NWAC Youth Violence Prevention Workshop

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NWAC Youth Violence Prevention Workshop
Date Violence
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WELCOME ACTIVITYBALL OF STRING FLING
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Acknowledgements

• Recognizing and Responding to Violence against
  Women in Aboriginal Communities created in
  conjunction with Kenneth McGrath from Mandala
  Learning Solutions Inc who generously donated his
  time to work with the Youth Council
• INAC funding to work on the youth violence
  prevention Toolkit
• The content of this workshop was developed by the
  NWAC Youth Council members and the NWACs Youth
  Department
• A limited survey on violence prevention issues
  was conducted with Aboriginal youth prior to
  developing the workshop
• We partnered with Wabano Cyber café youth in
  order to make a youth video for the workshop

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Workshop contents
Please use this information at your own discretion

• This is the tool for raising awareness and
  education developed by NWACs Youth Council in
  consultations with other youth but we are not
  professional service providers so please contact
  relevant agencies and local service providers for
  any professional advice

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• I think that violence toward Aboriginal women is
  perpetuated within society.

It is not only one person making them feel
worthless, but instead it is the general accepted
stereotype surrounding Aboriginal women. -
Age 19, Ontario
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Why do we need to talk about violence prevention?

• 1999 Statistics Canada data reports that from
  7,400 Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal women that
  12.6 of Aboriginal women had been victims of
  violence by their current partners in the
  previous five years. 
• For non-Aboriginal women, they report the figure
  was just 3.5.
• (Assessing Violence Against Women A Statistical
  Profile 1999)
• Up to 75 of victims of sex crimes in Aboriginal
  communities are female under 18 years of age, 50
  of those are under 14, and almost 25 of those
  are younger than 7 years of age.
• (McIvor Nahanee , "Aboriginal Women Invisible
  Victims of Violence
• 1998 Source Correctional Service of Canada)

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How violence affects Aboriginal girls?

• The incidence of child sexual abuse in some
  Aboriginal communities is as high as 75 to 80
  for girls under 8 years old
• The heightened vulnerability to violence is
  experienced by Aboriginal
  / Indigenous girls In Canada
• The suicide rate for adolescent Aboriginal
  girls is 8 times the national average of
  non-Aboriginal adolescent girls
• (McEvoy Daniluk "Wounds to the Soul
• The Experiences of Aboriginal Women Survivors of
  Sexual Abuse. Canadian Psychology 36, 3 1995)
• (The Girl Child Having to 'Fit by Jasmin
  Jiwani, Ph.D., October 1998)

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What we will address

• 1) How to recognize specific types of violence?
• what is considered violence, abuse, harassment?
• types of violence (descriptions, examples)
• 2) How to recognize early signs of violence?
• major signs for each of the categories
• (in a relationship, school, work place, on-line,
  bars etc)
• 3) How to respond to and prevent violence?
• scenarios
• situations
• obstacles to responding to violence shame to
  talk about it, stigmas, lack of confidence, lack
  of skills to express themselves, poverty, lack of
  resources, low self-esteem, intergenerational
  trauma
• highlighting healthy relationships
• 4) List of Resources and Workshop Sources
• websites
• tools

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Ways to prevent violence

• Learn about types of violence that might occur
• Start learning about prevention early
• Learn to recognize early warning signs of
  violence
• Recognize obstacles to responding to violence
• Build your own - security networks and support
  systems
• Know resources available to you and places to
  call in your community / city

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DATE VIOLENCE
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ACTIVITY 1 MYTHS
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Date rape myths

• no means yes
• she asked for it
• she was leading him on
• if you let him kiss you, you should expect he
  wants more
• you cant get raped if you are with someone you
  know
• it's not rape if the man is her boyfriend or
  husband or if they have had sex before
• if a woman lets a man buy her dinner or pay for a
  movie or drinks, she owes him sex
• when a woman agrees to "make out" with a man, she
  is implying that she will have intercourse with
  him, too

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What is date violence?

• Dating violence refers to abuse or mistreatment
  that occurs between
• dating partners, individuals who are having
  or may be moving towards an intimate
  relationship.
• (http//www.justice.gc.ca/en/ps/fm/datingfs.html
  ftn1)
• Dating relationships do not include
  individuals who are living together.

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When it happens in the community.

• treated as lighter subject
• hard to recognize it occurred
• is done by someone you trust
• community taking sides
• everyone finds out
• victims blame themselves
• the abuser doesnt go away - you see them every
  day
• involves people you know / dating the entire
  family / everyone knows everyone

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When it happens in the community.

