Aboriginal Friendship Centres of Saskatchewan

Published purpose

Through this 41-month project, the Aboriginal Friendship Centres of Saskatchewan (AFCS) will increase its ability to prevent and address gender-based violence (GBV) against Indigenous women, girls, and 2SLGBTQIA+ people, with a focus on Indigenous women and 2SGLBTQIA+ people in Northern Saskatchewan. This will be achieved by developing materials for community engagement, awareness campaigns, and education workshops; engaging with partners, Indigenous women, 2SGLBTQQIA+ people, and the public on their experiences and priorities related to GBV to inform the development of a Safe Space Strategy; and implementation of the Strategy at the provincial level and across Friendship Centres in Saskatchewan This project will engage with communities, service providers, experts, policy-makers, Friendship Centres, and above all Indigenous women and 2SLGBTQIA+ persons across Saskatchewan, to share knowledge and create and implement a province-wide Safe Space Strategy within their network. By the end of the project, AFCS will have strengthened their capacity to prevent and address GBV against Indigenous women, girls, and 2SLGBTQQIA+ people, with a focus on preventing and challenging Indigenous gender-based violence and ensuring that Friendship Centres are welcoming safe and equal spaces. The additional funds will be used to increase the number of annual meetings across Friendship Centres in Saskatchewan and to give the organization the ability to host a three-day community safety planning conference. As well the additional funds allow for the organization to extend the project for an additional year to further support Friendship Centre staff in implementing the Safe Space Strategy and engage with the community while assessing the success of the strategy and its implementation.