WENDAKE, QUEBEC--(Marketwired - Jan 12, 2015) - The Honourable Bernard Valcourt, Minister of Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development Canada (AANDC), announced today during a stop at the Centre d'amitié autochtone de Québec that $430,000 was being granted to the Regroupement des centres d'amitié autochtones du Québec (RCAAQ) to support the development of community and regional strategic plans.
This funding comes under the auspices of the Urban Aboriginal Strategy which, by way of its two programs - Community Capacity Building and Urban Partnerships - has the objective to increase urban Aboriginal people's participation in the Canadian economy.
On the strength of its 38 years in working to support the Native Friendship Centres as well as to represent and defend the interests of urban Aboriginal people, the RCAAQ is ideally positioned to accompany the process for the community strategic planning in 10 Quebec cities and to carry out the regional strategic planning. The RCAAQ has gained this unique position through its steadfast work with the Native Friendship Centres and as such, is a key spokesperson concerning the situation of Aboriginal people who live in Quebec's cities or travel to them for various reasons.
"Organizations and entities involved in urban Aboriginal issues must work together to eliminate the obstacles blocking greater participation by the urban Aboriginal people in the economy. This community and regional strategic planning gives us a unique opportunity to identify ways allowing us to move forward in this area, including by means of partnerships," said Christine Jean, who is the Vice-President of the RCAAQ and Executive Director of the Centre d'amitié autochtone de La Tuque.
This opinion is shared by RCAAQ Executive Director Tanya Sirois, who notes that the strategic planning processes are already underway. "I am confident that all our efforts put into this process will lead to concrete and positive results for the future," said Ms. Sirois.
The RCAAQ has been working for more than 35 years to defend the rights and interests of urban Aboriginal people and to support the Native Friendship Centres in carrying out their mission, which is to improve the quality of life of urban Aboriginal people, promote culture, and foster mutual understanding among people. The Quebec Native Friendship Centers are located in Chibougamau, Val-d'Or, La Tuque, Senneterre, Sept-Iles, Joliette, Saguenay, Montreal, Quebec City and Trois-Rivières. For more information about the RCAAQ, visit our website at: www.rcaaq.info.
