Photo by Vince Fedoroff
The federal government is providing $1.18 million to the Council of Yukon First Nations (CYFN) to develop a program aimed at preventing and addressing family violence in the territory.
Bennett in territory to announce anti-violence funding
The federal government is providing $1.18 million to the Council of Yukon First Nations (CYFN) to develop a program aimed at preventing and addressing family violence in the territory.
The federal government is providing $1.18 million to the Council of Yukon First Nations (CYFN) to develop a program aimed at preventing and addressing family violence in the territory.
The program, which is not yet developed, will focus on handling domestic violence committed by First Nations men.
The announcement was made in Whitehorse this morning by Carolyn Bennett, the federal minister of Mental Health and Addictions and Associate Minister of Health. She was joined at the news conference by CYFN Grand Chief Peter Johnston and executive director Shadelle Chambers.
It’s to be a four-year project, and there are months of program development ahead, said Chambers.
No timeline has been set yet for its implementation.
Chambers said the council was informed approximately two months ago that it would be receiving the funds from federal sources.
That hasn’t been enough time to do more than hire a co-ordinator and begin looking at programs and best practices elsewhere.
Such programs do exist in other jurisdictions, Chambers said in response to a question from a reporter.
However, the intention is to create a home-grown program for the Yukon – which will take some time.
Chambers said the program will be completely voluntary, but will be aimed at recruiting First Nations men to operate it and participate in it.
She said the program will be a “low-barrier project” that will seek to “train the trainers.”
Chambers expects it could take nearly a year to create a viable program, and that’s what will happen over the next few months.
“The next phase is to develop a work program,” she said. “We will be training people for the next six to eight months.”
Johnston said domestic violence is a “complex problem that has plagued First Nations people for 150 years, and society in general for thousands of years.
“We need to have supports in place for men,” he added. “That’s been the missing component.”
Chambers echoed that, saying “ensuring our men have a role in preventing and handling domestic violence is crucial. We need to look at this through a restorative lens.”
Bennett said the federal funding is to “amplify what’s happening on the ground.”
She said 40 per cent of all calls police receive about violence are related to domestic violence.
In an ideal world, Bennett said, home should be a place of refuge and safety for everyone, “but tragically, that is not the reality for everyone.”
She added the COVID-19 pandemic has been a stressor on the public, heightening the potential for domestic violence.
“It’s had serious mental health consequences,” Bennett noted.
“This is not a one-size-fits-all program,” she added.
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Comments (17)
Up 4 Down 1
Jim on Jul 27, 2022 at 4:24 pm
@Chuck Farley, maybe if the government stopped printing money for their little vote buying schemes, our medical system wouldn’t be in the disaster it is now. Maybe a little insight for you as well, CPP is NOT government funded. Most seniors will never receive near what they paid into it.
The Liberal cronies are trying to call it a benefit, but it’s not. But to spend 1.18 million on a non-existing program or plan is just Liberal fluff. How did they arrive at that amount? Was it just loose change in their pockets? If you are justifying this by comparing it to medical care and OAS you are definitely grasping for straws. If the Liberal government wasn’t in a minority situation you can bet all these vote buying gimmicks would not be there unless near an election.
Up 6 Down 10
Chuck Farley on Jul 26, 2022 at 12:00 pm
Matthew on Jul 21, 2022 at 4:48 pm
Please...stop...printing... money!; you may want to re-think that; you most likely to be the first to bitch if Govt ceased to maintain the treasury dept and you have to pay full cost for your medical car, no pensions (OAS,CPP,)
Up 32 Down 7
Groucho d'North on Jul 24, 2022 at 3:28 pm
“Hello Sandy? Justin here. Listen I found another bag of money labelled Pre-election Handouts and hoped you could suggest a project to give it to up there? "Sure you can make up something brand new. It has to be something that grabs headlines and makes us look like we give a damn, perhaps something in the Reconciliation theme that has not been flogged to death already. Something new and inclusive that will make all the others across the country shout, Us Too! We need that funding as well. "
"Of course - no strings attached why would you even ask?”
Up 15 Down 5
Why so serious? on Jul 23, 2022 at 7:28 pm
Why self govern Far Canal on Jul 23, 2022 at 4:59 am when the Liberals just let you do whatever you want and make whatever rules you want.
It’s pretty comfortable telling everyone else what they can and cannot do.
Up 9 Down 3
Mitch on Jul 23, 2022 at 7:20 pm
@Max - you just spoke them. I commend your courage and reason. Speak them more. I survived some stuff that breaks a person, when I was making my way through the wake of it, no one ever told me my words were not to he spoken, but it still took me decades. Never be uncomfortable to speak your mind if your mind needs you to speak. Or your heart.
Up 26 Down 6
Far Canal on Jul 23, 2022 at 4:59 am
So, er, when does this ‘self-governance” thing actually kick in!
Up 37 Down 7
Charlie's Aunt on Jul 22, 2022 at 2:30 pm
I don't understand why CYFN or any of our Bands haven't attempted to set up these programs before. It's not as if they didn't know about domestic or other violence being a problem. Many of our Bands have money so why did they have to wait for a federal handout? I'm not against programs being developed but in recent years everything seems to revolve around 'give us money.'
