Family Violence Initiative

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

INTERACTIONS WITHIN COMMUNITIES

Family Violence Interventions

Program Name:

Kataujaq Society Safe Shelter

Organization/Community:

Kataujaq Society

Location:

Rankin Inlet, Nunavut

Website:

N/A

Goals and Objectives:

To provide emergency shelter to women and children fleeing violence in their homes.

Target Group Description:

Northern women and children of any age and cultural background.

Program Description:

The program offers emergency shelter services for a maximum of 3 weeks. The shelter also provides country food, clothing, transportation and toys. The program offers counselling, advocacy and safety planning for women clients and their children. It operates as a liaison between clients and social workers, schools, the nursing station and other social services in the area. It offers a cultural component run by 10 local Elders who run a living off of the land camp which involves camping, hunting and the learning of traditional land skills. The Elders also provide traditional counselling to clients.

Program Successes/Impact:

Received additional funding to extend emergency stays for up to 3 weeks as opposed to a maximum of 5 days under old funding budget.

Key Lessons/Challenges:

Obtaining funding. Criticism from local community organizations that the shelter is "breaking up the family"

Program in operation since:

1991.

Program:

Ongoing.