Family Violence Initiative

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

INTERACTIONS WITHIN COMMUNITIES

Healthy Relationships: Women

Program Name:

Anger Solutions Program

Organization/Community:

Biidaaban Healing Lodge

Location:

Heron Bay, Ontario

Website:

www.biidaaban.com

Goals and Objectives:

To provide participants with the necessary knowledge, skills and attitudes to understand the effects of unresolved anger on the individual, family, community and nation, reducing violence.

Target Group Description:

Women and men over the age of 18.

Program Description:

The program is intended to give participants an understanding of their own personal feelings and expand their vocabulary of feeling words. Participants also gain an understanding of their most typical style of expressing anger. Once they understand their style they can learn new ways of expression that have more positive outcomes. How anger develops, assertiveness skills (verbal and non-verbal), body language, role playing are all covered. There is a traditional, cultural component to the programming that utilizes sweat lodges, pipe ceremonies, and sharing circles. Participants also have a blessing ceremony when they finish the program.

Program Successes/Impact:

N/A

Key Lessons/Challenges:

Difficulty with some clients finding transportation to and from the program.

Program in operation since:

2011.

Program:

Ongoing.