in its Sisters in Spirit initiative.

"Through its invaluable work, NWAC has contributed enormously to our
understanding of the extent and nature of violence against Aboriginal women,"
stated the Honourable Andy Scott, Minister of Indian Affairs and Northern
Development and Federal Interlocutor for Métis and Non-Status Indians. "Racism
and discrimination underpin the violence Aboriginal women of all backgrounds -
First Nations, Métis and Inuit women alike - face on a daily basis across this
land. The Sisters in Spirit initiative is helping to change that reality,
advancing the fundamental human rights of Aboriginal women."

Through the Sisters in Spirit initiative, the Native Women's Association
of Canada will work in collaboration with other Aboriginal women's
organizations and the federal government to improve the human rights of and
address the violence facing Aboriginal women in Canada. This will be done
through activities in various areas, including research, public education,
informing policy direction and development, and sustainability. This initiative will
result in our increased understanding of racialized and
sexualized violence against Aboriginal women, and will lead to the
development of enhanced policy and program options and recommendations.
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(1) Racialized and sexualized violence is violence perpetrated against
Aboriginal women because of their gender and Aboriginal identity.
This type of violence typically occurs in the public sphere, where
societal indifference often leaves Aboriginal women at greater risk.



For further information: Jean Philippe Côté, Director of Communications,
Office of the Minister of Canadian Heritage and Minister responsible for
Status of Women, (819) 997-7788; Nanci-Jean Waugh, Director of
Communications, Status of Women Canada, (613) 995-7839; Ce texte est également disponible en
français; This release is also available on our Web site:
http://www.swc-cfc.gc.ca

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