The purpose of this notice is to invite representatives from your organization to a meeting on the Greater Vancouver Urban Aboriginal Strategy (GVUAS). The meeting will take place from 12:30 to 4:30pm at the Vancouver Aboriginal Friendship Centre on Friday, August 24. The Friendship Centre is located at 1607 E. Hastings Street.
The purpose of the meeting is to provide organizations which have a mandate related to improving Life Skills of Urban Aboriginal people with an update on the refocused Urban Aboriginal Strategy, announced by the Government of Canada on May 11, 2007. The meeting will also provide an opportunity for organizations to provide feedback to the GVUAS on how it should move forward with the program’s 5 year mandate.
If you are not able to attend this meeting, there will be at least one further GVUAS Stakeholder Roundtable. That meeting will be for organizations with a mandate related to improving the lives of Aboriginal Women, Children and Families. If you are not able to attend either of these meetings, but would still like to provide recommendations to the GVUAS, please find attached a feedback form which you can fill out and return to me. The form will also be available at the meeting.
Please let me know if you are able to attend on the 24th, or if you feel you would be better suited for the next Roundtable. To confirm your attendance, please contact Lori Dagg at daggl@inac.gc.ca or (604) 775-7117.
More information on the UAS can be found below, and on the Office of the Federal Interlocutor’s website, www.ainc-inac.gc.ca/interloc/index-eng.asp.
Best Regards,
Greg Eidsness
Vancouver City Coordinator – Urban Aboriginal Strategy BC Office of the Federal Interlocutor for Metis and Non-Status Indians 7th floor – 1138 Melville Street Vancouver, BC V6E 4S3
Phone: 604-775-6342
Fax: 604-775-7179
Email: eidsnessg@inac.gc.ca
www.ainc-inac.gc.ca/interloc/index-eng.asp
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Background
On May 11, 2007 the Honourable Jim Prentice, Minister of Indian Affairs and Northern Development and Federal Interlocutor for Métis and Non-Status Indians, announced a refocused Urban Aboriginal Strategy (UAS) that concentrates on job training and entrepreneurship for Aboriginal people living in urban areas. Through the UAS, the Government seeks to improve opportunity for all Canadians, including Aboriginal peoples in its quest to promote a more productive Canadian economy. The Government of Canada has committed $68.5 million over the next five years to the UAS.
The Government of Canada has made a long term commitment to addressing urban Aboriginal issues by renewing the Urban Aboriginal Strategy for five years – April 1, 2007 – March 31, 2012. With the UAS renewal, the Government of Canada is hoping to maintain existing partnerships, strengthen new partnerships and achieve measurable outcomes. This long term commitment to the Urban Aboriginal Strategy will allow the UAS to maintain its presence in the existing 12 cities, with the addition of Ottawa. In British Columbia, there are two designated cities: Greater Vancouver (inclusive of Regional District) and Prince George.
The UAS makes it possible for local Aboriginal and community organizations, governments and the private sector to work more closely in partnership to develop innovative solutions that address local needs and priorities of urban Aboriginal populations.
As part of development of the refocused UAS program, some of the key lessons learned have been applied:
- Greater accountability will be required to ensure progress by developing national measures
- Community priorities will be linked to National Priorities:
1. Promoting job training, Skills and entrepreneurship 2. Improving life skills 3. Supporting Aboriginal women, children and families
With the new UAS, there is an excellent opportunity to not only build on established relationships, but to create new partnerships with various federal, provincial and municipal partners, local Aboriginal and community organizations, as well as the academic and private sectors.
To ensure the success of the new UAS in Greater Vancouver, the GVUAS Steering Committee is focused on making sure its current membership, structure, processes and priorities are the best they can be. Over the coming weeks, the Committee will be reaching out to various stakeholders to solicit feedback and recommendations on the group’s operations.
For more information on the UAS, please visit the website of the Office of the Federal Interlocutor at http://www.ainc-inac.gc.ca/interloc/index_e.html
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