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 the Circle

Organization/Community:

Native Women's Centre

Location:

Hamilton, Ontario

Website:

www.nativewomenscentre.com

Goals and Objectives:

To offer a place of healing where women and their children are given an empowering, safe and stable environment that will provide guidance and strength as they travel on their healing path, including after having experienced violence and abuse.

Target Group Description:

Women and Children.

Program Description:

The programs strives to provide women and children with a positive sense of identity and self, through life skills workshops and holistic healing practices which incorporate spiritual, emotional, mental and physical service modalities including traditional cultural practices. It also provides public education and awareness programs for the larger community by building a much needed bridge to learn, share and celebrate the value, beauty and strength of our cultures; as well as enhanced transitional support services including individual, group and crisis counseling. Cultural teachings are provided by Elders from various Nations and there is access to traditional ceremonies to help facilitate the learning and healing processes.

Program Successes/Impact:

The clients of the program as well as the program staff come to see and treat each other as family.

Key Lesson/Challenge:

Obtaining funding.

Program in operation since:

2011.

Program:

Ongoing.