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From CBC News ...

Western premiers to tackle aboriginal 'third solitude' - Must close gaps between aboriginal Canadians and rest of country, leaders say
July 5, 2007

Leaders attending the western premiers conference in Iqaluit on Thursday and Friday say they plan to focus on ways to improve the lives of Canada's aboriginal people.

Canada, which has long focused on the "two solitudes" between its English and French populations, must now address a "third solitude" between aboriginal Canadians and the rest of the country, British Columbia Premier Gordon Campbell said.

"There are enormous gaps in health care and education and economic opportunity and in social opportunities for aboriginal Canadians, whether they're Inuit, First Nations or Métis people," Campbell said as the premiers gathered on Wednesday.

The conference, which runs through Friday, has brought premiers from western provinces and the three northern territories together — for the first time, in Nunavut — to talk over a variety of issues before all premiers meet in Moncton, N.B., in August for the Council of the Federation's summer meeting.

Manitoba Premier Gary Doer said many of the western premiers have stayed committed to the principles behind the Kelowna Accord, an agreement that then-prime minister Paul Martin's Liberal government worked out with aboriginal leaders in 2005.

It would have dedicated $5 billion over five years to improve areas such as education and housing.

Prime Minister Stephen Harper backed away from the Kelowna agreement after being elected in early 2006, instead committing $450 million for aboriginals in that year's budget.

Doer said Canada must still develop a firm commitment to closing the gap in living standards between aboriginal people and other Canadians.

"The issues of treaty land entitlements and resolving outstanding treaty issues are important to all of us," Doer said.

"We've all been very committed in the past to the objectives, especially in the Kelowna Accord, and how do we move forward on that issue."

Doer said premiers attending this week's gathering want to develop concrete ideas on the issue, then bring them to their meeting with the other premiers next month.

From Calgary Sun ... http://calsun.canoe.ca/News/National/2007/07/05/4314396-sun.html

New approach to Native development urged
DAVE DORMER, SUN MEDIA - July 5, 2007

Osoyoos Indian Band Chief Clarence Louie wants to help his people help themselves.

Louie, the newly appointed National Aboriginal Economic Development Board (NAEDB) chairman, met for the first time with Indian Affairs and Northern Development Minister Jim Prentice in Calgary yesterday, where he encouraged the federal government to focus more on creating economic development for Native people rather than having them rely on existing social programs.

Doing that, he explained, could reverse the troubling trend of poverty and despair he sees plaguing many First Nations, Inuit and Metis communities across Canada and provide them with a positive outlook on the future.

"When it comes to reducing Aboriginal poverty, it's not going to happen in a year or two, but you will see the direction," Louie said during a news conference to announce the new strategy.

"You'll be able to see the programs and the effect they are having."

Mandated by the federal cabinet, the 13 NAEDB members were chosen from First Nation, Inuit and Metis populations from across the country, not so much based on their race, but rather their individual expertise, explained Prentice.

"From everything I hear across the country there's a strong consensus amongst Aboriginal people that the time has come for a whole level of economic development and a whole new approach to economic development on a larger scale than we've seen in the past and in a way that is focused and leveraged," he said.

The NAEDB will serve as an non-political body, advising the federal government on how best to deal with various Aboriginal issues.

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INAC press release ...

National Aboriginal Economic Development Board to Play Strengthened Role in Advising Canada's new Government

CALGARY, AB, July 4 - Today, the Honourable Jim Prentice, Minister of Indian Affairs and Northern Development and Federal Interlocutor for Métis and Non-Status Indians met for the first time with the National Aboriginal Economic Development Board (NAEDB) executive members to discuss how the board can play a stronger role in the Government of Canada's new approach to Aboriginal economic development.

Minister Prentice named the new members and chairperson of the National Aboriginal Economic Development Board on April 26, 2007.

"Canada's New Government is working to create a more coherent and practical approach to increasing Aboriginal participation in the economy, capitalizing on a range of economic opportunities," said Minister Prentice. "As an arms-length, private-sector body representing the economic development interests of all Aboriginal people, the NAEDB is well positioned to play a key role as this work unfolds."

Chief Clarence Louie, the board's newly appointed Chairperson, welcomed the commitment made by Minister Prentice. Chief Louie is President and CEO of the Osoyoos Indian Band Development Corporation in British Columbia.

"No other body in Canada has the mandate we have to concentrate exclusively on Aboriginal economic development," said Chief Louie. "This is a critical priority if we want to solve a host of other issues for our people. Economic development is the cornerstone.

While the scope of the new approach is still in development, the board will provide advice on areas such as investment strategies, business creation, access to business capital, Aboriginal involvement in major projects, Aboriginal/non-Aboriginal partnerships, as well as policy development.

Other participants in the meeting were Nellie Cournoyea, former Premier of the Northwest Territories and Dawn Madahbee, Northern Ontario Aboriginal business leader involved in Aboriginal business financing and the tourism sector. Along with Chief Louie and Chief Jim Boucher, Chairman of the Board of the Fort McKay Group of Companies in Alberta, these nationally and internationally recognized individuals now serve as the Executive Committee of the NAEDB.

The National Aboriginal Economic Development Board is mandated by the federal Cabinet and members are appointed by Order-in-Council. The Board acts as a vital link between policy makers, legislators, government departments, and Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal business and community leaders, providing counsel on all matters pertaining to Aboriginal economic development.

For further information: media may contact: Minister's Office: Deirdra McCracken, Press Secretary, Office of the Honourable Jim Prentice, (819) 997-0002; Media Relations: Indian and Northern Affairs Canada, (819) 953-1160; This release is also available on the Internet at www.inac.gc.ca; For more information about the NAEDB, visit www.naedb-cndea.ca

July 5, 2007

Chiefs of Ontario Community Support Services is pleased to announce a Northern First Nations Training session on Palliative Care

July 24 – 26, 2007 at McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario.

Objectives of the program:

1. To familiarize the learner with traditional healing approaches to spirituality and end of life care
2. To expand knowledge about the dying process, pain and symptom management, psychosocial issues, ethical decision making at end of life
3. To understand and learn practical approaches to grief and bereavement care
4. To enhance communication skills for working with dying persons and their families and care providers
5. To provide a forum for community support services personnel from various First Nations communities in Ontario to learn together and share ideas.

For further information, please contact:

Donna Loft at (613) 396-1140 lofi@kos.net. OR
Carol Antone at 1-877-517-6527 health@coo.org

PARO Centre for Women's Enterprise, Canadian Women’s Community Economic Development Council, the North of Superior Training Board, as well as the Community Economic and Social Development Program of Algoma University are working together to plan a Women's Economic Development Conference to be held in Thunder Bay on April 29 and 30, 2008. 

This project will positively contribute to building sustainable community economic development in Northern Ontario through providing information and resources while building on women’s experience.  

Your completion of this survey will help us meet these goals and will assist us in delivering a conference that will meet your needs.  

http://www.surveymonkey.com/s.aspx?sm=TMlbj1ZbwYj5T4gWZFL0wg_3d_3d

Thank you very much for your assistance.

Kind regards,

Pamela Caland
Project Coordinator - Northern Opportunities for Women
PARO Centre for Women's Enterprise / PARO Centre pour l'enterprise des femmes
110-105 North May Street
Thunder Bay, ON  P7C 3N9
807.625.0328 (voice)
807.625.0317 (fax)
now@paro.ca
www.paro.ca