The Government of Newfoundland and Labrador has invested $205,000 in 14 projects through the Indigenous Violence Prevention Grants Program.

The program supports Newfoundland and Labrador Indigenous governments and organizations in their efforts to prevent violence against Indigenous women and children and to engage Indigenous men and boys in the prevention of violence.

Many projects are eligible to receive funding through the program, including those with a focus on developing violence prevention action plans, public awareness and education materials or activities, providing healing programs in relation to the effects of violence, improving programs and services at shelters for Indigenous women, developing community capacity and leadership, and improving cultural strength of Indigenous communities with the objective of reducing violence. The backgrounder below provides a description of projects receiving grants this year.

Funding for the Indigenous Violence Prevention Grants Program is made available through the Women’s Policy Office, the lead department of the Provincial Government’s Violence Prevention Initiative.

Quote
“Violence in our society is never acceptable. Indigenous women and children are particularly susceptible to experiencing violence. As a government, we support our Indigenous governments and organizations in their efforts to prevent violence within their communities.”
Honourable Siobhan Coady
Minister Responsible for the Status of Women

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Learn more

Provincial Government Recognizes Violence Prevention Month – gov.nl.ca/releases/2018/exec/0206n02.aspx

Minister Coady Raises Awareness about Violence Against Women – gov.nl.ca/releases/2017/exec/1123n03.aspx

Minister Coady Marks National Day of Remembrance and Actions – gov.nl.ca/releases/2017/exec/1206n04.aspx

Pink Shirt Day – www.pinkshirtday.ca 

Women’s Policy Office – www.exec.gov.nl.ca/exec/wpo/

Violence Prevention Initiative – www.gov.nl.ca/VPI

Follow us @GovNL  and @NR_GovNL 

Media contact
Nancy Hollett
Natural Resources
709-729-5777, 685-3372
NancyHollett@gov.nl.ca

BACKGROUNDER

Indigenous Violence Prevention Grants Program Projects 2017-18

Mushuau Innu Health Director
Natuashish Women’s Shelter Violence Enhancement Project
This project proposes to provide short-term emergency shelter to Innu women and children and to meet basic needs such as food, warmth, safety and shelter in a caring and welcoming atmosphere. The shelter not only provides assistance to women but also to youth with no place to go during their many struggles such as family violence and substance abuse. This project will support prevention and education efforts. Community-based violence prevention initiatives will be developed and delivered from a population health perspective in a manner which ensures cultural competency and safety.
Grant awarded: $18,356

NunatuKavut Community Council Inc.
Southern Inuit Elders & Youth – Preventing Violence Together
This project proposes to work with youth of all ages and Elders to carry out several community sessions to compile, adapt and/or develop culturally-appropriate violence prevention and awareness items such as pamphlets, posters, placemats, and website content. The proposed intergenerational project will help bridge the generational divide in a fun and educational way that promotes respect for self and others and an increased appreciation for Indigenous culture, while raising awareness of violence prevention.
Grant awarded: $22,106

The Newfoundland Aboriginal Women’s Network (NAWN)
Lateral Violence and its Effects on Indigenous People
This project proposes three main objectives: developing a culturally-based training module, incorporating best practices from other groups on the issue of lateral violence, delivering the training module to 16 community facilitators (two per community) already partnering with NAWN and implementing the workshop by the trained facilitators within their communities.
Grant awarded: $20,553

Sheshatshiu Innu First Nation
Innu Ishkueut Healing Journey
This project will host violence workshops and weekly talking groups with women in the community to inform them about the types of violence women and children experience and also to provide women with the necessary tools on how to deal with such violence. This project will also involve Elders teaching Innu women about culture, traditions and language.
Grant awarded: $10,781

Sheshatshiu Innu First Nation
Innu Ishkueut Gathering
This project will consist of a gathering in the wilderness in February 2018 for Innu women to discuss violence against women and children. The objectives of this project are to provide support to Innu women living in violent relationships and discuss suicides taking place within Innu communities consequently aiding Innu women through their grieving process.
Grant awarded: $10,856

Flat Bay Band Inc.
No’kmaq Village Youth Justice Strategy & Mentorship Initiative (Phase 3 of Extra Judicial Measures Service)
This project proposes three main community outcomes: increasing effectiveness in processing customized youth referrals (an extrajudicial measure), continuing to create community foundations for launching more extrajudicial measure services in the province, and mentoring other communities/detachments across the province.
Grant awarded: $22,106

