BY JANE GERSTER - December 28, 2016
The Provincial Association of Transition Houses and Services of Saskatchewan received federal funding earlier this month that will enable the long-term project
The pilot for a Saskatchewan project granted federal funding to address family violence will take place this winter in Moose Jaw.
Earlier this month, the federal government announced $598,893 to fund a four-year project geared at helping Indigenous women living off-reserve in the Regina, Moose Jaw and Prince Albert areas who have survived domestic violence.
Ten Indigenous women in Moose Jaw will test drive the program, which is run by the Provincial Association of Transition Houses and Services of Saskatchewan (PATHS) sometime in March.
“It gives women the opportunity to engage in cultural and creative activities,” said Crystal Giesbrecht, PATHS’ director of research and communication. “The goal is to increase stress management skills, resilience, build social support networks, and help them gain knowledge of traditional Indigenous culture.”
Put another way, Giesbrecht said the program –titled: The Creative Solutions to Easing Victimization’s Effects – is designed to address the ongoing health and social issues as a result of colonialism, without specifically talking about it. It is, she said, “helping women heal from violence by doing something positive.”
For more, see the Dec. 29 issue of the Times-Herald.