$450,000 Supports Improved Relations with Métis
NEWS RELEASE
For Immediate Release
2008ARR0011-000612
April 24, 2008
Ministry of Aboriginal Relations and Reconciliation
Métis Nation British Columbia
VANCOUVER – A grant from the Province to the Métis Nation British Columbia (MNBC) will help improve health, housing, education and economic development opportunities for Métis people around B.C., announced Minister of Aboriginal Relations and Reconciliation Michael de Jong today.“The Province and the Métis Nation are working together to address the socio-economic challenges that Métis people face,” said de Jong. “MNBC has made excellent progress in developing a strategy to achieve the goals set out in the Métis Nation Relationship Accord. This grant will help the Métis Nation expand their capacity and implement programs to further this important strategy.”
In May 2006, the provincial government and Métis Nation BC signed the historic Métis Nation Relationship Accord. The Accord sets out a framework to improve a number of social and economic priority areas for Métis people living in British Columbia, including health care, housing, education, employment and economic opportunities, intergovernmental relations, and Métis identification and data collection.
“Today’s announcement continues to demonstrate the true commitment by the Provincial Government to support the Métis Nation Relationship Accord,” MNBC President Bruce Dumont said. “Our Métis leadership and staff have worked hard to set an overall five-year strategy that will support the practical needs of our communities. This includes addressing such key issues as health, education, and others as an immediate priority. This investment will support work towards these objectives and continue to ensure the Métis Nation is able to support Métis families throughout British Columbia.”
Provincial funding will help carry out year two of a five-year plan to implement the Accord, which MNBC staff devised following extensive community consultations.
“There are almost 60,000 Métis people in British Columbia, and the Accord lays out a vision for strengthening our relationship with the Métis Nation and working collaboratively to improve the lives of their community members,” added de Jong.
Since 2005, the Province has been building a new relationship with Aboriginal people based on respect, recognition and reconciliation and is committed to closing the socio-economic gap that separates Aboriginal people from other British Columbians.
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Media contact:
Maria Wilkie
Communications Manager
Ministry of Aboriginal Relations and
Reconciliation
250 387-1204
250 361-7720 (cell)
Keith Henry
Chief Executive Officer
Métis Nation British Columbia
604 801-5853
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