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:

Honouring Gifts

Organization/Community:

Kanikanichikh

Location:

Winnipeg, Manitoba

Website:

www.kanikanichihk.ca

Goals and Objectives:

To build on the skills that the participant has an interest in and give them the experience and confidence they need to pursue a career in this area, reducing vulnerability to violence and abuse.

Target Group Description:

Everyone (ages 18 – 30)

Program Description:

Honouring Gifts is a career exploration program that provides employment and life skills training. It alternates between in class sessions and field practicums. In addition to this, the program educates participants in the areas of family violence prevention and seeks to empower participants to learn how to build and maintain healthy family relationships. This section of the course is 10 weeks in length. Skills such as suicide intervention, youth engagement and first aid / CPR are taught to the participants as well. The program has a culturally relevant component that offers access to sweat lodges, pipe ceremony, sharing circles and other cultural activities. Participants are offered the opportunity to speak with an Elder.

Program Successes/Impact:

Participants successfully finding work after participating in the program.

Key Lessons/Challenges:

Lack of facilities to care for potential participants' children prevents them from taking advantage of the program.

Program in operation since:

2009.

Program:

Ongoing.