Eleven Projects to Prevent Violence in Aboriginal Communities
Supported by the Provincial Government

In a continuing effort to support Aboriginal women and children, the Provincial Government today announced this year’s recipients of the Aboriginal Women’s Violence Prevention Grant Program. In Happy Valley-Goose Bay this afternoon, the Honourable Charlene Johnson, Minister Responsible for the Status of Women and lead minister of the Violence Prevention Initiative, unveiled 11 new projects that will share in the $200,000 in available funds.

“We remain committed to working with our Aboriginal communities to prevent violence and I am so pleased to see the continued interest in this program,” said Minister Johnson. “The innovative ideas and culturally-relevant proposals we received this year demonstrate how this collaborative approach is helping us all to take responsibility in addressing violence. Our government is pleased to make $200,000 available for this program and I am eager to see how the outcomes will help Aboriginal women and children recognize violence and take measures to eradicate it from our communities.”

The following types of projects or activities may be eligible under the Aboriginal Women’s Violence Prevention Grant Program: those with a focus on violence prevention action plans; public awareness and education materials or activities; healing programs, improved programs and services at shelters for Aboriginal women; the development of Aboriginal women’s leadership; economic or educational capacity; and, improved cultural strength of Aboriginal communities. These activities and criteria are based on needs identified by Aboriginal women at various forums in the recent past.

“Increased community awareness and education is key to helping prevent violence in our community as a whole,” said the Honourable Felix Collins, Minister for Intergovernmental and Aboriginal Affairs. “Violence against women and children cannot and will not be tolerated in today’s society. Our government remains committed to working with Aboriginal organizations to advance the quality of life for Aboriginal women and children throughout our province."

Funding for the Aboriginal Women’s Violence Prevention Grants Program is made available through the Women’s Policy Office, the lead department of the Provincial Government’s Violence Prevention Initiative. Since 2005, 90 projects have been funded through this program. For a full list of projects funded this year, see the backgrounder below.

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BACKGROUNDER
Aboriginal Women’s Violence Prevention Grant Program 2013/14

St. John’s Native Friendship Centre
Empowering Women, Embracing Culture, Strengthening Communities
This project is designed to provide women with the opportunity to empower one another through education, mentorship and culturally rich experiences. Activities are designed to take place on a regular basis to create a safe and welcoming program that women can look forward to. These opportunities ensure that women feel they have a safe place to learn, grow and share.
Grant awarded: $30,000

NunatuKavut Community Council Inc.
NunatuKavut Elder & Youth Gathering
This project comprises a three-day Elder & Youth Gathering for Aboriginal Elders and Youth to spend time learning from each other. Along with storytelling and traditional knowledge sharing, time will be allotted to design and create children’s stories which will be compiled and shared with others. This intergenerational initiative is designed to enhance the spiritual, mental, emotional and physical health and well-being of Aboriginal Elders and youth. The Elder & Youth Gathering will be open to youth ages 10 and up from across Labrador. Sessions will be held on violence prevention, Type 2 Diabetes prevention, physical activity, healthy eating and overall wellness.
Grant awarded: $25,512

Flat Bay Indian Band Inc.
Captive Expressions - Violence Prevention Indigenous Film Series
The 2014 Captive Expressions - Violence Prevention Indigenous Film Series will initiate a sequence of films to raise the standards for violence prevention through cultural evolution across the nation. In the first of the series, six local Mi’kmaq Elders will be interviewed about the dynamic of abuse and violence that they witnessed during the oppression period of Mi’kmaq identity. Cast from the community and local vicinity will be enlisted to create re-enactments of the Elder’s reflections and local Violence Prevention Facilitators will speak about the domino effects of the oppression generation on the current generation. An abstract of how to heal from violence and abuse, as well as how to live up to the standards of the Mi’kmaq culture by integrating cultural healing techniques and traditional wisdoms will be developed. Followed by a community launch of the film, the abstract will be submitted to the imagineNative Film Festival for the October 2014 Canada-wide festival.
Grant awarded: $25,000

