Edmonton Heyoka Healing Society

Published purpose

Through this 33-month project, the Edmonton Heyoka Healing Society (EHHS) will increase its ability to prevent and address gender-based violence (GBV) against Indigenous women, girls, and 2SLGBTQQIA+ people within the urban area of Edmonton, Alberta. This will be achieved through activities that will bolster EHHS’s administrative and financial foundations, including the development of an organizational financial sustainability plan; staff mentorship to increase overall expertise in bookkeeping, financial practices, filing systems, and digital platforms within a non-profit setting; the establishment of a modernized system for financial record-keeping; the development of an application for charitable status; streamlining of reporting processes; and research around potential new partnerships. EHHS will also engage with the community and stakeholders through the development of a curriculum and delivery platform. EHHS will conduct a literature review of best practices related to ending violence against women (EVAW) with an Indigenous focus and will create learning resources to share with partners. The organization will conduct an overall review of the agency structures and mandate, including reviewing the board policy and updating its vision, mission, and mandate. Professional training will contribute to improved knowledge delivery while equally supporting its staff that are currently working in this area and are at a high risk of burnout or vicarious traumatization. An Indigenous professional practice lead will act as a consultant and primary liaison to the board of directors to ensure all agency practices and processes are culturally relevant, spiritually informed, and interwoven with an Indigenous lens. By the end of the project, the Edmonton Heyoka Healing Society will have strengthened its capacity to prevent and address GBV against Indigenous women, girls, and 2SLGBTQQIA+ people within the urban area of Edmonton, Alberta. A GBV evaluation and risk framework will also be developed to ensure project objectives are being met, and knowledge gained in this project will be shared within the community to create and strengthen partnerships with other service providers to build their capacity in turn.