• blame/judging falls on the victim
• shame
• people act weird around you
• gossip
• alcohol and drugs used as excuse
• stigma
• stereotyping
• you may be pushed away from the community

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Outside the community

• Aboriginal girls face increased risk
• it can happen to EVERYONE
• not just the weak
• not just the ones who
• put themselves in that situation

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Who cares if I get raped.

• Aboriginal girls devalued in mainstream society
• general population, including Aboriginal
  communities are desensitized
• it always keeps happening
• the victim and often others think it is
• her fault
• lack of trust in the police

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WHAT DO YOU THINK CAN BE DONE TO PREVENT DATE
VIOLENCE?
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Prevention strategies

• understand men are physically stronger
• know your strength and weakness
• dont put yourself in vulnerable situations
  (alone with someone you dont know well, in
  closed space, etc)
• follow your intuition does it feel right, are
  you uncomfortable
• trust your instincts

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Prevention strategies

• learn about body language
• learn about safety tips
• be aware that the guys are under peer pressure
  too - guys telling them yes means no, you have to
  push for it etc.
• make sure you have control over your environment
  at all times
• identify who would you turn to if it did happen
  who would go to the police with you

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Prevention strategies

• dont assume you are safe just because you know
  someone or you are on a date
• stick to your plans for the evening out
• choose a public place for your first couple of
  dates
• be aware of effects of drugs or alcohol on you -
  drink water after some point - make sure how much
  you can take
• watch over your friends when you go out
• know that if your friend was drinking or doing
  drugs-she is not in a state to give consent
• dont leave your friend with someone if it feels
  wrong

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Prevention strategies

• realize your own worth
• think about why do you sometimes do things to get
  approval of others
• dont feel obliged to do something you think is
  expected
• say no assertively to something you dont agree
  to or doesnt feel right
• know that you always have the right to say no or
  change your mind

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What if it happens to me?

• try and find your strength
• to report or not
• seeking help and reporting is important-can be a
  path toward healing
• taking back the power
• talk to someone your own age/look for peer
  support
• girls protecting each other/speak out for each
  other
• find healthy ways to let go of your anger

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What if it happens to me?

• decide if you want to (can) go to the police
• identify someone for support / identify someone
  to go with you to the police
• be aware that rape kits are aggressive
• familiarize yourself with the procedure
• ask to know your legal rights
• call help line
• turn to a trusted friend for help
• look into traditional ways of healing

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What if it happens to me?

• If you're injured, go straight to the emergency
  room - most medical centers and hospital
  emergency departments have doctors and counselors
  who have been trained to take care of someone who
  has been raped.
• Call or find a friend, family member, or someone
  you feel safe with and tell them what happened.
• If you want to report the rape, call the police
  right away. Preserve all the physical evidence.
  Don't change clothes or wash.
• Write down as much as you can remember about the
  event.
• If you aren't sure what to do, call a rape crisis
  center. If you don't know the number, your local
  phone book will have hotline numbers.
• (From Teens Health, http//www.kidshealth.org/teen
  /your_mind/problems/date_rape.html)

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Physical obstacles to responding to date rape

• having no place to go
• lack of police station or a hospital
• in your area
• lack of transportation to a nearest
• hospital or police station
• lack of resources to get to another destination
• inability to follow advice or suggested steps
  when you are in a remote community

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Obstacles to responding to these types of
violence and telling someone

• shame
• family and friends putting you down
• wanting to keep your privacy
• fear of continued and increased violence
• breaking the ice, initial conversation
• fear of not having support
• unfair justice system for victims
• fear of racial discrimination, stereotyping

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Obstacles to responding to these types of
violence and telling someone

• no support in the community
• fear of being judged
• fear that you wont be taken seriously
• feeling vulnerable, that you may become a target
• thinking its your fault and you somehow deserved
  it
• fear that it will affect the way people act
  around you
• feeling stupid for needing and using the
  resources available

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Obstacles to responding to these types of
violence and telling someone

• I am only comfortable with people who dont
  judge only listen
• - Age 15, Nova Scotia

Because I would feel dumb - Age 23, Nova
Scotia
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ACTIVITY 2SAFETY PLAN
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Date rape drugs

• There are 4 main types
• Alcohol
• Rohypnol
• GHB
• Ketamine

http//www.mta.ca/health/articles/date_rape.pdf
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Date rape drugs

• GHB is now being used on a wide scale for
  drug-induced rape. Rohypnol, or Roofies, has had
  most of the limelight as the "date-rape" drug of
  choice, but the incidences of GHB being used as
  such are on the rise. It is easily slipped into
  someone's drink. When added to a drink, the salty
  taste of GHB is masked. It is for this reason
  that the news media often call GHB "The Date-Rape
  Drug."
• (from http//www.projectghb.org)

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Date rape drugs

• How long does it take to spike a drink?

