QUEBEC CITY, Que.-In late February, the province of Quebec committed to developing a new 24/7 helpline to be available for Indigenous women facing spousal, family or sexual violence. The phone line will be available in English, French and several Indigenous languages.
When calling the line, the women will not only receive the chance to talk to someone about their problems and fears, but they will be able to receive psychosocial, legal and referral resources.
The concept has been in the works for three years, but now Martine Biron, the minister responsible for the status of women, announced that the province will invest nearly $900,000 over three years to support the project.
"When you're a victim of violence, your first instinct is to withdraw," said Biron. "But this project will enable Indigenous women to reach out to their peers, to people in the communities themselves, who will be able to help them with their specific needs."
Biron says this investment goes toward creating safe spaces for First Nations women.
Ghislain Picard, Chief of the Assembly of First Nations Quebec-Labrador, says,
"Our cultures are still very much very specific . . . and that includes the way we react to different realities around us, including violence."
He says the situation facing Indigenous women is serious enough to warrant this new resource, but he says it will take time to establish and build trust with communities.
