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:

Youth and Family Services Program

Organization/Community:

Inuvik Justice Committee

Location:

Inuvik, Northwest Territories

Website:

N/A

Goals and Objectives:

To help children, youth and families avoid involvement with the criminal justice system, reducing the potential for violence and increasing community safety.

Target Group Description:

Boys and girls ages 6-18, and families.

Program Description:

The program promotes traditional Gwich'in and Inuvialuit land skills that include traditional spiritual ceremonies, Elder counselling and peer support. The program has developed a weekend "Take a Kid Trapping" program offered at Elders' camps which offers at risk youth an opportunity to learn the skills necessary to become successful trappers. The program runs public education workshops on issues of drug and alcohol abuse, offers parenting support groups and support to victims, and mediation of restorative justice.

Program Successes/Impact:

The development of wide support in the community.

Key Lessons/Challenges:

Limited human resources and difficulty in acquiring funding.

Program in operation since:

2010.

Program:

Ongoing.