Indigenous Relations and Reconciliation
Four new members have been appointed to the Minister’s Advisory Council on Aboriginal Women (MACAW), which provides advice to the Ministry of Aboriginal Relations and Reconciliation on improving the quality of life for Aboriginal women and girls.
Karen Joseph, Sarah Robinson, Linda Thomas and Coreen Child bring a wealth of experience and will work alongside renewed members Chasity Davis (chair), Barbara Ward-Burkitt (vice-chair), Marjorie White, Paulette Flamond, Sophie Pierre, and Lorna Williams.
Joseph is a member of the Kwakwaka’wakw people and is founder and executive director of Reconciliation Canada. She has over 18 years experience inspiring diverse partners to collaborate on strategic planning processes that support effective change.
Robinson is a member of the Fort Nelson and Saulteau First Nations and has worked at various negotiation tables with provincial and federal government representatives.
Thomas is an Aboriginal legal aid lawyer and a member of the Tk’emlups te Secwepemc First Nation. She is the chair of the Aboriginal Justice Council, a multi-agency committee that she established to serve as an advisory to the First Nations court system.
Child is from the Kwakiutl First Nation and continues to advocate and serve on many First Nation boards and committees. She is educated in the fields of Indigenous child care and language revitalization, with a specialization in Kwak’wala language learning.
MACAW was created in June 2011 following the Collaboration to End Violence: National Aboriginal Women’s Forum as a commitment by the Province towards ending violence against Aboriginal women and girls. In June 2014, the Province signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Aboriginal leaders to reaffirm this commitment.
In December 2014, MACAW launched the Giving Voice Project, a strategic plan to support community engagement and action to address issues of violence against Aboriginal women. Under the initiative, MACAW has provided $350,000 to 37 community-based groups throughout B.C. aimed at changing behaviours and attitudes and mobilizing communities against domestic violence.
Quick Facts:
- The homicide rate for indigenous women is six times higher than for their non-indigenous counterparts. (Statistics Canada)
- Aboriginal women are nearly three times more likely than non-Aboriginal women to report being a victim of a violent crime.
- Aboriginal women face more severe incidences of violence.
- MACAW partnered with the Province to hold a three-day healing gathering for families of murdered or missing Aboriginal women on January 31, 2016.
Learn More:
Giving Voice Project: news.gov.bc.ca/stories/projects-give-voice-to-aboriginal-women
