Government of Yukon
Archives
FOR RELEASE #08-185
July 25, 2008
Yukoners Attend National Aboriginal Women's Summit In Yellowknife
WHITEHORSE –Deputy Premier Elaine Taylor and several Yukon First Nation women will represent Yukon at the second annual National Aboriginal Women’s Summit (NAWS II).
Deputy Premier Taylor, on behalf of Minister Marian Horne of the Women’s Directorate, will co-lead the delegation with Chief Ruth Massie, Ta’an Kwach’an Council, and Chief Diane Strand, Champagne and Aishihik First Nations who will attend the summit in Yellowknife from July 29 to 31.
“The key objective for this year’s summit is to maintain the profile of the issues currently faced by Aboriginal women in Canada and to continue to move forward on the key recommendations developed at the first National Aboriginal Women’s Summit,” Horne said. “In Yukon, the Women’s Directorate, as well as the departments of Health and Social Services, Justice and Education, have been working to address many of the recommendations put forward by Yukon aboriginal women during the two Yukon aboriginal women’s summits held last fall.”
The theme for this year’s summit is Strong Women, Strong Communities and the summit will be co-chaired by Northwest Territories Premier Floyd Roland and Beverley Jacobs, President of the Native Women’s Association of Canada.
The summit will welcome 150 Aboriginal women from across Canada to discuss issues of importance to Aboriginal women and advance work aimed at improving social and economic conditions of Aboriginal women and their families.
Chief Diane Strand and Chief Ruth Massie will play a leadership role in highlighting the unique challenges and successes of Aboriginal women in Yukon.
“This summit is a great opportunity to highlight how self-government empowers all First Nations in advancing women’s issues,” Chief Strand said.
Final reports and recommendations from NAWS I are available at www.naws-sfna.ca.
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A list of Yukon delegates follows.
Contact:
| Matthew Grant Cabinet Communications 867-633-7961 matthew.grant@gov.yk.ca |
Brenda Barnes Communications, Women’s Directorate 867-667-8269 brenda.barnes@gov.yk.ca |
Government of Yukon Delegation
Minister Elaine Taylor (Acting for Minister Marian C. Horne)
Chief Ruth Massie, Ta’an Kwach’an Council
Chief Diane Strand, Champagne and Aishihik First Nations
Jacqueline Bazett, Ta’an Kwach’an Council member
Charlene Beauchemin, Acting Director, Women’s Directorate
Sheila Clark, Executive Assistant, Premier’s Office
Shirley Dawson, Kwanlin Dun First Nation member
Billie Maje (Youth), Ross River Dena Council member
Phyllis Smith (Elder), Champagne and Aishihik First Nations
Yukon representatives for National Aboriginal Organizations:
Rose Kushniruk, Native Women’s Association of Canada (Champagne and Aishihik First Nations member and Yukon Aboriginal Women’s Council President)
Adeline Webber, Assembly of First Nations Women’s Council (Teslin Tlingit Council member and Whitehorse Aboriginal Women’s Circle President)