Welcome to all my sisters!

2010 brings half way into our “Decade of Difference for Aboriginal Women” declared in 2005. Although we continue to exist on project funding, I am very excited about the planning underway to develop the Esquao Centre for Aboriginal Women in Edmonton. This last year has been one of consulting with other organizations, potential partners and development of programs to be offered in the Centre. We are striving to be self sufficient as an organization and are looking at opportunities for business development which fall within our mandate of promoting Aboriginal women. My dedication to Aboriginal women is unwavering. I continue to guide the Board into the new decade.

In my second year as Provincial Vice-President of the Métis Nation of Alberta, my workload has increased but provided the opportunity to be at the table for some exciting decisions. The downside of this is not being to work 24-7 with IAAW.

Becoming a leader for the Métis people has been a lifelong dream of mine, I am sincerely enjoying this new level of leadership, having always been at the “grass roots level”  and I’m pleased to say, the Métis Nation President Audrey Poitras has allowed me to continue my role as President of IAAW and thereby shown support for our organization.

My heartfelt thank you to our volunteers, members, the sponsors and those wonderful people who support us, provide funding and believe in our organization. 

Sincerely,

Muriel Stanley Venne, C.M.

President & Founder