Wasueg presentation - Listuguj QC

1. “Abuse can only thrive in silence” (Christopher Smith, 2013)

2. Why WASUEG?

3. Violence Towards Women
Violence toward women can be described under many titles:
 Family Violence
 Domestic Violence
 Conjugal Violence
 Intimate Partner Violence
 Violence in General

4. Family Violence in Canada Statistics as
of 2013
 88 000 reports to police of family violence
 48% victimized by current or former spouse
 17% the accused was a parent
 14% the accused was an extended family member (in-law, uncle, grandparent, etc)
 11% victimized by a sibling
 10% the accused was the victim’s own child
These reports only include physical assault and face-to-face threats

5. Women as Victims
 70% family violence victims were female
 However in spousal category 80% of victims were female
 Comparison to general violence 46% of victims were female
Statistics taken from statcan.gc.ca “The Daily” released 2015-01-15
 Victimization of aboriginal women is close to triple that of non-aboriginal
women
Statistic taken from statcan.gc.ca - 2009

6. Definition of Domestic Violence
Any incident of threatening behaviour, violence or abuse
between adults who are or have been intimate partners
or family members regardless of gender or sexuality.
Source: http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk

7. The Wasueg Project – Phase 1
Project Description
 To engage community members and community resources in a dialogue about
“Violence Against Women and Girls” through Focus Groups that will explore
the depth of the problem in our community.
 The Wasueg Project will further identify best practises and gaps in services
and program delivery.
 The data will serve as a guide in the development of safety plans and/or
community safety plans and curriculum that will provide the knowledge, skills
and tools to keep women and girls safe from violence and abuse

8. Project Objectives and Goals
 To increase awareness and open dialogue on violence and abuse against Aboriginal
women and girls in our community in a safe and healthy manner through planned
Focus Groups, presentations and public service announcements
 To provide the knowledge and tools to empower our women and girls to develop
“Individualized Safety Plans” and Community Safety Plans and a curriculum
(workshops) to guide in the development of these safety plans (Phase II)
 To decrease the incidence of violence and abuse in our community and to identify a
tool to measure the rate of incidence and success of our project (Phase II)
 To increase awareness on the forms of violence and of available resources in our
community and other locations, thereby improving service and program delivery
 To facilitate the creation of networks within the community to support those
experiencing violence and abuse

9. How did we gather data and promote
The Wasueg Project?
 Focus Groups (Total 13)
 Kitchen Table Discussions and High School Students
 Invites to Community Resources – Staff Meetings
 Public Service Announcements on local community radio (promotion)
 Haven House Website www.listugujhavenhouse.ca (promotion)
 Facebook Page – Listuguj Haven House (promotion)

10. Tools we used to gather data
 Information Session and trail-run with Community Resources
 Facilitator Training for Focus Group Leaders (qualitative data techniques)
 Developed “Objectives” specific to the Focus Groups
 Confidentiality Agreement for Participants
 Power Point Presentation for Focus Groups (Statistics, Definitions, Causes, etc)
 12 minute video – “Through Their Eyes” (Intergenerational Impacts of Violence)
 Discussion – Identifying Patterns of Domestic Violence
 Take Home Quiz
 Available Services and Support
 Promotional Items and Gifts Cards for Participants

11. The Wasueg Project becoming more visible in
our community with our Promotional Items
Safety Whistle, flashlight, screwdriver, coffee mug apron, oven mitt, lanyard,
tote bag, pens, notepad, emergency road kit, gift cards (Subway and Grocery)

12. Wasueg Project Focus Group Objectives
 Gather information to determine the understanding of domestic violence from
various community groups within Listuguj – An Open Dialogue
 Provide follow-up counselling services, if needed
 Increase awareness of Listuguj community services in regards to domestic
violence and gather suggestions for improvements or modification of services.
 Develop workshops based on the information obtained from the Focus Groups,
involving community members in the further development of The Wasueg
Project.
 Make recommendations to community leaders, Administrators and Managers

13. Who participated in our project?
Quantitative Data
 105 Participants – 13 Focus Groups
 Focus Groups Participants ranged from a minimum of 4 to 14 per group
 Listuguj Mi’gmaq Band Members
 Non-Mi’gmaq community members in relationships with a Listuguj Mi’gmaq
 Males and Females
 Focus Group in a Professional setting (7)
 Focus Group – Kitchen Table/Home Setting (6)
 Focus Group – High School (1)
 Age Range from 16 years to 65+

14. Wasueg Focus Group Questionnaire
The objective of this Focus Group is to have an open dialogue on
domestic violence in a safe, non-evasive manner. Respecting the
sensitivity of this issue, participants are free to leave at anytime
and/or engage in a personal discussion about domestic violence with
one of the facilitators.

15. The Questions…………
1. What are some behaviours or indicators that you consider as being part of a healthy
relationship with other people living in your home?
2. List examples that you would consider as violent behaviour in the home and/or within
a relationship?
3. List some of the services you are aware of that are available to Listuguj community
members experiencing domestic violence.
4. What are some services you would deem necessary to reduce incidents of domestic
violence in Listuguj
5. List some ideas women and youth can plan for their safety, if they ever experienced a
potential abusive/violent situation either in their home, relationship or other location
6. Why do you think incidents of domestic violence are higher in Aboriginal communities?
7. How can our culture play a part in the healing caused by domestic violence and abuse?

16. Where do we go from here? - PHASE II
 Follow-Up activities to continue with the awareness of domestic violence
 Cultural Retreat for Youth
 “Identifying Our Culture” Retreat for our Elders
 Develop a pilot of workshops for long-term teaching awareness of violence and
safety (10 year plan)
 Develop a quantitative tool to coincide with the qualitative questionnaire used in
the Focus Groups to measure increases or knowledge of: relationship abuse, safety
strategies, cultural practises for better and healthier relationships.
 Develop an accord to ensure partnerships among service providers pledge to
participate in the safety and well-being of women and girls and respect gender
equality of each partner in a relationship.
 Develop promotional material, posters, pamphlets, local videos; to teach the
contrast between healthy and unhealthy relationships and possible solutions to
healing relationships
Continuation

17. Where do we go from here? – PHASE II
 Pilot run of the workshops beginning in November;
 Role of Culture and Elder Teachings in the Prevention of Family Violence
 Building Healthy Relationships
 Staying Safe in the Home and Community
 Youth Safety
 Breaking the Silence
 Community Supports
 Family Violence Prevention Working Group – November 2016
 Family Violence Prevention Symposium – Fall 2017

18. Unexpected Revelations from the Focus Groups
 Need for community healing for men in abusive relationships, either as an abuser
or victim – Gender Equality
 The need for the following workshops;
• Anger Management
• Understanding mental illness and addictions and how they impact relationships
• Staying Safe – prevention rather than more violence: and self-defence
• Alternatives to Abuse
• Social Media Workshop – on elements of healthy and unhealthy relationships
(blog, communication and participation in an on-line forum)
 A theme of acceptance and need for abuse was voiced by lower grade levels of
education
 Need to reconnect with our Mi’gmaq Culture and Traditional responsibilities as
part of the healing resulting from domestic violence and intergenerational
trauma

19. Listuguj Community Resources
Partnerships
 Haven House
 Families First Support Services
 Listuguj Child and Family Services
 Listuguj Community Health Services
 Listuguj Police Department
 Mawiomi Treatment Services

20. ~ Wela’liog ~ Thank-You ~