Learning and Knowledge Exchanges
Investing in Saving Lives: Designing Second-Stage Women’s Shelters on First Nation Reserves
Despite the great risk for intimate partner violence for Indigenous women, only three unfunded second-stage shelters for more than 600 First Nation reserves exist in Canada to provide First Nation women and their children a safe home. This article documents the need for safe, nurturing, and culturally appropriate second-stage shelters for Indigenous women and their families to heal and rebuild, and to stop the genocide of Indigenous Peoples by supporting cultural, economic, health, and social development
Missing and Murdered: Finding Cleo
Where is Cleo? Taken by child welfare workers in the 1970’s and adopted in the U.S., the young Cree girl’s family believes she was raped and murdered while hitchhiking back home to Saskatchewan. CBC news investigative reporter Connie Walker joins the search to find out what really happened to Cleo.
Documentary: Kids Are Only Kids Once
In an effort to shift culture, West Coast LEAF created the short documentary Kids Are Only Kids Once in collaboration with parents with firsthand knowledge of the family policing system, as well as other advocates.
We Are Resilient: An MMIW True Crime Podcast
We are Resilient is a true crime podcast dedicated entirely to telling the stories of Missing & Murdered Indigenous women (MMIW) from the lens of three Indigenous women.
The Militarization of Indigenous Land: A Human Rights Focus
This is a submission by the Union of BC Indian Chiefs to the UN Expert Mechanism on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples detailing the militarization of Indigenous land and criminalization of Indigenous land defenders in B.C. The submission emphasizes how government and industry must meaningfully recognize and respect the right of Indigenous Peoples to free, prior and informed consent (FPIC) regarding the approval of any project affecting their lands or territories.
The Road to Safety: Indigenous Survivors in BC Speak Out against Intimate Partner Violence during the COVID-19 Pandemic
This report highlights the experiences of Indigenous survivors in B.C experiencing intimate partner violence during the pandemic. For Indigenous women and gender diverse people, the COVID-19 pandemic is exacerbating the pre-existing reality of gendered colonial violence, and survey findings show that Indigenous women and gender diverse people are experiencing an increase in the frequency and severity of intimate partner violence (IPV).
Decolonizing Family Law Through Trauma Informed Practices
This report focuses on improving the legal system and access to justice in BC through decolonizing family law. Areas of improvement identified by nearly all experts consulted were “the need to expand the legal system’s understanding of family law to make room for Indigenous laws and concepts, the need for education, and the need for lawyers and other legal system professionals to engage in trauma-informed practice.”
Resetting Normal Report 5: The Impacts of COVID-19 on First Nations, Metis and Inuit Youth
This report sheds light on the realities of Indigenous girls, two-spirit, and gender diverse youth. It explores the impact of the pandemic on Indigenous youth and gender-based violence, and shares recommendations for how to better serve First Nations, Métis and Inuit youth moving forward.