The Importance of Culture in Addressing Domestic Violence for First Nation's Women

Abstract

Indigenous women in Canada face a range of health and social issues including domestic violence. Indigenous women (First Nations, Inuit and Métis) are six times more likely to be killed than non-Aboriginal women (Homicide in Canada, 2014; Miladinovic and Mulligan, 2015). Aboriginal women are 2.5 times more likely to be victims of violence than non-Aboriginal women (Robertson, 2010). These and other statistics highlight a significant difference in the level of violence experienced by Indigenous women to that experienced by women in the mainstream population in Canada. The historical impacts of colonization and forced assimilation are viewed as the main social determinant of health for aboriginal people in Canada, as they led to intergenerational trauma, with communities struggling today against discrimination, stigma, poverty and social exclusion. Most disturbing and damaging are the outcomes of domestic violence, mental health and addiction issues (Prussing, 2014). First Nation's women who want to leave a violent situation have limited access to helping services, as most are located in large cities and towns, far from remote reserves where many of the women live. Services were originally designed by and for the mainstream population. First Nation's women who manage to access these programs often find staff with limited cultural competence and program supports that have little cultural safety or relevance for them. Indigenous culture is defined in various levels of legislation as having a set of specific rights based on their historical ties to a particular region, with cultural or historical distinctiveness from the mainstream and other populations (Indigenous Peoples at the UN, 2014). In Canada, indigenous cultural beliefs are closely tied to belief in a creator, ancestors and the natural world, influencing their spirituality and their political perspectives (Waldram et al., 2006). Cultural safety, a concept that emerged in the 1980's in New Zealand, is viewed as an environment that is spiritually, socially, emotionally and physically safe for people; where cultural identity is recognized and valued through shared respect, meaning, knowledge and the experience of learning together. This paper will explore current evidence-based literature to determine if there is empirical evidence to support program policies and practices that reflect culturally safe, competent and relevant domestic violence services to address the cultural needs of Indigenous women in Canada.

Effectiveness of ICT-based intimate partner violence interventions: a systematic review

“…Diversity is crucial in IPV. Research shows that foreign-born immigrant as well as indigenous women are more likely to experience IPV [81,82] and intimate partner homicide than other women [83,84]; hence, addressing diversity in IPV is critical. It is encouraging that one recently published RCT protocol laid out a plan for culturally tailored intervention targeting immigrant, refugee, and indigenous survivors of IPV [85].…”

Exploring Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion in Domestic Violence Service Provision

“…Having staff members who speak the language can help a survivor feel understood and emotionally supported. Not only does hiring diverse staff members help ensure DV survivors are receiving inclusive care, research suggests those with lived experience must be included within the development of organizational policy and practices (Klingspohn, 2018). As experts with lived experience, hiring staff members from diverse backgrounds with personal experience helps ensure their expertise is informing and guiding the provision of equitable services.…”

“…Cultural competency is a process that involves collaboration and relationship-building with communities including those with lived experience, and agencies must examine existing policies and practices to ensure competencies are built at all levels and hold individuals at all levels accountable (Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Social Justice Commissioner, 2011;Perilla, Serrata, Weinberg, & Lippy, 2012;Bhuyan & Senturia, 2005;Senturia, Sullivan, Ciske, & Shiu-Thornton, 2000;Warrier, 2005). Furthermore, research suggests cultural competency training must be mandated, systematic, and ongoing (Klingspohn, 2018;Latta & Goodman, 2005;Lockhart & Danis, 2010;Bent-Goodley, 2005) ensuring diverse cultural understanding and experiences of DV are informing policy and shaping best practices that are diverse (Anderson & Aviles, 2006). Engaging in cultural competence allows those who work within the DV sector to understand the complexity of DV survivors' experiences and adapt the provision of services accordingly.…”

Contemporary Indigenous Women’s Roles: Traditional Teachings or Internalized Colonialism?

“…Furthermore, 113 per 1,000 Indigenous women self-report sexual assault compared with 35 per 1,000 non-Indigenous women (Department of Justice Canada, 2017). Both Amnesty International (2009) and Klingspohn (2018) state that Indigenous women (First Nations, Inuit, and Métis) are 5 times more likely to disappear and 6 times more likely to be killed than non-Indigenous women. Thousands more have died through suicide or premature violent deaths.…”