Women set out on awareness cycle

Two years ago Sheila Swasson had a dream of cycling across Canada to raise awareness about family violence in First Nations communities. On May 28, her dream was set into motion as Aboriginal Women on the Move Cross-Canada Cycle departed Vancouver en-route to St. John's, Nfld.

The dream, which began as a slip of the tongue to family members in 2004, quickly came to life when long-time friends and mother/daughter team, Donna Metallic, 51, and Chi Metallic, 31, came on board. The three Mi'gmaq women from Listuguj, Que. formed Aboriginal Women on the Move and soon established a partnership with the group National Aboriginal Circle Against Family Violence.

"It's about people talking about why we are doing it and that's one of the objectives; to start talking about it, getting into the communities and initiating that dialogue. Through dialogue, solutions will present themselves...We're taught not to talk about it. Once you start talking about it you're breaking that silence and you're going to break the cycle," said Swasson who also hopes to reach the ears of government.

The three women will travel 7,200 kilometres stopping at First Nations communities along their route every five days, in the hope of initiating dialogue with the communities. Their route will wind through the interior of British Columbia connecting to the Yellowhead Highway towards their final destination which they hope to reach on Aug. 11.

Swasson, 41, a supervisor of the Haven House shelter who has worked more than 15 years in the family violence area, said when addressing family violence there are numerous factors, such as poverty, substance abuse, and loss of traditional roles of women and communities that need to be looked at. She added that it is not just an issue about women and children, but men and communities on the whole.

"Although more attention has been raised regarding family violence, numbers have not decreased. We're still seeing staggering statistics on family violence among the First Nation population in this country," said Swasson.

She attributes the high percentages of family violence to limited resources. "There are 37 women's shelters, First Nations shelters across Canada, funded by the Department of Indian and Northern Affairs Canada (INAC). There's 350 family violence prevention programs also funded by INAC through the Family Violence Initiative Program. But yet there's over 600 First Nations communities in this country. There are some communities that don't have the resources to address this issue in their communities," said Swasson.

Overall, 21 per cent of Aboriginal people will encounter spousal violence in comparison to seven per cent of non-Aboriginal persons, according to Statistics Canada (Family Violence in Canada: A Statistical Profile, 2005.)

Verna McGregor, national director of National Aboriginal Circle Against Family, echoes Swasson's statements advocating for awareness as a beginning to address the issue. "It helps keep it at the forefront; don't forget what's happening behind closed doors," said McGregor who attended the May 28 cycle.

She said "The folder for family violence is so large, it encompasses many things...We have to look at health, social services, the justice system. . . It's still a taboo, a hidden topic. All government and all levels of society need to become more aware of this family violence."

For Donna Metiallic, who works as director of Community Health under the Listuguj First Nation government, she came on board quickly because of the negative impact family violence has for health and well being.

The three women's experiences and resources form a solid bond, "an unbreakable triangle," said Donna Metallic.

Her daughter Chi is a youth protection delegate with the Gesgapegiag First Nation. When approached with the idea, she jumped at the opportunity of being part of a great adventure that promotes positive change. "In youth protection you get to see so many women, children and men of varied situations with a lot of abuse. Whether it is mental, physical or what not, you get to see it first hand. I believe in this tour and the message we want to get across, not only to our families and communities, but across Canada," said Chi.

After being turned down for government funding, Swasson sought out sponsors, the primary being the Pequot tribe and the Mohegan Sun tribe in Connecticut, USA. In addition to bake sales and golf tournaments, they devised sponsor a kilometre where individuals can send money to the trio at one dollar a kilometre.

For more information, sponsorship, or to contact Aboriginal Women on the Move visit the Web site aboriginalwomenonthemove.org.