Projects aim to improve quality of life in aboriginal communities

In an effort to improve community wellness and personal empowerment, the Newfoundland Aboriginal Women's Network is embarking on a pair of two-year culturally based projects.

The first, Empowering Aboriginal Women: Influencing Community Wellness, is designed to address violence awareness and prevention in 18 western and central communities with a series of workshops.

Bonnie Rotchford, project co-ordinator, said the workshops would focus on women and their concerns surrounding domestic, sexual, psychological and emotional abuse, as well as bullying.

"The work that we're doing is not pretty and the words are not nice, but we live in a world where violence is a reality," she said.

"And we want women to know that it's more of a safety issue - while you many not be personally touched by it, the community is touched by it."

Ms. Rotchford said traditional aboriginal culture looked upon women as matriarchs - and if communities learned to respect women and treat them as equals, then the cycle of abuse in many communities could be stopped.

"We want to empower women again and they're finding that strength through their culture," she said, noting the workshops include things as smudging and drumming.

Another component of the project will be to focus on and train aboriginal men - to help them become leaders in dealing with violence in their communities.

"We believe in order to have balance, we're really out to support them," said Ms. Rotchford. "Men are victims, too."

Helping youth

The second project, Keeping Safe: Finding the Balance through Knowledge, will address illegal drug use and healthy alternatives for aboriginal youth.

"Our plan is to go into schools and communities, not only to educate youth about drugs and their consequences, said Danielle Gloade, NAWN communications officer, "but also to help them become critical thinkers, improve their self-esteem, self-worth and self-identity."

She said the program would promote aboriginal youth in 18 communities across the island in using the medicine wheel concept health to help improve physical, mental, spiritual and emotional well-being.

The project aims to engage not only youth, but also parents, educators, elders and other community leaders to help fight drug abuse in families and communities.

"We're going to have information sessions for parents and others, where we can talk to them about the program and educate them," said Ms. Gloade.

"We're also hoping to have peer support and leaders within the different communities helping to empower the youth in the communities."

In addition to these projects, Ms. Rotchford and Ms. Gloade encourage any self-identified aboriginal woman to join NAWN. The group currently has about 370 members, who partake in workshops and ceremonies that are provided free of charge. For more information, call 643-1290.

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