Family Violence Initiative
COMPENDIUM OF PROMISING PRACTICES TO REDUCE VIOLENCE AND INCREASE SAFETY OF ABORIGINAL WOMEN IN CANADA
INTERACTIONS WITHIN COMMUNITIES
Healthy Relationships: Children and Youth
- Program Name:
Empowering Our Little Sisters Project
- Organization/Community:
Kanikanichikh
- Location:
Winnipeg, Manitoba
- Website:
- Goals and Objectives:
To empower youth and help them regain and be proud of their identity as Aboriginal girls, reducing their vulnerability to violence and abuse.
- Target Group Description:
Aboriginal girls ages 10 – 14.
- Program Description:
The program educates youth on the traditional roles and responsibilities of Aboriginal women. Through an exploration of their cultural roots the participants learn to be proud of their heritage and of themselves and their identity as young Aboriginal women. The program partners children with mentors who share experiences and serve as role models to the young girls. The aim is to instil within the participants how important it is for them to, in the future, serve as positive role models as mothers to their own children. Elders help facilitate sharing circles and provide teachings to the participants. Through their learning, the girls become empowered and gain confidence in themselves as future knowledge holders for their communities, reducing their vulnerability to violence and abuse.
- Program Successes/Impact:
Graduates of the program have become successful and gone on to fulfilling careers and post-secondary educational institutes.
- Key Lessons/Challenges:
Obtaining funding and human resources.
- Program in operation since:
2005.
- Program:
Ongoing.
- Date modified: