The Aboriginal Healing and Wellness Strategy responded to the identified issues through the development of two related components.

The Strategy has fostered community-designed and delivered programming using both immediate and long-term measures. It includes preventing family violence through community awareness, education and counselling; providing crisis intervention for women and children at risk; and addressing underlying mental/emotional issues that contribute to violence and dysfunction.

The Strategy has designed a framework to improve Aboriginal Health by establishing programs and services that deliver culturally-appropriate and community-based primary care, health education and outreach; support crisis intervention teams (to respond to high rates of suicide) and substance/solvent abuse treatment centres. This framework includes mechanisms to improve access to health services by establishing translation services, out-patient medical hostels, and health advocacy, and by identifying legislative, policy and program barriers which affect Aboriginal health.

In addition, the Strategy promotes networking and integration. This includes promoting co-operation among communities to maximize use of resources. Linkages among Aboriginal programs and between Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal communities are encouraged to enhance continuity and reduce duplication. An Information Clearing House has been established to collect and disseminate Aboriginal-specific information on health and family violence. A co-ordination office has been established to facilitate recruitment of professional staff for Aboriginal Communities in health and social services fields.

Native Women's Sharing Circle

To promote healing and wellness among our women and provide a safe environment for sharing!

We have speakers that we invite to share with us about our culture and traditions. The topic of the speakers presentations are from the request of the women who decide what is most important for them to learn about. We have a sharing circle that is confidential. We us our sweet grass, cedar, tobacco, and sage in our circle in a respectable manner. We also plan a wellness retreat day for the summer.

Some of the topics and activities also include: Self care, Healthy Boundaries, Budgeting, Crafts, Addictions, Diabetes, Nutrition, Stress Management, Family Violence Prevention, Conflict Resolution, Pot Luck, Fun, Painting, Scrap booking memories, Recipes, Feelings, Exercise, and Friendships. the circle is held on Wednesday evenings from 6:30 until 8:30 p.m.

To register for the circle please contact Cynthia Barton at 519-756-2205 ext. 224 to fill out an application form.

For more information about Aboriginal Healing and Wellness please view http://www.ahwsontario.ca/

 

Kizhaay Anishinaabe Niin - I Am a Kind Man

The purpose of Kizhaay Anishinaabe Niin "I Am a Kind Man" initiative is to engage the men of our communities to speak out against all forms of abuse towards women.

Goals:

1. To provide education for men to address issues of abuse against women
2. To re-establish traditional responsibilities by acknowledging that our teachings have never tolerated violence and abuse towards women.
3. To inspire men to engage other men to get involved and stop the abuse.
4. To support Aboriginal men who choose not to use violence.

If you are interested in joining our committee of men and women who meet to plan events, workshops, information booths, please contact us for the next meeting date.

• On June 28^th 2008, we were invited by the National FireFit Competition in the parking lot of Lynden Park Mall, beside Kelseys in Brantford to promote Kizhaay Anishinaabe Niin campaign. We had a booth with a pledge sheet to stop violence against women. We also offered free positive role model posters, magnets and bookmarks.

 

The Ontario Aboriginal Courtwork Programme

When a person is accused of a crime, or they are dealing with family issues in court, the system can be complicated, confusing and even a frightening experience.

The criminal and family justice systems can be particularly difficult to understand due to language and cultural differences between Aboriginal people and the mainstream system.

In Ontario, the Aboriginal Courtworker Programme is available to provide assistance to all Aboriginal people who are in contact with the legal system, whether they are Status, Non-Status, Metis or Inuit.

Aboriginal Courtworkers help their clients receive fair and equitable treatment from the legal system and assist clients in gaining a better understanding of their rights and obligations in the legal system.

Aboriginal Courtworker Services

A Courtworker will:

•  Provide a variety of services to Aboriginal people who require support in family and criminal court

•  Deliver services to all Aboriginal people in strict confidence

•  Explain the procedures of criminal and family court

•  Assist Aboriginal individuals by acting as a liaison

•  Explain to the individual the reasons for their arrest, their legal rights and responsibilities and information regarding the charges they face

•  Provide information about Legal Aid if the accused/family cannot afford a lawyer

•  Obtain the services of Aboriginal language interpreters when needed, and Aboriginal cultural interpreters if it has bearing on the case

•  Explain to clients the decisions that the court makes at various stages of their case

•  May participate in preparation of a Pre-Sentence Report to ensure that the background of a convicted Aboriginal person is properly presented

•  Explain to a person placed on bail and probation what this means and what is expected of them

•  Work with community agencies to help the client/family meet their immediate and long-term needs and goals in relation to a court process

•  Will make contact with the area Native Inmate Liaison Worker if the accused is sentenced to a provincial institution

•  May visit Aboriginal inmates in jails and penitentiaries in their area to provide information and moral support

•  Work with parents or families in the case of a child apprehension by CAS, to ensure that all proper steps are taken to protect the child and if possible to reunite the family

Courtworkers will not:

•  Provide legal advice

•  Act as a language interpreters for the court

•  Supervise bail, probation or parole

The Aboriginal Courtworker and the Community

A Courtworker will:

•  Conduct public education workshops for the Aboriginal community

•  Participate in the community development of preventive programs, with an emphasis on youth to reduce the incidences of crime; and assist in the development and delivery of Aboriginal Community Justice programs

•  Provide education to the judiciary to help them better understand the culture, needs and aspirations of Aboriginal people

For more information please view the sites below:

http://www.ofifc.org/ofifchome/page/programs/criminalcourtwork.htm

http://www.ofifc.org/ofifchome/page/programs/familycourtwork.htm