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:

Stolen Sisters

Organization/Community:

Amnesty International Canada

Location:

International (Administered from Ottawa, Ontario)

Website:

www.amnesty.ca

Goals and Objectives:

To increase awareness of the extent of violence faced by Indigenous women. To foster an environment in which Indigenous women's organizations can implement solutions to this issue.

Target Group Description:

Urban Indigenous Women, Political Organizations.

Program Description:

The program strives to mobilize awareness activities (such as vigils and meetings with police and government personnel) of Indigenous grassroots women and organizations. It also seeks to maintain international connections in all human rights committees to ensure that the issue of violence against Indigenous women remains a part of the ongoing discussion. The program also focuses on research aimed at exposing the dimensions of violence against Indigenous women, particularly regarding violence in urban settings. Healing circles were utilized in place of traditional western research processes to gather the information regarding these issues. The program seeks to bring in ceremonies or traditions in every possible process.

Program Successes/Impact:

Implementation of a training program on violence against Aboriginal women in the Canadian Police College.

Key Lessons/Challenges:

Difficulty in gathering support to treat the issue as a cross sectional issue.

Program in operation since:

2002.

Program:

Ongoing.