Family Violence Initiative

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

History:: Wahbung Abinoonjiiag was jointly established in 1994 by three sister organizations – the Native Women's Transition Centre, North End Women's Centre and Ikwe Widjittiwin. Wahbung is open to anyone who is involved in a family violence situation and is referred from one of the sister organizations.

Goals & Objectives:: To empower children and families to break the cycle of violence through holistic healing; and to provide a program that is culturally sensitive and therapeutically based.
Traditional/Indigenous ways:: Wahbung Abinoonjiiag Inc. uses the traditional knowledge of Aboriginal ancestors in its service delivery approach. Wahbung has four modules per year, each module represents a direction of the Medicine Wheel and each lesson represents one of the Seven Sacred teachings.
Components of program:: The program offers three core sessions running twice a week for ten weeks: a children's program that incorporates attachment and trauma theories that strengthen the families' social skills; a youth program that focuses on cultural teachings, healthy social interaction, self-identity and fostering normal development; and a women's program that provides information, support and advocacy. The facility fosters the creation of a healing/sharing network among clientele. The sessions are attached to the four directions of the Medicine Wheel.
Services/How they work:: Services are provided on site at the facility.
Funding:: Funding is provided by the Province of Manitoba's Violence Protection Program; and the Public Health Agency of Canada's Community Action Program for Children.

Involvement of Target Groups:: Participants decide what they want to learn about in each group.
Partners:: the Native Women's Transition Centre; North End Women's Centre and Ikwe Widjittiwin; and Child and Family Services.
Other relationships:: N/A.

Measures of Success:: Success is measured by the number of participants enrolled in the programming, community feedback, end of session client evaluations, and the staff's progress notes on each client.
Achievements:: Graduates of the one year program can return and facilitate new groups in the program.
Challenges:: Obtaining funding. Transience of clientele.

Replication Advice:: The program is considered replicable. No advice given.
Resources:: Adequate funding, trained staff and facility space are required to ensure program's success.