HEALING AND RECONCILIATION FOR COMMUNITIES AND FAMILIES

Healing through education and awareness at Nignen Women’s Shelter

Intimate partner violence is an issue that affects women across Canada, both in Indigenous and non-Indigenous communities.

The cycle of violence often forces women to return to unsafe homes. Compounding this issue is a lack of awareness and understanding of domestic violence within the context of Indigenous experiences.

The Nignen Women’s Shelter in Natoaganeg, New Brunswick, has recently been established to serve 15 Mi’kmaw and Wolastoqiyik communities. It is the first Indigenous women’s shelter located on First Nation land in New Brunswick and is looking to provide a culturally safe space for women in need.

The shelter will be hosting a series of workshops to help women better understand the roots of violence in Indigenous communities and the complex dynamics of intimate partner violence. The workshops will address various aspects of domestic violence, offering insights into its causes and strategies for breaking the cycle.

Funding provided through the Indigenous Reconciliation Fund (IRF) will cover salaries and honorariums for the project manager, facilitators, and Elders. Additionally, it will cover costs for workshop supplies, food and hospitality, and venue rental, ensuring that the workshops are accessible and welcoming to all participants.

At Nignen, the focus is on providing services that are rooted in Indigenous culture, language, and ceremony. The staff understands that Indigenous women often find comfort and strength in culturally specific support, and the workshops will reflect this approach. Through traditional practices, language, and ceremony, the shelter will create a space where women can feel seen, heard, and empowered to make positive changes in their lives.

Diocese of Saint John

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