tansinamee:

[Image description: A black rectangular banner with pink, white, and green text on the left half and the Metis Women British Columbia logo on the right half. The logo is a four-petaled white and pink flower, with a purple and gray centre and a gray Métis infinity symbol on each petal, and four green leaves. The largest text at the top reads, “Healing & Rebuilding”. In smaller text below that, “A Métis Women’s Forum on Ending violence Against Women”. In even smaller text below that, “A personal Invitation from the Minister”, and then, “June 27th 2015, Ramada Hotel Downtown  444 St. Prince George, BC”]

Tansi,

As your MNBC Provincial Women’s Chair and Minister for Métis Women, I personally invite Métis Women from the North Central, North West and North East regions to participate in an upcoming forum for Métis Women to be held in Prince George on Saturday, June 27th.

This is our opportunity to come together as Métis women to discuss this very important issue facing all women and then to give feedback to government on our concerns and the actions needed in moving forward.

A Memorandum of Understanding ( MOU ) on ending violence against aboriginal women and girls was signed between the Government of British Columbia, Metis Nation British Columbia (MNBC ), Assembly of First Nations and the Union of B.C. Indian Chiefs last year. Out of that MOU a Joint Partners table was formed and we the Metis have a seat and a voice at that table, and we are part of the process along with the other aboriginal groups in addressing this issue. As your Minister, I would like to see all Métis communities adopt this MOU on ending violence against women and girls because we need to start at the grass roots.

I was very fortunate to be invited by Minister John Rustad – the Provincial Minister of Aboriginal Relations and Reconciliation to join the National Round Table on Missing and Murdered Aboriginal Women and Girls that was held in Ottawa on March 26. Government is very interested in our views, and your input is critical to the process.

Coming together in Prince George will also give us the opportunity to discuss future priorities of Métis Women. Please join me in this very important work.

The forum will begin on Saturday June 27th at 10:00 am and wrap up around 4:30 pm.

A small subsidy is available for travel, and accommodation. Participants eligible for the travel and accommodation subsidy must be at least 100 kms in distance from their home to the hotel.

*Pre-registration is required*

WHO SHOULD ATTEND?

Métis Women from:

– North Central Region (Region 5)
– North West Region (Region 6)
– North East Region (Region 7)

Space is limited so please register no later then June 15th.

Please complete the REGISTRATION FORM and email or fax to MNBC Executive Assistant Tracey Thornhill or 1 800 940 1150/604-557-5851. http://www.mnbc.ca/app/webroot/uploads/Features/News/2015/Metis_Women_Forum_-_Registration.pdf

We look forward to hearing from you soon!

Clara Morin Dal Col
Provincial Women’s Chair, Métis Women of British Columbia
Minister for Women, Métis Nation British Columbia

For questions relating to the forum please call me at 778-679-7543.