Opokaa'sin Early Intervention Society

Published purpose

Through this 28-month project, Opokaa'sin Early Intervention Society will increase its ability to prevent and address gender-based violence (GBV) against Indigenous women, girls, and 2SLGBTQQIA+ people, with a focus on Indigenous women and 2SLGBTQQIA+ individuals living in southern Alberta who identify as members of the Blackfoot Confederacy. This will be achieved by undertaking organizational learning to address key information gaps, and to create knowledge-based resources that aim to increase understanding of Indigenous gender and sexual diversity and prevent sexualized forms of violence against Indigenous women and 2SLGBTQQIA+ people; expanding organizational networks through the formation of an Opokaa’sin-centred relationality network that will work towards advancing a Blackfoot vision of gender justice; collaborating on initiatives to drive change, including the development of Blackfoot gender relationality agreements and wise practices for government policies and community projects; and developing advocacy strategies in service of honouring, promoting, and supporting Blackfoot gender diversity and inclusion. This project will engage community members and various local Indigenous groups and agencies in guiding the creation of a framework for hearing and propelling Blackfoot perspectives on gender violence prevention and gender justice. The approaches taken will be Blackfoot-grounded and will incorporate conventional perspectives from knowledge keepers and Elders, along with the diverse lived experience knowledge held by Blackfoot women and 2SLGBTQQIA+ community members. By the end of the project, Opokaa'sin Early Intervention Society will have strengthened its capacity to prevent and address GBV against Indigenous women, girls, and 2SLGBTQQIA+ people, with a focus on Indigenous women and 2SLGBTQQIA+ individuals living in southern Alberta.