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ACTIVITY 3MM RECALL
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Prevention strategies Date rape drugs

• educate yourself about date rape drugs
• know resources available in your community
• be aware how fast they work
• identify people who you trust / you could confide
  in
• know that it could be slipped in other things
  other than drinks
• outline a plan if you think youve been
  drugged-what would you do (e.g. call your mom,
  get into a taxi)
• outline a plan if date rape occurs - who would
  you contact, bring with you to the police

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Prevention strategiesDrugged by a stranger

• 1) Being on the "buddy system".  Watch out for
  your friends, have them watch out for you.
• 2) Never, ever leave your drink unattended, not
  even to go to the bathroom, the dance floor, or
  anything.  If you aren't watching it, have a
  trusted friend watch it.
• 3) Never accept a drink from someone you don't
  know, or don't trust 100. This is your life we
  are talking about here! Always mix your own
  drink, get it yourself or watch it being poured
• (http//www.sexualassaultsarnia.on.ca/book2/t-6.ht
  m)

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Prevention strategiesdrugged by a stranger

• know your limitations when drinking
• watch out for the unusual
• identify people you could trust with your drink
• pay attention how much did you have to drink,
  how do you feel
• have a quarter handy, make sure your cell phone
  is charged

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Prevention strategiesdrugged by a stranger

• watch out for your friend / watch for symptoms
• if you notice something call the police, parents,
  tell your friend
• trust your instincts
• be careful even when a bartender mixes your drink
  - make him do it in front of you
• drink out of a bottle rather than pitcher
• open your own bottle
• take your drink to the washroom if you have to

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Prevention strategiesdrugged by your date

• be cautious even among people you know
• dont automatically trust your date, even if you
  went out with them before
• dont put yourself in a compromising situation
• know your limitations when drinking
• have a plan for your date before going out
• have a plan for what would you do if you think
  your date drugged you

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If it happens

• If a woman suspects a drug - such as GHB or
  Rohypnol - was used in an assault, it is
  important to get tested for it within four to
  eight hours, 12 hours for urine tests. It leaves
  the system very rapidly.
• (http//www.projectghb.org)

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What to do if it happens to me?

• Seek medical attention immediately! you have a
  small window to be tested for the presence of
  date rape drugs! After that time is gone, the
  drug residue will pass through your system and
  cannot be detected in blood or urine. Also, you
  may have injuries you are not aware of due to
  shock.
• If possible, keep some of the substance with you
  for testing.
• Do not bathe or shower because your body is
  evidence.
• (http//www.projectghb.org)

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What to do if it happens to me?

• start remembering any details of the events
  including your attacker (hair color,
  height/weight, clothing, skin color, scars and
  tattoos, etc.), any vehicle and its details
  (state, license plate, make, model, color,
  dents), location, or anything else, and write
  these down if possible
• get some counseling - Local
• Rape Crisis centers are
• valuable help

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What to do if it happensin the community?

• in communities, it is more likely that alcohol is
  used rather than drugs
• have money for taxi or phone handy
• identify a person of trust whom you can call
• call police, parents, friends
• identify a person who can drive you to the
  hospital / police if youre drugged or date raped

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What to do if it happens to your friend?

• stay with them
• take them to a hospital
• call their parents
• call the police/authorities
• make sure you put them on their side if they're
  drugged
• take charge and be supportive

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WHAT CAN COMMUNITIES YOUTH DO?
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What can communities youth do?

• talk amongst themselves about alcohol and drugs
• build ties, establish good relationship with law
  enforcement
• teach youth about where they can turn in the
  community (each community different, unique
  approach)

• educate youth on date rape drugs
• discourage gossip

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What communities can do

• encourage youth to talk about
• date rape issues
• help them understand its not
• their fault if it happens
• organize girls pier support
• talk to young girls at early age foster age
  appropriate education
• bring in police to educate young people of dangers

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Traditional approach, Elders advice

• look into community resources that offer
  traditional approach
• if there is no such resources, do something about
  it, ask why are they are not there, get them
  started
• get offenders involved with the community
• seek culturally appropriate approach
• make healing circle (e.g. activity-
• roles in the hat - abuser, abused, elder)
• learn about Elders role
• Elders - to talk about respect to youth
• healing circle - grow strength from that

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You should know.

• it is not your fault
• you do not deserve it
• there are people out there that can help you out
• it is not normal nor acceptable
• it is not stupid or dumb to seek help and use
  available resources
• sexual violence can happen anytime
• sexual violence can happen anywhere
• sexual violence can happen to anyone

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ACTIVITY 4BALL TOSS

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CLOSINGCOMMENTS

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QUESTIONS ANSWERS SESSION