The Bonnyville Canadian Native Friendship Centre

Published purpose

This 49-month project with Bonnyville Canadian Native Friendship Centre will develop and implement a comprehensive survivor-informed prevention and trauma-mitigation program to advance knowledge and enhance empowerment supports for at-risk populations and survivors of human trafficking within the Northern Alberta region. This will be achieved by the development and delivery of a suite of wrap-around client services that will integrate Indigenous culture approaches and initiatives that strengthen community, family, and spiritual connections. Project activities will include: essential skills, employment, self-advocacy, and sexual exploitation awareness training workshops; cultural connectivity programs, events, and camps; crisis support and enhanced support referrals; and volunteerism opportunities. A Human Trafficking Advisory Board and focus groups will be formed to design and oversee project activities. At the end of the project, the organization will have developed, implemented, and tested a survivor-informed and culturally relevant program framework that will result in promising and sustainable prevention and intervention practices to empower at-risk populations and survivors of human trafficking. The project will include an external evaluation that will looks at the success and scalability of the promising practices. The supplemental funding will be used to scale up the project and expand its reach. This will include workshops for survivors of human trafficking on financial literacy and conflict resolution with an Indigenous cultural focus, Indigenous art therapy, a cultural camp offering a holistic approach to healing and recovery, and cultural healing circles incorporating traditional Indigenous healing practices.