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:

Tobique First Nation Family Violence Prevention

Organization/Community:

Wolastoqewiyik Healing Lodge

Location:

Tobique First Nation, New Brunswick

Website:

N/A

Goals and Objectives:

To assist in the prevention of family violence by creating community awareness, working with service providers and providing supportive services to clients.

Target Group Description:

Everyone.

Program Description:

The program strives to create awareness of family violence in the community and change the mindset from acceptance of violence as a reality to no longer tolerating violence as a "normal" way to live life. The program seeks to empower women so that they have enough self-esteem to seek help if they are being abused. The coordinator searches for violence awareness/prevention programs to bring back to the community. The program incorporates Aboriginal traditional medicines and ceremonies, the Medicine Wheel teachings, the Seven Stages of Life, and the Seven Sacred teachings.

Program Successes/Impact:

The program now has representation on the Advisory Committee for Violence Against Aboriginal Women and contributes to policy change in NB.

Key Lessons/Challenges:

Building partnerships with other service providers has been difficult.

Program in operation since:

Approx. 1972.

Program:

Ongoing.