According to the coordinator of the outreach program, which was designed to provide follow-up services to our former in-house clients, the incidence of violence is just as prevalent. She estimates that 70% of her clients are victims of domestic violence. Last year one of her clients was murdered. It is her opinion that the cycle of violence begins in childhood and is perpetuated in adult relationships.
These women leave their communities in search of a better life and find the same here in the city. Our front-line workers have observed a higher incidence of domestic violence among their clientele. Also noted is the high percentage of women who go back to their abusive partners. We are now seeing the third generation of women who are caught up in the youth protection system. The vast majority have addiction problems and an inability to manoeuvre through the legal system.
When we reduce the problem of domestic violence to an issue of self-esteem, essentially it is placing blame on the victim. It pathologizes the individual for a basic lack of resources, and in this case, resources are aboriginal-specific. We would like to see services that include counselling for aboriginal men involved in domestic violence and an aboriginal men's shelter that offers the equivalent services to those offered through the Native Women's Shelter.