Family Violence Initiative

COMPENDIUM OF PROMISING PRACTICES TO REDUCE VIOLENCE AND INCREASE SAFETY OF ABORIGINAL WOMEN IN CANADA

INTERACTIONS WITHIN COMMUNITIES

Raising Awareness in the Broader Community

Program Name:

Angel Street Domestic Violence Education Project

Organization/Community:

Skeetchestn Community School

Location:

Savona, British Columbia

Website:

N/A

Goals and Objectives:

To make a public stand against violence in Aboriginal communities and draw ongoing attention to the issue.

Target Group Description:

Everyone (with focus on students).

Program Description:

The program focuses on bringing awareness to the issue of violence in Aboriginal communities by helping to organize and provide public forums in which the issue can be freely discussed. This was done through a traditional naming ceremony. It was the program's goal to engage the community and the students of the school in maintaining an open dialogue with one another about the issue of violence in the community.

Program Successes/Impact:

Created a forum for community members to publicly stand against violence. The program included renaming of a street leading to the local school to "Angel Street", inspired by the project begun by the mayor of Iqaluit Elisapee Sheutiapik, and supported by Inuit singer Lucie Idlout.

Key Lessons/Challenges:

The involvement of children are key to the success of this program.

Program in operation since:

2010.

Program:

Ongoing.