Ending violence in all forms 

Led by the Unamen Shipu health centre, project Briser le silence [breaking the silence], as its name suggests, aims to lift the silence surrounding family violence that has too long weighed on families. The goal is to counteract the types of violence that disproportionately affect First Nations communities compared to the rest of Quebec society. To achieve this goal, the project was launched in two phases. 

Phase 1: Inform 

With the help of a committee made up of community members and caseworkers, the centre launched a community-wide communications campaign to inform people of different types of violence, in order to reach as many people as possible who are affected by different forms of family violence. 

It was important to communicate to the community that family violence is not limited to physical violence. A person can be the victim of more than one form of violence, such as physical, sexual or psychological violence, financial exploitation or negligence. 

Information was shared on social media and on community radio in the form of educational segments. Particular attention was given to child abuse and the taboos around talking about sexual assaults in the community. The centre presented the impact of violence on children and adults, as well as the trauma caused by the climate of silence. Community members received information about the services available both within and outside the community, and about how to get support for those who need it. 

Phase 2: Raise awareness 

The centre organized an awareness campaign, which included prevention activities, such as sharing circles and visualization workshops. This is where the FNQLHSSC came in. Our advisors offered information sessions about the Youth Protection Act and the rights of parents and children, as well as on the Act respecting First Nations, Inuit and Métis children, youth and families. Workers from the community of Nutashkuan presented project Lanterne Auass, which aims to strengthen the ability of adults and workers in the community to support their children’s psychosexual development. One Cree Nation speaker held workshops on the impact of colonization and how it can lead to the loss of cultural identity and to interviolence or lateral violence. He also explained how these traumas are passed down from generation to generation, what actions can be taken to break the cycle and how to change one’s own life and get back to a state of wellness. 

Understanding our history 

In a similar vein, the centre facilitated an activity called the Blanket Exercise. It was first presented to the contributors, partners and community workers. The activity was participatory in design and involved discovery, discussion, reconciliation and awareness of historical experience, giving participants a better understanding of our shared history as Indigenous and non-Indigenous people in Canada. Led by a community member in collaboration with an adult education and professional training coordinator, the activity was followed by a sharing circle about our future. 

The activity will later be offered to the community at large. 

Unfortunately, the pandemic has limited the development of the centre’s projects, but efforts are still underway to move forward in the coming years.