Family Violence Initiative

COMPENDIUM OF PROMISING PRACTICES TO REDUCE VIOLENCE AND INCREASE SAFETY OF ABORIGINAL WOMEN IN CANADA – COMPENDIUM ANNEX: DETAILED PRACTICE DESCRIPTIONS

INTERACTIONS WITHIN COMMUNITIES

Family Violence Interventions

Program name:

Kataujaq Society Safe Shelter

Organization:

Kataujaq Society

Location:

Rankin Inlet, Nunavut

Target Group:

Northern women and children of any age and cultural background.

Contact Name:

Kwedzo Forson, Executive Director

Phone:

867-645-2214

Email:

kataujaq@qiniq.com

Website:

N/A

Program Overview
History:

The Kataujaq Society Safe Shelter was established in 1987. The present shelter building was acquired in 1991. It has enough room to house a total of 8 women and children. The Kataujaq Society Safe Shelter is the only women's shelter in the entire Kivalliq Region. As a result women and children from all 6 communities in this region access this shelter.

Program Description
Goals & Objectives:

To provide emergency shelter to women and children fleeing violence in their home; to provide counselling, advocacy and safety planning to women and children staying in the shelter; and to reinforce cultural identity and connect women and children with trustworthy Elders and community members through a Land Program.

Traditional/Indigenous ways:

The program offers a cultural component run by 10 local Elders who operate a living off of the land camp which involves camping, hunting and the learning of traditional land skills. The Elders also provide traditional counselling to clients. The shelter provides local transportation so women and children can visit any relatives they may have in Rankin Inlet (family solidarity and unity is an important value in Inuit culture).

Components of program:

The program offers emergency shelter services for a maximum of 3 weeks. The shelter also provides country food, clothing, transportation and toys, as well as counselling, advocacy and safety planning for women clients and their children. It operates as a liaison between clients and social workers, schools, the nursing station and other social services in the area.

Services/How they work:

Services are provided on site at the facility, at various locations in the community and on the land.

Funding:

Funding for all programs is through the Government of Nunavut.

Relationships and Stakeholders
Involvement of Target Groups:

The safe shelter is staffed by women. Women Elders sit on the governing board of the Kataujaq Society. The community of Rankin Inlet supports the shelter with donations of food, clothing and toys. Food is also provided by men who are required by the courts to provide food (caribou) to the shelter as part of their sentence.

Partners:

RCMP; social workers; nurses; and schools.

Other relationships:

N/A

Details of Program Evaluation
Evaluation:

Evaluations have been completed annually.

Highlights of Evaluation Findings:

The reports were not made available publicly, and no specific results can be provided.

Program Outcomes
Measures of Success:

Success can be partially measured by the shelter's statistics: in 2011, the facility provided safety and shelter for 43 women and 68 children for a total of 1048 bednights. Our Land Program is well received and involves many community Elders. The community is generous in its donations and the working relationships with other service providers are effective.

Achievements:

Received additional funding to extend emergency stays for up to 3 weeks as opposed to a maximum of 5 days under previous funding budget.

Challenges:

Obtaining funding. Criticism from local community organizations that the shelter is "breaking up the family".

Things to Know to Replicate
Replication Advice:

The program is considered replicable. Community support is required to ensure success.

Resources:

Adequate funding, properly trained staff and facility space for the programming would be necessary to ensure the program's success.