Community Based Training

Pre-Employment
IAAW facilitators will visit communities to discuss barriers to employment and opportunities to advance First Nation, Metis and Inuit women to economic independence.

Monthly Aboriginal Women’s Gatherings
Every 3rd Wednesday of each month, IAAW hosts an Aboriginal Women’s Gathering. These gatherings are open to First Nations, Metis, or Inuit women and their families. The gatherings are a way of making new friends and networking with other women. If you would like to attend a gathering please contact the office by telephone (780)479-8195 or by email to iaaw@iaaw.ca. We look forward to seeing you at our next gathering!

Money Management
12 Week Matched Savings Program
In this program, women learn to budget, save and work toward financial independence. The monthly savings that they commit are matched by corporate sponsors for the purchase of an item or service that will improve their lives.

Upcoming Sessions
January & February 2012

Leadership Development
The objective of this program is to increase opportunities for First Nation, Metis and Inuit Edmontonians to be involved in collaborative community initiatives, especially those initiatives with a focus on safety and security to address crime, violence reduction and justice issues. IAAW will deliver a leadership development program for FMI people in the City of Edmonton.

Upcoming Sessions:
Feb 2012 – Opportunities that exist within the City
Mar 2012 – Time/Meeting Management, Meeting Etiquette

Esquao Independence Program
The Esquao Independence Program is a 16-week pre-employment and life skills training course for young women aged 18-29 years who don’t qualify for EI and have barriers to employment.

Next program starting soon!

Survey Monkey
LOOK OUT! We may be calling you to participate in a quick 1-2min survey to gather feedback on new programs and upcoming gatherings.

Love Conference
IAAW is proud to introduce our first Love Conference taking place February 21-22, 2012 at Edmonton’s Mayfield Inn & Suites. This event will focus around topics on:
• Parents Working Together
• Building Self Love
• Forming Healthy Relationships

$299 Registration Fee + GST(Continental Breakfast & Lunch for 2 days included)

To register please call the office at 780.479.8195, toll free 1.877.471.2171 or by email at loveconference@iaaw.ca.

Muriel Stanley Venne, C.M., B.A (Hon.)

President & Founder 

Métis, born at Lamont, Alberta, mother of four grown children and grandmother of three, achieved her University entrance by correspondence in order to attain her B.ED; attended at the University of Alberta for three years, then left her studies to work for the Métis Association of Alberta as Department Head for Job Opportunities and Placement.

Premier Peter Lougheed appointed her as one of the first seven Commissioners of the Alberta Human Rights Commission in 1973 serving for four years; she was Executive Director of Native Outreach for ten years working in employment for Aboriginal people in the province; Bechtel Canada’s Community Relations for the Alsands Project, Coordinator of the Métis Settlement Carpentry Training Program and General Manager, Settlement Sooniyaw Corporation; then Marketing Officer for the National Film Board in Edmonton. As Project Manager for Western Aboriginal Development Alliance “Stronger Together” an Aboriginal Strategic Initiatives project, it became one the most successful Human Resource projects in Canada.

Currently she chairs the Aboriginal Commission on Human Rights & Justice and was instrumental in producing “The Rights Path – Alberta” a holistic booklet produced to inform Aboriginal people of their human rights now in its third edition. In November 1998 she presented the U.N. High Commissioner for Human Rights, Mary Robinson with “The Rights Path – Alberta” in Hobbema, Alberta, referring to the racism involved in the Connie and Ty Jacobs killing by an RCMP officer at the T’suu Tina First Nation. She continues to bring Aboriginal human rights issues to the forefront!

Muriel received The 1998 Alberta Human Rights Award December 10^th, 1998 on the 25th Anniversary of the formation of the Alberta Human Rights Commission and the 50^th Anniversary of the United Nations International Declaration of Human Rights.

As President and Founder of the Institute for the Advancement of Aboriginal Women she works tirelessly and lends her expertise on the issues confronting Aboriginal Women. Under her leadership, IAAW created the Esquao Awards, a province wide recognition for Aboriginal Women. This annual event has grown to attract 1000 people bringing government, corporations and community together to honour the significant accomplishments of Aboriginal Women.

She has served as Director of the National Aboriginal Achievement Foundation and is a lifetime member of the Canadian Native Friendship Centre. She received the Queen’s Medal in 2002 and the National Aboriginal Achievement Award in 2004 for her work in bringing Justice to the Aboriginal community. Muriel has delivered speeches across Canada on human rights, achieving social justice and violence against Aboriginal Women.

She has  inspired many to follow their dreams and stand up for what they believe in.

In 2005 she received the Order of Canada and the Governor General’s Commemorative Medal in honour of the Person’s Case and the Alberta Government Centennial Medal.   In 2006 she received the Integrity Award from the Rotary Clubs in Edmonton, Alberta and the YWCA Lois Hole lifetime Achievement Award. Alberta Venture Magazine named her as one of the 2006 fifty most influential people in Alberta.

In February 2007 she was honoured as Global Woman of Vision. In November 2007 Canadian Ambassador McNee recognized her work at the United Nations citing her as a “Human Rights Defender” pertaining to Aboriginal women, children and families.

On September 2008 she was elected Vice President of the Métis Nation of Alberta. On June 17, 2010 Muriel received an Honorary Bachelor of Arts Degree from Grant MacEwan University in Edmonton.                       

The Esquao Awards are unique, there is no competition. All First Nations, Metis, and Inuit women who are nominated will be honoured. IAAW’s policy on nominations recognizes our ‘Angels Among Us’.

The event reaches out to the women and brings light to their significant accomplishments. Aboriginal Women are nominated by their communities from various regions of the Province in the categories of Arts & Entertainment, Performing Arts, Business, Science & Technology, Community Involvement, Social Services & Advocacy, Literature & Visual Arts, Justice, Education, Health & Medicine, Culture and Lifetime Achievement.

Through this recognition, IAAW promotes the self-determination of Aboriginal Women who contribute to the well being of their communities; promotes personal growth of the recipients; and encouragement for those in the audience.

Event Details

The Esquao Awards Gala will take place Thursday, May 26, 2011 at the Marriot River Cree in Edmonton, Alberta.

• 4:30 pm Cocktails
• 5:30 pm Grand Entry
• 6:00 pm Dinner
• 7:00 pm Award presentations

*Entertainment and award presentations alternate.

**Event will be concluded by 10:30pm.

Tickets

The cost of the ticket is $150 each and tables of ten are available for $1,500.

You can purchase your tickets online or by contacting us at (780) 479-8195 or Toll Free 1-877-471-2171.

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