MMIWG Outreach Program

MMIWG Outreach Program

YAWC delivers this program to family members of MMIWG in Yukon and northern British Columbia. The program aims to build trusting relationships with clients, help them navigate the inter-agency information and services system, and provide culturally relevant and compassionate care that addresses information needs on their loved one's case and support for emotional and spiritual healing.

This program has been made possible since 2017 through the partnerships with Justice Canada via the Yukon Culturally Responsive Supports for Families of MMIWG Project and the Yukon Government Victim Services, Family Information Liaison Unit (FILU) via the YAWC-FILU MMIWG Outreach Project.

Other special MMIWG family gatherings occur as needed and in partnership with Yukon Government Women's Directorate, Whitehorse Aboriginal Women's Circle and Liard Aboriginal Women's Society.

Guided by a MMIWG Family Advisory Committee, the program delivers two main projects: On-the-Land Healing Camps and Outreach Support Circles with on-going communication with family members and program evaluation. Both projects are based on information sharing and peer-led healing practices that are contextually and culturally appropriate and responsive.

Outreach Support Circles

The Circles are community-based in an indoor setting over a 2-day period, with the first day as an “ice-breaker” focused on informal introductions through sewing or other engaging activities, with family members of MMIWG from that community. The second day is public and open to community members at large.

The Circles bring together victims of violence, family members of a MMIWG, and community members, and inter-agency service providers who want to learn more about issues of violence towards Indigenous women and gender diverse people and about MMIWG in their community.

Inter-Agency Service Providers

• Yukon Government, Victim Services (e.g., Child and Family, Sexualized Assault Response Team- SART, FILU)
• Coroners Service; Archives Office
• RCMP (local detachment, Historical Case Unit - HCU)
• Yukon Government, Health Centre/Mental Health Hub professionals
• First Nation Government, Health and Social/Wellness Department representatives
• NGOs that provide support for victims of violence and their families

The Circles are coordinated by the YAWC Outreach Coordinator in collaboration with FILU staff and aim to create an inclusive, safe, and caring space for individuals and the community to gather and share information about issues. YAWC also monitors the progress made on addressing violence and MMIWG in their community, missing persons open cases, and the support available to community members.

Outreach Aftercare Mini-Circles

YAWC also delivers Outreach Aftercare Mini-Circles over a day, that bring together smaller groups of MMIWG family members to address specific needs.

Schedule

On-the-Land Healing Camps

The Camps are territory-wide and occur over an approximately 10-day period. The Camps are private events that bring together family members of MMIWG to a land-based location on the Traditional Territory of a host First Nation government in Yukon and northern BC. Through cultural activities that are based on principles of medicine from the land, information is shared about loved ones’ cases and outreach prevention and healing supports are provided by guest inter-agency representatives and other local supports. The camps are like the Outreach Support Circles but because they are private and longer, they offer the unique opportunity to share in the grieving and healing process through peer-group led support.

Schedule

Ongoing Communication

The camps and circles are coordinated by the YAWC Outreach Coordinator in collaboration with FILU staff and aim to create an inclusive, safe, and caring space for individuals and the community to gather and share information about issues. YAWC also monitors the progress made on addressing violence and MMIWG in their community, missing persons open cases, and the support available to community members.

The MMIWG Outreach Coordinator collects feedback from the camps and circles and incorporates into the program to ensure the best possible services are available to MMIWG families.

MMIWG family members can also stay connected by joining the private MMIWG family FB page.

Contact MMIWG Outreach Coordinator