Family Violence Initiative

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

INTERACTIONS WITHIN COMMUNITIES

Raising Awareness in Broader Community

Program name:

Angel Street Domestic Violence Education Project

Organization:

Skeetchestn Community School

Location:

Savona, British Columbia

Target Group:

Everyone (with a focus on students).

Contact Name:

Michelle Canaday, Principal, Skeetchestn Community School

Phone:

250-373-2420

Email:

scs@skeetchestn.ca

Website:

N/A

Program Overview
History:

The program led to a renaming ceremony which took place September, 2010, to rename the street leading to the school as "Angel Street" (as part of the "Angel Street Project", initiated by Elisapee Sheutiapik, former Mayor of Iqaluit, based on Lucie Idlout's song "Lovely Irene", to raise awareness and hope for victims of domestic violence - http://www.city.iqaluit.nu.ca/apps/UPLOADS/files/1265299406-2585.pdf. Although the subject of violence in Aboriginal communities is ongoing in the classroom, particularly with high school students, the program has not been formally established.

Program Description
Goals & Objectives:

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

Traditional/Indigenous ways:

The program lead to a renaming ceremony for the street to the local school done at Skeetchestn First Nation by local Elders.

Components of program:

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. The program has been the inspiration behind the renaming of a street leading to the local school to "Angel Street". 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.

Services/How they work:

Services are provided through the organization of various events.

Funding:

N/A

Relationships and Stakeholders
Involvement of Target Groups:

The First Nation band council initiated the project. Students participated in the ceremony and were interviewed leading up the event. Elders participated in the ceremony and the suggestion of using the Secwepemcs in language for the road instead of English was proposed by an elder. The school drum group played at the ceremony and 250 community members attended.

Partners:

First Nation Council.

Other relationships:

N/A

Details of Program Evaluation
Evaluation:

No evaluation has been completed.

Highlights of Evaluation Findings:

N/A

Program Outcomes
Measures of Success:

N/A

Achievements:

Created a forum for community members to publicly stand against violence.

Challenges:

N/A

Things to Know to Replicate
Replication Advice:

The key to this program was the inclusion of the children in the community to create awareness and active participation. This project was initiated by the band council and managed by the community school. It shows how any individual or organization can take a stand against violence in their community.

Resources:

Community support is essential for this type of program or event.