Description:
Through this 59-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 it’s implementation.
With the supplemental funds and extension provided in early 2026, the Aboriginal Friendship Centres of Saskatchewan will undertake an awareness campaign of the developed Safe Space Strategy, build internal and external partner capacity regarding safety planning, and host a provincial gathering centered on safety and GBV. Through this, they will further advance Gender Equality for urban Indigenous communities.
Program Purpose:
The purpose of ESSOGIE program is to advance social, political and economic equality with respect to sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression.
Advancement towards a greater understanding of the intersection of sex and gender with other identity factors that include race, national and ethnic origin, Indigenous origin or identity, age, sexual orientation, socio-economic condition, place of residence and disability are encouraged under the Program.