Sheshatshiu Innu First Nation
Innu Ishkueut Healing Journey – Conference
The intent of this project is to send several women from the community to an anti-violence and suicide prevention conference in Montreal, Quebec. These issues are very prominent in the community and the conference will provide an opportunity for awareness and intervention for those who have been most impacted.
Grant awarded: $10,000

Sheshatshiu Innu First Nation
Innu Ishkueut Healing Journey – Retreat
This project aims to teach young women and children about the different types and forms of violence, how to recognize violence, and how to prevent it. These teachings will take place during a wilderness retreat.
Grant awarded: $15,000

Nunatsiavut Government
Annanut Kativisak Women’s Retreat
Six women from each community of Nain, Hopedale, Postville, Makkovik, Rigolet and North West River will be provided with the opportunity to apply to the Status of Women office of the Nunatsiavut Government to participate in a local retreat in or near their home community. The retreat will allow women to discuss violence-related issues in their communities and improve cultural strength by giving women the opportunity to get out on the land and connect with each other without the hardship of leaving their home community and their families.
Grant awarded: $8,336

Nunatsiavut Government
Self Defense Workshops
Wenlido E.A.S.T. is a program developed in British Columbia that stands for Empowerment, Assertiveness and Self-defense Training. The program was created by women, for women and is designed for women of any age. Trained facilitators in Happy Valley-Goose Bay are available to travel to the north coast communities of Makkovik and Hopedale to provide training for Inuit women. This training will provide Inuit women with the means to protect themselves in violent situations if they occur. It will also be beneficial in building Inuit women’s confidence to stand up to violence, which will hopefully lead to a decrease in the amount of violence against Inuit women.
Grant awarded: $10,640

AnanauKatiget Tumingit Regional Inuit Women’s Association Inc.
Phase Two Community Wellness Workshops
This project aims to facilitate the provision of violence awareness workshops in the communities of Nunatsiavut (Nain, Hopedale, Makkovik, Postville and Rigolet) as well as Happy Valley-Goose Bay and North West River. It is anticipated that in the course of one year three workshops on different violence awareness topics will be delivered for a total of 24 workshops.
Grant awarded: $25,512

Qalipu Mi’kmaq First Nation
Enabling Qalipu Women
Over two weekends, Qalipu women between the ages of 18 and 30, will come together at a secluded retreat to focus on traditional culture, leadership skills and how to successfully blend their traditional culture with the modern lifestyle and aspirations which are the keystones of contemporary Qalipu culture. The retreats will focus on the two sides of the Qalipu culture, integrating traditional Mi’kmaq culture with a modern contemporary culture. The first retreat will focus on Mi’kmaq culture, art, traditional crafts and oral story telling. The second retreat will focus on women and leadership. The skills developed in the retreats will assist the participants in finding jobs, developing their own businesses, acting as managers and supervisors in the workplace or in becoming political and social leaders in their community and our Nation, how to understand the complexity of sexual harassment and how to respond to sexual harassment in the workplace.
Grant awarded: $15,000

Mushuau Innu First Nation
Natuashish Women’s Shelter Violence Prevention Enhancement Project
This project will increase the capacity of the women’s shelter by providing opportunities specifically for the capacity building for staff as well as outreach programs and services for the entire community. Community-based violence prevention initiatives will be developed and delivered from a population health perspective which ensures cultural competence and safety. In addition to the outreach component of the project, staff will participate in regional and provincial conferences, networking meetings and policy discussions which would not otherwise be possible.
Grant awarded: $30,000

Newfoundland Aboriginal Women’s Network
Following in our Grandmothers Footprints; Realizing our Leadership Potential Phase II
This project is the second phase of a three-phased initiative that seeks to identify the barriers that exist, or are perceived to exist, in the communities of Benoit's Cove and Stephenville, which are preventing Aboriginal women from achieving economic security. Phase II will see the implementation of culturally-based personal capacity building and the gaining of learned skills from Aboriginal crafts people and Elders. It will also provide the participants with the ability to meet with successful Aboriginal business owners in the specific areas identified in the assessment phase.
Grant awarded: $5,000

2013 07 25             1:10 p.m.