Working with Aboriginal Women

Women of First Nations, Métis or Inuit ancestry may seek tradition-based interventions, perhaps one combining traditional healing with conventional social work practice, or one based solely on Aboriginal principles.

Find shelters and other information at the National Aboriginal Circle Against Family Violence

The Creator Wheel from Mending the Sacred Hoop can be found at www.duluth-model.org

Aboriginal communities are diverse and there are no "one-size-fits-all" answers. However, tradition-based interventions and assistance may:

be holistic and focus on healing and well-ness rather than dwelling on the negative
seek harmony and balance among individuals, family and community
discourage crisis-bound responses which punish the abuser and separate the family
encourage community-level healing and re-connection with past wisdom

Many link problems such as family violence to the loss of culture and traditions, disenfranchisement, and the dependency it engendered. In addition, residential schools disrupted the inter-generational transmission of parenting skills.

Service providers should also keep in mind issues such as:

the woman may have limited resources
the abuser could be an important member of the community
she may be suspicious, or fearful, of the justice system and child protection system
victims are reluctant to put an abuser in a system viewed as racist
there may be few services available in her community

Treatment of an abuser, independent of the family, is not always the preferred approach.

Want to know more?

Za-geh-do-win Information Clearinghouse, information about Health, Family Healing, and Family Violence for Aboriginal Communities in Ontario, Canada.

Claudette Dumont-Smith (2001). Exposure to Violence in the Home: Effects on Aboriginal Children, Discussion Paper. Ottawa: Aboriginal Nurses Association of Canada.

Karen Green, K. (1997). Family Violence in Aboriginal Communities: An Aboriginal Perspective. Ottawa: Health Canada.

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