Up 24 Down 6
Progressive Death Star Philosophizing… on Jul 22, 2022 at 12:40 pm
Yes JJ - Yes! The philosophy of Liberalism can be summed up in a movie quote: These are not the droids you’re looking for…
Up 49 Down 7
Max Mack on Jul 21, 2022 at 9:07 pm
More "free" money for CYFN, this time to develop a program directed at FN men.
What about the violence perpetuated by FN women? There is plenty of it.
Putting the obvious racist dimension of the funding/proposed program aside . . .
The hard truth is that the vast majority of domestic violence is triggered by alcohol and drug abuse. Fix the drug and alcohol problems and you fix almost all of the violence. These are words we are not allowed to speak.
Up 43 Down 8
drum on Jul 21, 2022 at 8:42 pm
First Nations only need money. They seem to get everything - the rest of Canadians get nothing. I am fed up with my tax earnings going to people who do not even work. The First Nations are not the only people who suffer from family violence - and we did not go to residential schools.
Up 37 Down 6
bonanzajoe on Jul 21, 2022 at 8:28 pm
Bennett "added the COVID-19 pandemic has been a stressor on the public, heightening the potential for domestic violence." What happened to the Residential School and race card? Finally run out. How long will they now be playing the "covid domestic violence" card? The Liberals sure know how to keep their special voters happy.
Up 30 Down 4
bonanzajoe on Jul 21, 2022 at 8:21 pm
After the 1.18 mil gets through the pecking order system, how much will the victims get?
Up 28 Down 9
Jeff Donaldson on Jul 21, 2022 at 7:55 pm
Three weeks in Alberta.
Missed the washout by 5 hours. Get to our home on the 28th.
We have met so many nice friendly people so far my wife and I are stunned as we still have the pathetics from the Yukon, suspicious of everyone, no eye contact, anti click BS that is so prevalent in your Territory!
Hey take your, “I am so hard” Yukon BS and realize this. Great place to visit BUT DON’T LIVE THERE!
Haines Junction would probably be the only community I would recommend as they HAVE A COMMUNITY!
Dawson…ya good luck!
Last chance for those that do not fit in anywhere else! And your pathetic Premier lives there and I did the 5 toe drink when I was there drinking with the locals….hahaha!
Anti violence money from the FEDS! Whatever!
The FEDS are pandering to you as the Yukon is the only place left that still has no brain cells left after the last two year BS session and there are what 6500 Gov workers for 42000 people?
Alberta, No Masks! People Smiling and being polite.
I feel bad for those truly Yukon born and bred HardTickets that have to deal with this day in and day out.
Good Fricken Luck!
Canadian Combat Veteran.
Served Canada before Self.
Pro Patria
(For Country)
JD from Dapp “OUT”
Up 31 Down 2
Let us not speak falsely now, the hour is getting late, on Jul 21, 2022 at 6:15 pm
Johnston said, obfuscating the truth, that “… domestic violence is a ‘complex problem that has plagued First Nations people for 150 years, and society in general for thousands of years. Domestic violence looked quite different in pre-contact First Nation cultures - They warred with other groups to take others as members of their own family to replace lost family members. That’s some serious DV alright.
Talk about selective editing. Violence was a well used Indigenous tool.
“Despite the myth that Aboriginals lived in happy harmony before the arrival of Europeans, war was central to the way of life of many First Nation cultures. Indeed, war was a persistent reality in all regions though, as Tom Holm has argued, it waxed in intensity, frequency and decisiveness. The causes were complex and often interrelated, springing from both individual and collective motivations and needs.
At a personal level, young males often had strong incentives to participate in military operations, as brave exploits were a source of great prestige in most Aboriginal cultures. According to one Jesuit account from the 18th Century, ‘The only way to attract respect and public veneration among the Illinois is, as among the other Savages, to acquire a reputation as a skilful hunter, and particularly as a good warrior … it is what they call being a true man.’
Among west coast societies, the material goods and slaves acquired through raiding were important avenues to build up sufficient wealth to host potlatches and other give-away ceremonies. At a community level, warfare played a multifaceted role, and was waged for different reasons. Some conflicts were waged for economic and political goals, such as gaining access to resources or territory, exacting tribute from another nation or controlling trade routes.
Revenge was a consistent motivating factor across North America, a factor that could lead to recurrent cycles of violence, often low intensity, which could last generations. Among the Iroquoian nations in the northeast, ‘mourning wars’ were practiced. Such conflicts involved raiding with the intent to capture prisoners, who were then adopted by bereaved families to replace family members who had died prematurely due to illness or war.”
Up 43 Down 7
Juniper Jackson on Jul 21, 2022 at 4:53 pm
I'm so glad FN got over a million dollars for curtailing family violence. uh huh.. That's because no white man, no white woman, no Latino man or woman, no Asian man or woman ever perpetrated a violent action on their spouse, parent or children or others.. yup. (Just a side observation here.. its not just the men turning violent.)
Up 57 Down 11
Matthew on Jul 21, 2022 at 4:48 pm
Please...stop...printing... money!
Up 38 Down 12
Mitch on Jul 21, 2022 at 4:47 pm
She added the COVID-19 pandemic has been a stressor on the public, heightening the potential for domestic violence.
“It’s had serious mental health consequences,” Bennett noted.
Yeah, isn't that Liberal grey poupon sucker relatable? Maybe the Pope can come talk to us about the need for a relationship with nature... since our betters, who did this to us, are somehow now the authourity on how to fix it. Whatever wonderbread....