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.
To provide culturally based and compassionate care that addresses information needs on their loved one’s police investigation and support for emotional and spiritual healing.
Guided by the MMIWG family members, the program offers five primary services to family members in Yukon and Northern British Columbia:
- Outreach Support Circles
- Outreach Aftercare Circles
- On-the-Land Healing Camps
- Training on self-advocacy and peer-led healing
- On-going communication
Services are based on respectful information sharing and trauma-informed 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. 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 MMIWG, community members, and inter-agency service providers who want to learn more about violence issues towards Indigenous women and gender diverse people and 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 and 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 Circles
YAWC also delivers Outreach Aftercare Circles over a day, bringing together smaller groups of MMIWG family members to address specific needs.
Schedule
Year | Outreach Support and Aftercare Circles for MMIWG Families & Community Members |
2021 |
Whitehorse, Outreach Support Circle,Dec 7th - 9th Watson Lake, Outreach Support Circle, Mar 16th-17th Ross River, Outreach Support Circle, Feb 22nd-23rd Whitehorse, Outreach Support Circle, Feb 8th-9th |
2020 |
Watson Lake, Outreach Aftercare Mini-Circle, Aug 19th Pelly Crossing, Outreach Support Circle, Feb 11th-12th Beaver Creek, Outreach Support Circle, Jan 21st-22nd |
2019 |
Lower Post, BC, Outreach Support Circle, Dec 3-4th Atlin, BC, Outreach Support Circle, Feb 18th Haines Junction, Outreach Support Circle, Jan 30th Burwash Landing, Outreach Support Circle, Jan 29th |
2018 |
Teslin, Outreach Support Circle, Dec. Dawson City, Outreach Support Circle, Nov 14-15th Mayo, Outreach Support Circle, March 28th Ross River, Outreach Support Circle, March 7th Carmacks, Outreach Support Circle, Feb 9-10th |
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 based on medicine principles 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 they are private and longer; they offer the unique opportunity to share in the grieving and healing process through peer-group-led support.
Schedule
Year | On-the-Land Healing Camps and Gatherings for MMIWG Families |
2021 |
Fox Lake, On-the-Land Healing Youth Camp, July 12th- 16th. |
Minto Landing, On-the-Land Healing Camp, May 25th - 31st |
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2020 |
Whitehorse On-the-Land Healing Youth Camp, Helen's Fish Camp, Oct. 15th-19th. Haines Junction On-the-Land Healing Camp, Shakat Tun, Aug. 30th - Sept. 4th. Carmacks Youth On-the-Land Healing Camp, Airport Lake, March 14th-20th.
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2019 |
Ross River On-the Land Healing Camp, Ketza River, Sept. 11th-17th. Whitehorse & Brooks Brook Gatherings, June 12th-15th (partnership with Whitehorse Aboriginal Women's Circle and Liard Aboriginal Women's Society). |
2018 |
Old Crow On-the Land Healing Camp, March 14th -18th. |
2017 |
Watson Lake On-the-Land Healing Camp, Sept. 21st-26th.
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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 it 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. To join this private group, please email mmiwgcoordinator@yawc.ca.
Contact the MMIWG Outreach Program Team
Joy O'Brien, MMIWG Outreach Program Coordinator and Senior Advisor |
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If you are a victim of violence, a family member of a MMIWG, or someone concerned about violence in your community, please contact Joy or Salena about the MMIWG Outreach Program and other services, including FILU, legal, clinical and traditional counselling, and cultural and elder supports. |