Statement: NunatuKavut President says meeting with Liberal Leader Andrew Furey very positive
HAPPY VALLEY-GOOSE BAY, LABRADOR, January 26, 2021 – NunatuKavut Community Council (NCC) President Todd Russell issued the following statement after a very positive meeting with Newfoundland and Labrador Liberal Leader Andrew Furey late yesterday:
“I had an opportunity to meet and talk with Andrew Furey many times after he became Premier this past August. During our first conversation, Mr. Furey committed to making Indigenous reconciliation a priority. At this latest meeting, he reaffirmed this commitment, fully inclusive of NunatuKavut Inuit and all Indigenous peoples in the province.
Mr. Furey also recommitted to the ongoing work that NCC is engaged in with the province on a number of priorities. This includes the development of a Memorandum of Understanding on education, which will help ensure that the education system is reflective of NunatuKavut Inuit history and culture. We discussed how we could move forward on issues like health, housing, infrastructure and resource development. Discussion also took place regarding the NL Residential Schools apology to former students and child and family services legislation. Mr. Furey’s commitment to inclusion, diversity and gender equity and equality will certainly help advance these issues which are so important to our people.
We spoke about strengthening our relationship and the support that could be lent to furthering our Recognition of Indigenous Rights and Self-Determination (RIRSD) process with the Government of Canada. Securing equitable access to both provincial and federal programs and services would have a tremendous impact on helping to improve the health, well-being and sustainability of our people and communities. As Mr. Furey said, ‘reconciliation must be more than words. It must be actioned.’
On behalf of NCC, I certainly appreciated meeting with Mr. Furey and his candidate for Lake Melville. We look forward to similar outreach and engagement from the other provincial party leaders.”
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Media Contact:
Kelly Broomfield
Director of Communications, NCC
709-280-5965