Collaboration to End Violence: National Aboriginal Women's Forum 2011

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

Between June 15th and June 17th 2011, the Province of British Columbia‟s Ministry of Aboriginal Relations and Reconciliation (BC MARR) and the Native Women‟s Association of Canada (NWAC) co-hosted the Collaboration to End Violence: National Aboriginal Women’s Forum. The Musqueam Indian Band, upon whose traditional territory the event was held, gave the forum its name, ən ct ʔiʔθəyθət ct, which translates as we are courageous and we are healing ourselves.

More than 250 people from all provinces and territories in Canada attended the forum, with participants including representatives of provincial and territorial government departments and agencies, national Aboriginal organizations, and First Nation, Métis and Inuit communities and community-based organizations. The agenda included three working sessions in which participants developed recommendations for actions to address violence against Aboriginal women and girls. The first session focused on post-incident support, the second on intervention and the third on prevention. Download the PDF report.

The outcomes of the Forum reinforced the need for a holistic and community-driven network of responses, with strengthened relationships and improved accountability. Participants in the Forum working sessions identified leading practices and lessons learned and generated key recommendations relating to the following themes:

1. The Need for All Responses to be Community Engaged and Community Led

2. Holistic Continuum of Programs and Services

3. A Continuum of Programs & Services to Empower Children and Youth

4. A Continuum of Programs and Services to Empower Women

5. A Continuum of Programs and Services to Empower Men

6. Equitable Access to Programs and Services

7. Improved Integrated Networks of Resources and Services

8. A National Strategy

9. Relationship-Building, Partnership and Accountability

10. Engaged and Accountable Leadership

11. Funding

12. Data, Assessment and Evaluation