A new federal accord recognizing the Native WomenSA国际影视传媒檚 Association of Canada as SA国际影视传媒渇ull participants in decision-making processesSA国际影视传媒� was inked in Ottawa Friday by Crown-Indigenous Relations minister Carolyn Bennett and member representatives of the association.

According to Bennett and NWAC president Francyne Joe, the deal represents an important plank in the federal governmentSA国际影视传媒檚 reconciliation process with CanadaSA国际影视传媒檚 indigenous people and allows NWAC to SA国际影视传媒渁ssist the development and design process of programs, services, policies and laws.SA国际影视传媒�

SA国际影视传媒淚tSA国际影视传媒檚 very exciting, this is a major event for the native women of Canada,SA国际影视传媒� said Mabel Brown, association director for the Northwest Territories. SA国际影视传媒淚SA国际影视传媒檓 so happy that this has happened after doing a lot of work for people who have been affected.SA国际影视传媒�

Brown said that violence against indigenous women and girls has impacted many families in the territories and she hopes the accord will bring some positive changes.

SA国际影视传媒淣ow that weSA国际影视传媒檝e reached this far, now we can work on the younger people and bringing more education opportunities,SA国际影视传媒� Brown said. SA国际影视传媒淭he accord has been signed and thereSA国际影视传媒檚 hopefully going to be more funding available for more social programs for the region.SA国际影视传媒�

Joe declined to discuss past acrimony between the Ottawa and the NWAC and described the accord as a fresh start.

SA国际影视传媒淭oday is the start of a new relationship with this government,SA国际影视传媒� Joe told NNSL. SA国际影视传媒淭his is where Indigenous women, girls and diverse peoples will now be sitting at the tables discussing those issues that are affecting us, as individuals and as communities and nations.SA国际影视传媒�

SA国际影视传媒淎t this point, we want to discuss how this government is now listening to Indigenous womenSA国际影视传媒檚 voices,SA国际影视传媒� she said.

According to Justice department statistics, Indigenous women and girls make up four per cent of the population but account for 10 per cent of all missing women in Canada. On the flip-side, Indigenous women represent 38 per cent of all women incarcerated in Canada.

In an interview, Bennett said the accord will allow Indigenous women to play an active role in SA国际影视传媒渂eing the voice for grass roots, coast-to-coast-to-coast.SA国际影视传媒�

SA国际影视传媒淚tSA国际影视传媒檚 really about the Native WomenSA国际影视传媒檚 Association developing their strategic plan in terms of the health and well-being of Indigenous women and girls and gender diverse across the country,SA国际影视传媒� said Bennett.

Under her governmentSA国际影视传媒檚 rubric of gender equity, Bennett also views economic development, particularly mining in the North, SA国际影视传媒渁nd those non-traditional jobs for womenSA国际影视传媒� as one way to improve outcomes for Indigenous women. SA国际影视传媒淚tSA国际影视传媒檚 huge and I think this is what president Joe is really focused on SA国际影视传媒� economic empowerment, but itSA国际影视传媒檚 also training and education,SA国际影视传媒� said Bennett. SA国际影视传媒淚t also means childcare, transportation back and forth to your community SA国际影视传媒� all of these wraparound services that allow women to get the training or education to get those great jobs.SA国际影视传媒�

Joe said violence against women is not just physical violence, SA国际影视传媒渂ut social and economical violence.SA国际影视传媒�

SA国际影视传媒淲e want to see women taking their rightful stance, taking on jobs that can create a better economic lifestyle for their children and themselves,SA国际影视传媒� Joe said. SA国际影视传媒淪o that they no longer have to feel that they donSA国际影视传媒檛 have the power that we were all given naturally. So what we are going to see by the federal government is better programs, created by our own communities to address these needs.SA国际影视传媒