NWAC Champions the Safety and Wellbeing of Elders, Grandmothers, and Grandfathers on World Elder Abuse Awareness Day (WEAAD) June 15, 2010
Ottawa, ON (June 15, 2010) – On World Elder Abuse Awareness Day (WEAAD), the Native Women’s Association of Canada (NWAC) wishes to acknowledge the gift of our Elders, grandmothers and grandfathers, and encourages all Aboriginal communities to raise awareness and commit to action to ensure the safety, health, and well-being of our grandmothers and grandfathers.
Over the past year, NWAC has developed and implemented a qualitative research project exploring issues of safety, well-being, and abuse among senior Aboriginal women across Canada. This project is intended to advance an understanding of the issues that enhance or threaten the safety and well-being of senior Aboriginal women, and to identify directions forward based in the lived experiences and wisdom of the participants. The project findings will be utilized to raise awareness and to advocate for policies and programs designed to eradicate abuse and to improve the safety of our Elders for this generation and generations to come.
“Today, on behalf of the Native Women’s Association of Canada I would like to recognize and honour our Elders, our grandmothers and our grandfathers. By taking the time to hear their words of wisdom and respect their knowledge and advice, we preserve our culture and help carry their voice to future generations,” says NWAC President.
NWAC strongly advocates that the voices and visions of senior Aboriginal women should guide the policies, programs and services that impact their lives. The findings of our qualitative study will be released later this summer, and will include recommendations for communities, policymakers, and service providers. Additionally, findings from the project will be translated into a media awareness campaign and a resource booklet for senior Aboriginal women, targeted for release this fall.
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For Further Information Contact:
Andrea Ruttan
Communications Advisor
Native Women’s Association of Canada
Phone: (613) 656-3012 Mobile: (613) 295-2719
Email: aruttan@nwac.ca
Billie Allan
Health Research & Policy Officer
Native Women's Association of Canada
Phone: 647-216-2206
Email: ballan@nwac.ca