Grants and Contributions:

Blackfoot Gender Justice and Relationality Project

SO220098

$400,000.00

Mar 1, 2023 - Jun 30, 2025

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.

Women and Gender Equality Canada

Partnerships and collaborations are established and/or strengthened to support the LGBTQ2 movement LGBTQ2 organizations have increased knowledge and capacity to advance equality with respect to sex, sexual orientation, gender identity and expression.

Lethbridge, Alberta, CA T1H 2A5

001-2023-2024-Q1-00209

Contribution

Grants and Contributions

Indigenous recipients

Opokaa'sin Early Intervention Society

Equality for Sex, Sexual Orientation, Gender Identity and Expression Program

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.