Raising awareness on prevention and supports
Golden Age Club. File Photo
A symposium will be hosted next week to raise awareness about bullying prevention, human trafficking, and domestic and financial abuse. It’ll run all day at the Golden Age Club on Wednesday, March 26, and is being organized by Ionkwatahónhsate Victim Services.
“This is actually the third time we’ve done this, and this is by far the largest one we’ve done, the most ambitious one that we’ve had,” said Kevin Fleischer, commissioner of Justice Services in the community.
Victim Services offers free, confidential emotional support and assistance to victims of crime in Kahnawake.
“We take on clients for emotional support, and depending on their needs and where they’re at, we’ll do referrals to where they think is best,” said Nikki Kirby, the support worker for Victim Services, also behind the organization of the symposium.
“We can help them access emergency financial support. If they have an active file, we can help keep them updated, go to court with them, follow up with them, and do after care.”
She said the symposium will mainly focus on educating community members about crime and how they can respond to it.
“It’s going to be really informative,” she said.
They’re hoping to attract frontline workers in the community, such as police, paramedics, and those from Kahnawake Shakotiia’takehnhas Community Services (KSCS), Kirby said. Those that take part in the Kahnawake family violence action group will be in attendance, she said.
A support worker from the Centre d’aide et de lutte contre les agressions à caractère sexuel (CALACS) in Chateauguay, which provides support to victims of sexual assault, will also be there, Kirby said.
“Part of the broader Justice Services mandate is to increase access to justice, and a part of that is making information available to people who might need assistance,” Fleischer said. “One of the services we offer at Victim Services is raising awareness of victims’ rights remedies and issues.”
The day-long event will begin at 8:30 a.m. Wednesday, beginning with free breakfast.
Ted Milmine, the president of the anti-bullying group Bullying Ends Here, is expected to speak at 9:15 a.m. Jo-Anne Van Hooser, an anti-sex trafficking advocate from Akwesasne, will speak afterwards at 10:30 a.m.
“The presentation will discuss the statistics of human trafficking, in Canada and in Indigenous populations, her own experience, and how to recognize the signs,” Kirby said.
At noon, a “lunch and learn” will then be hosted by community members Fran Beauvais and Rakwirenh:tha Diabo about the roles and responsibilities of Haudenosaunee men and women.
At 1:15 p.m., David Martel, a clinical supervisor in psychological services at KSCS, will speak about the connection between trauma and domestic violence.
The last presentation for the day, at 2:15 p.m., meanwhile will focus on the signs of financial abuse. Mandie Montour, the general manager of Kahnawake’s Caisse populaire, will lead the discussion.
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“We recognize some of the topics might be a little bit difficult,” Fleischer said. “We’re going to have a mental health professional on site. They’re going to have these rovers present, should somebody be triggered or feel they need someone to speak to.”
The event is expected to wrap up around 4 p.m.