Labrador Friendship Centre
Healthy Youth, Healthy Adults
This 12-week mentorship pilot project for Indigenous men and male youth ages 12-18 years is designed to foster relationships between Indigenous youth and positive role models and create a trusting environment where youth feel safe and supported. Mentors will act as champions, provide greater consistency to youth, connect youth to broader experiences and opportunities, and provide safe and positive relationship development for at-risk youth.
Grant awarded: $6,347

Conne River Health and Social Services (Miawpukek)
Connecting Young Women: A Lunch and Learn Series
This project consists of a 10-12 week program for young girls of St. Anne’s School to increase young women’s awareness of safety measures and healthy lifestyles, and to build essential rapport with community members to increase resource uptake. The intention is to host bi-weekly hour-long presentations at the school during lunch break. During these sessions the young girls will be provided a healthy lunch while listening to psychoeducational presentations on various topics.
Grant awarded: $5,606

Qalipu First Nation
Dancers and Drummers of the Dawn: An Aboriginal Cultural Approach to Anti-violence and Bullying
This project aims to create a model for young girls and boys which will standardize basic Mi’kmaq teachings and draw upon strength of traditional Indigenous knowledge, crafts, and arts. Project content will cover types of violence and abuse, signs and indicators, talking and healing circles, traditional dance teachings, craft making, safety planning, and resource development and distribution. Additionally, youth will explore and identify the impacts associated with violence and bullying. Teachings around the importance of traditional knowledge and culture will provide a holistic approach which will only embrace the value of the project and build knowledge and skills within Indigenous communities.
Grant awarded: $15,034

People of the Dawn Indigenous Friendship Centre
Changing Seasons Project
This 16-week feasibility study will inform the direction and emphasis of the upcoming year’s youth camp already in development. This year’s participants will benefit from this new direction and will take these experiences and skills back to their families, school and communities. The study will also benefit local communities by bringing together youth and Elders in a dialogue to explore the issue of violence. Together, they will create the foundations of a “training matrix” for camp facilitators that combine outdoor experience with relevant cultural teachings, traditions and norms.
Grant awarded: $11,805

AnânauKatiget Tumingit Regional Inuit Women’s Association (ATRIWA) – $24,035
Breaking the Cycle
Through culture and music, this project aims to increase education and awareness on sexual and domestic violence in the following four main ways: developing a resource that communities as a whole can relate to; developing a resource that is driven by the community for the community; empowering people to become engaged in discussing violence in creative ways, and bringing about a positive movement amongst communities for change.
Grant awarded: $17,632

St. John’s Native Friendship Centre (SJNFC)
Increasing Community Capacity: Taking a Community Approach to Address Violence Prevention
This project will focus on community driven groups and initiatives that currently lack the capacity to focus on violence prevention work, and those that provide the opportunity to bring together the entire community to talk about violence as a collective. The overall goals of this project include breaking down gender barriers within the community and helping reduce gender-based violence, reconnecting community members to culture in a healthy and healing way so as to help heal historic, intergenerational and institutional traumas, reconnecting to the sacred and healing components of fire in a safe, respectful and responsible manner, strengthening those who provide services to Indigenous people to avoid vicarious trauma, and learning the importance of accepting help and the importance of giving back.
Grant awarded: $22,106

Nunatsiavut Government
Building Strength – Leadership Workshop
This project will aim to encourage women to run for office in the upcoming Nunatsiavut Government elections. Two facilitators will deliver a three-day workshop in each of the five Nunatsiavut communities (Nain, Hopedale, Postville, Makkovik, Rigolet), Happy Valley-Goose Bay and North West River. Workshops will focus on how to run a successful campaign as well as building self-confidence, encouraging women to consider running and discussing the benefits of having women involved.
Grant awarded: $18,356

Nunatsiavut Government
Celebrating Women – International Women’s Day
This project proposes to host a luncheon to celebrate women in each of the Nunatsiavut communities and Upper Lake Melville. Local women from each community will be invited to speak to women about the upcoming Nunatsiavut elections and encourage women to get involved. Having more women involved in the Nunatsiavut Government will bring a new dynamic and bring more attention to social issues such as violence, housing, and poverty that affect Nunatsiavut communities.
Grant awarded: $3,356