Chastity A. Davis has been appointed as the new chairperson of the Minister’s Advisory Council on Aboriginal Women (MACAW).

Davis, who is a member of the Tla’amin Nation, originally joined the council as the youth appointee and more recently has acted as council co-chair. She will replace Wendy Grant-John, who has been the chairperson since the council’s inception in 2011.

Grant-John has led the council through significant work, most recently culminating in the signing of a memorandum of understanding between the provincial government and B.C. Aboriginal leaders that confirmed their shared commitment to end violence against Aboriginal women and girls.

Charlene Belleau, recently elected Chief of the Esketemc First Nation, will also be stepping down.

As a result of these vacancies, the council will welcome two new members; Barb Ward-Burkitt, current executive director of the Aboriginal Friendship Centre in Prince George and Dr. Lorna Williams, chairperson of the First Peoples’ Cultural Council.

Quotes:

Minister of Aboriginal Relations and Reconciliation John Rustad -

“My sincere thanks to Wendy Grant-John and Charlene Belleau for their significant contributions to the Advisory Council. I know that Chastity Davis, our new council chair, along with Barb Ward-Burkitt and Dr. Lorna Williams, will continue to build on the Council’s strong foundations and provide a valued voice for the challenges and opportunities facing Aboriginal women in British Columbia.”

Chastity A. Davis -

“I am honoured to be appointed as chairperson for the Aboriginal Women’s Advisory Council and look forward to continuing the great work started by Wendy and all the extraordinary women on the council who contribute their time, energy and wisdom selflessly to this important body.”

Quick Facts:

• Chastity Davis is principal and lead consultant with Chastity Davis Consulting. She is a director on the Industry Council of Aboriginal Business and a council member on the Minerva Foundation. Previously, she was vice president of the Aboriginal Women’s Leadership Association of BC.
• The MACAW was created as a direct result of the B.C. government’s co-host role at the Collaboration to End Violence: National Aboriginal Women’s Forum in June 2011.
• The overarching goal of the council is to provide advice to government on how to improve the quality of life for Aboriginal women throughout British Columbia. The work of MACAW and the MOU ties into the provincial government’s throne speech commitment to create a long-term, comprehensive strategy to move towards a violence-free B.C. so that all women have the supports they need to prevent violence, to escape from violent situations and to recover if they have been victims of crime.
• As part of ongoing work with the council, the Province is providing $400,000 to the Giving Voice initiative, which aims to help Aboriginal communities speak out and take action on the issue of violence against women and girls. This funding is in addition to the $120,000 provided to the project in 2013/14.

Learn More:

Minister’s Advisory Council on Aboriginal Women: http://www.gov.bc.ca/arr/social/min_adv_council_on_aboriginal_women.html

Media Contacts:

Lisa Leslie
Government Communications and Public Engagement
Ministry of Aboriginal Relations and Reconciliation
250 213-7724