Assembly of First Nations and The Canadian Red Cross Society Sign Agreement to Strengthen Capacity of Aboriginal Communities

OTTAWA, May 23 – As part of Aboriginal Awareness Week, the Assembly of First Nations and The Canadian Red Cross Society signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) today in an effort to improve the quality of life, health, and safety of First Nations people across Canada. National Chief Phil Fontaine, Assembly of First Nations and Paul Wharram, Acting Secretary General of the Canadian Red Cross, signed the MOU at the Assembly of First Nations Policy Forum/Special Chiefs Assembly. The agreement formalizes areas of cooperation between both organizations to help First Nations individuals and communities be better prepared to prevent and respond to emergencies and injuries, and to encourage safe environments.

“The Canadian Red Cross has consistently stepped up and assisted some of the poorest and most troubled First Nations communities in their times of crisis. I applaud them for taking action, such as in the Kashechewan state of emergency in 2005,” said National Chief Phil Fontaine, As part of our campaign to eliminate First Nations’ poverty, we are creating and strengthening collaboration with national and international aid agencies. This agreement with the Red Cross is an important step forward to raise the awareness of Canadians that First Nations vulnerable populations cannot be left behind and must be supported in their most difficult times.”

Natural disasters such as severe flooding and forest fires frequently occur in northern regions of the country where many First Nations people reside. The Canadian Red Cross has helped reduce the vulnerability of Aboriginal communities in a variety of ways. Some recent examples include: providing relief to people of the Misstissini reserve in Quebec and several reserves in Ontario when many were forced from their homes by fires in the summer of 2006.

“The Canadian Red Cross has a history of working with Aboriginal communities, individuals and organizations across the country,” said Wharram. “This agreement strengthens our relationship and details a number of ways in which we can offer help and expertise to build the capacity of First Nations people.”

The Red Cross also works with First Nations delivering a number of injury prevention programs adapted for Aboriginal peoples; including a water safety program for Aboriginal children in Saskatchewan; the training of ambulance attendants as First Responders, Walking the Prevention Circle to create safer, more respectful communities, as well as responding to the HIV/AIDS crisis through a community-based prevention initiative in Alberta. For more on our work in this area, visit www.redcross.ca.

The Canadian Red Cross is a member of the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement, which includes the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, the International Committee of the Red Cross and 185 National Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies. Our mission is to improve the lives of vulnerable people by mobilizing the power of humanity in Canada and around the world. The seven fundamental principles of the Red Cross Red Crescent Movement are: humanity, impartiality, neutrality, independence, volunteerism, unity and universality.

For further information: Canadian Red Cross, Media Relations Office, (613) 740-1994; Bryan Hendry, A/Director of Communications, Assembly of First Nations, (613) 241-6789, ext 229