ANWA chapter enlightened about family issues

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The Region 6 chapter of the Alberta Native Women's Association (ANWA) elected a new executive at a workshop here, June 20 ? 21, to start working towards incorporating their chapter.

Rose Yellowfeet, newly elected president and a Blood tribe member, told about 30 Native women at the workshop "we've got a lot of work ahead of us."

The Region 6 chapter want to become incorporated so it can be eligible for government and private funding to establish a much needed women's centre. As well, the group want to hold workshops on such issues as family abuse, foster care and a number of other topics wanted by many Native women in Region 6.

The chapter is comprised of Native communities located south of Calgary.

Yellowfeet said Region 6 will still belong to their parent organization, ANWA, but will be able to apply for funding on their own.

"I know we've had problems in the past," she said. "But let's leave politics out ? leave it to the politicians," she added.

Yellowfeet referred to a Calgary ANWA meetign in which president Donna Weasel Child allegedly made charges that former president, Loro Carmen has misappropriated funds while in office a year ago.

"There are more important problems and issues to address," said Yellowfeet.

During the first day of the two-day meeting, foster care, family violence and battered women's issues were discussed in workshops.

Delegates were horrified at some of the statistics cited by workshop leaders. In the family violence workshop, Dr. Cruz Avecudo of the Four Worlds Development Project at the University of Lethbridge said that eight out of ten Native women were victims of sexual abuse and/or physical abuse before the age 14.

According to Brenda Hill, manager of Harbour House in Lethbridge, she said one in six Canadian women was being abused by their husbands or boyfriends. And in the foster care workshop, more Native foster homes were needed to place Native children apprehended by provincial social workers.

"These (statistics) are reasons enough to start a women's centre and hold more workshops on these issues," said Yellowfeet.

Region 6 chapter also invited two government representatives to gain information on how to become incorporated and the various programs and funding available to Native women.

Peggy Roberts, program officer with Municipal Affairs in Edmonton, said her department received $69,000 last year but was cut back to $25,00 for funding various women's programs. She said that Municipal Affairs funding criteria requires that Native bands or organizations applying for funding must be incorporated under the Societies Act of Alberta. "We are just not here to provide operational funds, but we are also available for technical and resources information," said Roberts.

Jeanette Sinclair, social development officer with Secretary of State, said her office has allocated $50,000 for Aboriginal women's programs.

She said the Secretary of State (SOS) funds projects that are started and managed by Native people. She explained that SOS considers almost any project, within their budgetary guidelines, even if the band or organization is not incorporated.

In a later interview, Yellowfeet said she is not discouraged by the minimal government funding available for Aboriginal women's programs because of severe cutbacks faced by many government offices.

"We will fundraise to help supplement our projects. The monies available are better than nothing," said Yellowfeet.

The new executive's first item of agenda is to start the paper work necessary to get Region 6 incorporated. Forms need to filed with Consumer and Corporate Affairs in Edmonton and also a constitution and bylaws of Region 6 need to be drafted. The executive hope to be incorporated within the next few months and then apply for government funding.

Other executive members elected were Wilma Little Mustache, vice-president; Lee North Peigan, secretary-treasurer and Annie Cotton, board member. Two women were also elected toserve on the ANWA provincial board. They were Carrie Cotton and Donna Smith.