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:

Seven Generations Mentoring

Organization/Community:

Métis Family Services

Location:

Surrey, British Columbia and surrounding area

Website:

www.metisfamilyservices.com

Goals and Objectives:

To connect Aboriginal youth with healthy Mentors to provide them with opportunities to develop positive relationships with members of their communities, to reduce vulnerability to violence and abuse.

Target Group Description:

Youth ages 10 - 24

Program Description:

The program supports creating modern day warriors, breaking through fear, learning through cultural teachings and using culture and history as a frame of reference to develop a strong identity. Through traditional teachings, protocols, and Elders, youth become immersed in culture and ceremony, learning from the past, acknowledging the future and staying engaged in the present. Mentors must agree to maintain their relationship with their client for a minimum of one year and to take their client out in the community for 1-2 hours on a weekly basis.

Program Successes/Impact:

Getting the youth to share their personal stories.

Key Lessons/Challenges:

Limited human resources to cover large geographic area.

Program in operation since:

2007.

Program:

Ongoing.