"Canadian Aboriginal women share this global experience of discrimination and violations of their fundamental rights, as evidenced by the high levels of violence against Aboriginal women, inadequate housing and income, and the low levels of employment, education, entrepreneurship and overall economic advancement. They rely more heavily on social assistance and are more likely to head up a single parent family than their male counterparts. Aboriginal women face socio- economic challenges unlike those faced by any other woman in the country."
"The Native Women’s Association of Canada (NWAC) appreciates the invitation extended to National Aboriginal Organization leaders to meet with the Prime Minister and Premiers prior to this First Minister’s Meeting, and to focus this meeting on Aboriginal issues. NWAC has worked for over 34 years to enhance, promote, and foster the social, economic, cultural and political well-being of Aboriginal women in Canada.
It is a vast understatement to say that the current state of social and economic development within Aboriginal and First Nation communities is far from satisfactory. A recent study1 of the Aboriginal economic gap in Saskatchewan, for example, demonstrated that, compared to the non-Aboriginal community, Aboriginal people experience higher poverty rates, lower education levels, and chronic unemployment.
This paper is part of a larger research study on the Aboriginal co-operative movement (A Reporton Aboriginal Co-operatives in Canada: Current Situation and Potential for Growth). The study was initiated by the Canadian Co-operative Association (CCA) and le Conseil Canadian de la coopération (CCC). The objective of the study was to build knowledge and awareness about the current state and contributions of Aboriginal co-operatives to regional and community development. The present paper has been developed as a background paper for the complete study.
The Canadian Co-operative Association (CCA) has launched the First Nations, Métis and Inuit Cooperative Development Program to help Aboriginal communities explore the potential of co-operatives to meet their needs. The five-year pilot program is being developed in consultation with national Aboriginal organizations and the program’s steering committee will be composed of representatives of co-operative and national Aboriginal organizations. It is sponsored by Arctic Co-operatives Ltd.
The Canadian Co-operative Association (CCA) has created the First Nations, Métis and Inuit Co-operative Development Program to help Aboriginal communities explore the potential of co-operatives to meet their needs. The five-year pilot program was developed in collaboration with national Aboriginal organizations.
"The Aboriginal Peoples Survey (APS) is a national survey of First Nations people living off reserve, Métis and Inuit living in Canada. The 2012 APS is a thematic survey with a focus on education and employment. Similar to previous cycles, the survey will also collect important information concerning health, language, housing and mobility."
