The territorial Prevention and Aboriginal Women Fund is providing $150,000 for projects addressing and preventing violence against Indigenous women and girls.

The money is going to the Champagne and Aishihik First Nations (CAFN), Skookum Jim Friendship Centre, Carcross-Tagish First Nation (CTFN) and Vuntut Gwitchin First Nation (VGFN), it was announced today.

All four projects will will pursue various initiatives, including creating safe spaces, healing and cultural integration.

Funded projects align with Changing the Story to Upholding Dignity and Justice: Yukon’s Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls Strategy, notably Pillar 1: Strengthening Connections and Support.

Here is a breakdown of the initiatives:

• CAFN – Women's Circles for Connection in Haines Junction – 2022–24 – $50,000.

The two-year project will consist of weekly women’s circles in Haines Junction.

Each evening includes facilitated programming to focus on mind, body, spirit, social and emotional aspects of participants.

This includes hands-on skills such as harvesting, healthy cooking, cultural arts and traditional skills.

The program provides a place for Indigenous women to come together, share challenges, enjoy the warmth of community, learn and share new skills, build trust and increase communication between the women of the community.

• Skookum Jim Friendship Centre – Women of Wisdom – 2022–24 – $50,000.

The two-year project will consist of bimonthly sessions and an annual on-the-land camp.

The project works to prevent violence against Aboriginal women by creating safe and supportive spaces to engage participants in self-reflective, culturally relevant and gender-specific teachings.

The objective is to cultivate resiliency and autonomy in all women.

All sessions involve aspects of educational awareness, skill-building, elder teachings, peer support and capacity building.

• CTFN – Auntie’s Camp – 2022–23 – $25,000

This one-year project is an on-the-land women’s camp that will create a safe space for women to gather, connect with culture and build positive relationships within the community.

Aunties play a very important cultural role as they are women who are involved in the care, teaching, support and love of the community’s children and youth.

The camp will focus on reclaiming cultural activities, the transmission of traditional knowledge, building connections, and revitalizing healing and peacemaking circles for family and community support.

• Vuntut Gwitchin First Nation – Gwitch’in – 2022–23- $25,000.

The one-year project will create a safe space for Gwitchin women living in Whitehorse to come together to connect with each other and their culture.

There will be workshops, cultural activities, information about local supports and access to elders and counsellors.

There will be approximately 11 sessions with a focus on a variety of topics including safety, prevention of violence, and local supports.

The Prevention of Violence against Aboriginal Women Fund is administered through the territorial Women and Gender Equity Directorate.

Projects are assessed by an independent adjudication panel comprised of Indigenous women.

“By working with First Nation governments and community partners, we are better addressing and preventing violence against Indigenous women and girls,” said Jeanie McLean, the minister responsible for the directorate.

“These projects will create culturally safe programming across the territory that will work to end violence against Indigenous women and girls and help them feel safer in our communities.

The fund was developed in 2004 to provide financial support to Indigenous women’s organizations, registered societies and First Nation governments in recognition that Indigenous women and girls experience disproportionate rates of violence.

Applicants can apply for up to $25,000 for a one-year project or $50,000 for a two-year project.