The Minister’s Advisory Council on Indigenous Women (MACIW) is calling for applicants to the Giving Voice program’s 2024 cycle with $1 million available to help address the issue of violence against Indigenous women and girls.

Launched in 2013, Giving Voice is a funding initiative sponsored by MACIW and delivered by the province. The funding gives voice to issues of gender-based violence within Indigenous women’s and girls’ lives through community-driven healing projects that inspire change.

Giving Voice places emphasis on the right of Indigenous Peoples to cultural self-determination, and aligns with the province’s efforts to strengthen relationships with Indigenous Peoples and take action in accordance with the Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Act, a Ministry of Indigenous Relations and Reconciliation media release explained.

Through consultation and co-operation with Indigenous partners, the province renewed its commitment in December 2023 to community-driven healing in Safe and Supported: British Columbia’s gender-based violence action plan. The Giving Voice program is a part of this commitment, and also aligns with the shared work B.C. and Canada are doing through the National Action Plan to End Gender-Based Violence.

“Giving Voice provides opportunities for healing and helps ensure Indigenous women and girls are respected and safe through a lens of reconciliation and community-led projects,” said Barb Ward-Burkitt, chair of MACIW. “This latest round of funding will continue the progress being made toward ending violence against Indigenous women and girls in communities across the province.”

Eligible British Columbia-based organizations are encouraged to apply by midnight (Pacific time) on June 28. Each organization is eligible for as much as $30,000 per project.

MACIW is an advisory council of respected Indigenous women created in 2011 to advise the B.C. government about how to improve quality of life for Indigenous women and girls throughout the province.

e-KNOW

---

Article Share

---