Family Violence Initiative

COMPENDIUM OF PROMISING PRACTICES TO REDUCE VIOLENCE AND INCREASE SAFETY OF ABORIGINAL WOMEN IN CANADA

INTERACTIONS WITHIN COMMUNITIES

Raising Awareness in the Broader Community

Program Name:

Native Women's Shelters Network

Organization/Community:

Quebec Native Women Inc.

Location:

Kahnawake, Quebec

Website:

www.faq-qnw.org

Goals and Objectives:

To serve shelter workers as a forum for discussion, references and training and support shelters in their efforts to build awareness with regard to conjugal violence in Aboriginal communities.

Target Group Description:

Women, Men and Communities.

Program Description:

The Network currently includes eleven shelters established in Aboriginal reserve communities as well as in urban areas. The women who make up the Network have been meeting regularly since 2003 to create links, discuss issues and receive training and information. This collaboration is allowing members of the Network to broaden their knowledge and to improve their expertise in the work they are doing to ensure the greater safety of victims and to support the communities in the promotion of non-violence. The Network utilizes an Aboriginal approach to their services. In this regard, the Network shelter workers share a common vision in their analysis and their intervention in family violence that includes both the family and the community for an overall process of healing, involving women, men and children.

Program Successes/Impact:

Increasing the effectiveness of shelters through networking.

Key Lessons/Challenges:

There are issues of confidentiality when working in small communities. Obtaining funding to sustain activities.

Program in operation since:

2003.

Program:

Ongoing.