Post by blackcrowheart on Apr 12, 2007 10:33:36 GMT -5
Six premiers, 700 others join businesses in bid to end First Nations
poverty
Jennifer Graham
Canadian Press
Wednesday, January 24, 2007
SASKATOON (CP) - Calling it a way to end poverty on First Nations, six
premiers and 700 aboriginal and business leaders from across Canada put
their heads together on Wednesday to talk about partnerships.
They gathered in Saskatoon for a landmark aboriginal business
symposium. Lawrence Joseph, chief of the Federation of Saskatchewan
Indian Nations, said First Nations and Metis people have a lot to offer
the economy.
"We're open for business," Joseph said of First Nations groups.
"Let's work together . . . I think together we can actually lead the
First Nations out of the pits of poverty."
The symposium, billed as the first of its kind, was aimed at
developing aboriginal business and economic practices.
Delegates looked at steps towards helping aboriginals achieve
business success.
In the conference's opening address on Wednesday, Saskatchewan
Premier Lorne Calvert noted that aboriginal adults are more likely to be
out of work compared with the general population.
Unemployment rates for aboriginals are two and a-half times higher in
Western Canada, than for non-aboriginals, Calvert said.
"In this province we're in the midst of a period of phenomenal
economic prosperity and this is true in many, many regions of our
country," the premier told the crowd.
"We have an imperative . . . to ensure that no one is left behind in
times of opportunity."
The premiers of British Columbia, Manitoba, Newfoundland and
Labrador, Nunavut and the Northwest Territories also attended the event,
and B.C. Premier Gordon Campbell agreed with Calvert's comment.
Campbell said it was time to close the economic and social gaps
between First Nations and others.
"This symposium is a way for us to build partnerships," said
Campbell.
"Aboriginal and First Nation communities are not looking to take
money, they're looking to make money - and that's done with
partnership," said Campbell.
And partnerships were being formed, even as the symposium started.
The Assembly of First Nations announced that memorandums of
understanding have been signed with Bell Canada and Siemens Canada to
work together to develop new business initiatives.
One Siemens official at the event said it was "not a hand out, but a
hand up."
Assembly Chief Phil Fontaine said he sees business partnerships as a
means to economic prosperity that could break the cycle of despair.
"We recognize that poverty continues to plague the First Nations
community," said Fontaine.
"We see the eradication of poverty as an opportunity for the country and
the business community. We see partnerships as the answer to ensuring
that our community is a real and significant contributor to Canada's
prosperity."
"The bottom line here, is to eliminate poverty we need to create
opportunity," said Fontaine.
� The Canadian Press 2007
poverty
Jennifer Graham
Canadian Press
Wednesday, January 24, 2007
SASKATOON (CP) - Calling it a way to end poverty on First Nations, six
premiers and 700 aboriginal and business leaders from across Canada put
their heads together on Wednesday to talk about partnerships.
They gathered in Saskatoon for a landmark aboriginal business
symposium. Lawrence Joseph, chief of the Federation of Saskatchewan
Indian Nations, said First Nations and Metis people have a lot to offer
the economy.
"We're open for business," Joseph said of First Nations groups.
"Let's work together . . . I think together we can actually lead the
First Nations out of the pits of poverty."
The symposium, billed as the first of its kind, was aimed at
developing aboriginal business and economic practices.
Delegates looked at steps towards helping aboriginals achieve
business success.
In the conference's opening address on Wednesday, Saskatchewan
Premier Lorne Calvert noted that aboriginal adults are more likely to be
out of work compared with the general population.
Unemployment rates for aboriginals are two and a-half times higher in
Western Canada, than for non-aboriginals, Calvert said.
"In this province we're in the midst of a period of phenomenal
economic prosperity and this is true in many, many regions of our
country," the premier told the crowd.
"We have an imperative . . . to ensure that no one is left behind in
times of opportunity."
The premiers of British Columbia, Manitoba, Newfoundland and
Labrador, Nunavut and the Northwest Territories also attended the event,
and B.C. Premier Gordon Campbell agreed with Calvert's comment.
Campbell said it was time to close the economic and social gaps
between First Nations and others.
"This symposium is a way for us to build partnerships," said
Campbell.
"Aboriginal and First Nation communities are not looking to take
money, they're looking to make money - and that's done with
partnership," said Campbell.
And partnerships were being formed, even as the symposium started.
The Assembly of First Nations announced that memorandums of
understanding have been signed with Bell Canada and Siemens Canada to
work together to develop new business initiatives.
One Siemens official at the event said it was "not a hand out, but a
hand up."
Assembly Chief Phil Fontaine said he sees business partnerships as a
means to economic prosperity that could break the cycle of despair.
"We recognize that poverty continues to plague the First Nations
community," said Fontaine.
"We see the eradication of poverty as an opportunity for the country and
the business community. We see partnerships as the answer to ensuring
that our community is a real and significant contributor to Canada's
prosperity."
"The bottom line here, is to eliminate poverty we need to create
opportunity," said Fontaine.
� The Canadian Press 2007