MNC Moves Forward with Aboriginal Affairs Working Group

May 13, 2014

Fresh from his re-election as MNC President on May 9, President Chartier reminded the Ministers from the five westernmost provinces that federal Aboriginal Affairs Valcourt, at the previous AAWG session in November 2013, said he would be inviting them and Métis Nation Leaders to a Métis Economic Development Symposium (MEDS) III to review a report and recommendations on the development of a long-term Métis Economic Development Strategy. He informed the AAWG that the recent MNC General Assembly unanimously adopted a resolution in support of MEDS III and the Métis economic development strategy. Premier Selinger of Manitoba endorsed Chartier’s call for the five provinces to get ready for MEDS III and said that Manitoba was fully behind the development of a long term Métis economic development strategy.

Women of the Métis Nation President Melanie Omeniho pressed the concerns of the Métis Nation in action plans being discussed by the Provinces and National Aboriginal Organizations to address violence against Aboriginal women. She also represents the MNC on the AAWG housing working group and advised the conference that the MNC was developing a housing strategy that would be integrated into the long term Métis economic development strategy being considered under the MEDS process.

Provincial ministers and National Aboriginal Leaders led by President Chartier also discussed the need for a new working group on child welfare to deal with the “sixties scoop” of Aboriginal children, as well as current issues facing Aboriginal children and families. President Chartier advised that the MNC would be sharing its Blueprint for the Wellbeing of the Métis Child that had been adopted by the MNC General Assembly in 2013.

Click here to view the AAWG Press Release

CBC news on AAWG Working Group Meeting
http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/manitoba/aboriginal-leaders-ministers-talk-housing-at-winnipeg-meeting-1.2641825

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