Government of Yukon
Archives
FOR RELEASE #07-120
June 13, 2007
Yukoners Attend Aboriginal Women's Summit In Cornerbook
WHITEHORSE - Six Yukon First Nation women will accompany Women's Directorate Minister Elaine Taylor and Justice Minister Marian C. Horne to the Aboriginal Women's Summit in Cornerbrook, Newfoundland and Labrador from June 20 to 22.
The National Aboriginal Women's Summit will be hosted by the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador, the Native Women's Association of Canada and the Government of Canada. The theme is "Strong Women, Strong Communities".
"The summit builds on the work of the 2006 Policy Forum on Aboriginal Women and Violence," Taylor said. "As a northern minister, I want to bring forward issues that are unique to us, such as federal funding of Aboriginal women's shelters that is limited to "on reserve" only. In the North, "on reserve" has next to no application and excludes northern Aboriginal women, who are in greatest danger from family violence, from accessing much needed funding."
The summit will focus on topics of importance to Aboriginal women: Health, Safety and Wellness; Equality and Empowerment; and Strength, Balance and Honour. It will bring together 155 Aboriginal women from across the country representing various Aboriginal organizations. Joining them will be several premiers; federal, provincial and territorial Status of Women and Aboriginal Affairs ministers; and support staff.
"Northern Aboriginal women will be able to highlight the needs and concerns of the North," Horne said. "The summit is timely, especially in light of the recently released A Northern Vision: A Stronger North and a Better Canada, which emphasizes the need to build a North where self-reliant individuals live in healthy, viable communities."
The six First Nation women in the Yukon delegation are:
• Jessie Stephen - White River First Nation member
• Maria Benoit - Carcross/Tagish First Nation member
• Lucy Jackson - Teslin Tlingit Council member
• Shirlee Frost - Vuntut Gwitchin First Nation member
• Michelle Telep - Ta’an Kwäch’än Council member
• Barb Hume - Champagne and Aishihik First Nations member
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Attachment: List of Yukon delegates
| Contact: | |
| Roxanne Vallevand Cabinet Communications 867-633-7949 roxanne.vallevand@gov.yk.ca |
Marcelle Dubé Communications, Women's Directorate 867-667-8269 marcelle.dube@gov.yk.ca |
Attachment: List of Yukon delegation
1. Women's Directorate Minister Elaine Taylor
2. Justice Minister Marian C. Horne
3. Women's Directorate Director Jennifer England
4. Women's Directorate First Nation Liaison Coordinator Kelli Taylor
5. Carcross/Tagish First Nation member Maria Benoit
6. Vuntut Gwitchin First Nation member Shirlee Frost
7. Champagne and Aishihik First Nations member Barb Hume
8. Teslin Tlingit Council member Lucy Jackson
9. White River First Nation member Jessie Stephen
10. Ta'an Kwäch'än Council member Michelle Telep
Other Yukon representatives are:
• Kwänlin Dun First Nation and Yukon Aboriginal Women's Council member Jessie Dawson, who is supported through Native Women's Association Canada.
• Whitehorse Aboriginal Women's Council President Adeline Webber, who is supported through the Association of Friendship Centres.
Note to Editor:
Ministers Taylor and Horne will be inviting Yukon media to participate in a teleconference the last day of the summit on June 22.