Great, thank you very much.
I would like to begin by acknowledging that I am speaking to you from the unceded traditional territory of the Algonquin Anishinabe people.
Thank you for inviting me to speak to you about the important work that Indigenous Services Canada is doing to support indigenous women, girls, families and 2SLGBTQQIA+ people facing gender-based violence.
One of the programs offered by Indigenous Services Canada is the family violence prevention program. The underlying objective of this program is to empower indigenous communities to design and deliver services and programming that best meet their unique needs. While this program has long been limited to an on-reserve shelter focus, in 2021 we obtained authority to support shelters and transition homes to meet the needs of first nations both on and off reserve—Inuit, Métis, 2SLGBTQQIA+ people and indigenous urban communities.
Through this program, the Government of Canada supports the ongoing operation of a network of 46 emergency shelters for first nations on reserve. These shelters provide emergency support and a vital place of refuge for survivors escaping violent situations. The shelters we fund are independently operated and indigenous-led. We work with partners to identify priorities for violence prevention activities.
We have heard from our partners that the COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in an increase in both the number of cases and the severity of intimate partner violence, with a greater impact on indigenous women. Our most recent data shows that over 3,700 women and 1,800 children have been served by this network of shelters. However, the pandemic has seen a 20% to 30% increase in gender-based violence in all parts of Canada, as you know. As of yet, shelter staff have not been able to report on all of their critical activities through what the World Health Organization has dubbed the “shadow pandemic”. The work done by Women's Shelters Canada, for example, reinforces what we are hearing on the ground.
In addition to providing a place of refuge, some shelters directly offer wraparound services, including counselling, addiction services, employment and housing support, skills development, training and child care, while others coordinate access to these supports.
Indigenous service providers determine what approaches work best in their communities. There have been many innovations. For example, while most shelters provide only limited access to men, one shelter we support provides a multigender environment that uses traditional teachings to promote a holistic approach to support the entire family.
The family violence prevention program also provides funding for the delivery of culturally relevant violence prevention activities that are holistic and inclusive of communities, including men and boys. Violence prevention activities include trauma-informed care for youth and families, empowerment projects for girls, healing circles, and cultural and land-based activities that build community networks.
Since 2017, we have been supporting the Moose Hide Campaign, which engages indigenous and non-indigenous men and boys in activities focused on ending violence against women and children. The organization has successfully developed a network of partners and promotes awareness through promotional products and community activities.
The National Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls has highlighted the critical gaps that need to be filled to better address the needs of those victimized by violence. In May 2020, the Government of Canada announced it would support 10 new shelters in first nations communities and two shelters in the territories through a joint initiative between the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation and Indigenous Services Canada. While any additions to the shelter network are an improvement, the inquiry reinforced just how much more work has to be done to address the unique needs, particularly in the north, where the rate of violence is highest and shelter access is low.
Furthermore, in July 2021, the comprehensive violence prevention strategy was announced. This $724-million initiative includes expanding access to supports across Canada for indigenous women, children, families and 2SLGBTQQIA+ people. This strategy will support 38 new shelters and 50 transition or second-stage homes for first nations, Inuit and Métis across the country, including on and off reserve, in the north and in urban areas. These new investments will be jointly implemented by ISC and CMHC.
Indigenous partners are essential in how our program evolves. For example, we were working with the National Aboriginal Circle Against Family Violence to redevelop our funding formula and reporting tools in collaboration with shelter workers. New shelters and transition homes are realized through decisions made by both steering and selection committees comprised of representatives from first nations, Inuit, Métis, 2SLGBTQQIA+ and indigenous urban communities.
In addition to infrastructure, this funding includes ongoing supports for culturally relevant violence prevention activities that broaden the continuum of care. Enhanced services include case management and programs to reduce the risk of sexual exploitation, as well as culturally appropriate mental health and addiction supports. With these new supports, communities will have expanded access to shelters and second-stage housing that enables survivors to transition to lives free from violence.