Backgrounder – The Government of Canada provides funding to the Native Women’s Association of Canada to prevent gender-based violence

June 6, 2023 – Gatineau, Quebec

In January 2022, Women and Gender Equality Canada (WAGE) launched a call for proposals to increase the capacity of Indigenous and 2SLGBTQQIA+ organizations in Canada to provide GBV prevention services and supports to address the disproportionate rates of GBV in these communities. 

The following national project is a recipient of this funding: 

Native Women's Association of Canada (NWAC)
Gatineau, Quebec
Project name: PTMA Liaisons: Grassroots Partnership and Capacity Building
Funding amount: $750,000

Project description: This project will increase the NWAC’s members’ capacity to prevent or address GBV against Indigenous women, girls and gender-diverse people. Specifically, the project will allow for the creation of two Liaison Worker positions, which will work in partnership with their grassroots Provincial/Territorial Member Associations (PTMAs) to develop their capacity in ways that will allow them to more successfully serve their constituent communities, consisting of Indigenous, women, girls and gender-diverse people. Training and support will be provided to enable PTMAs to pursue new funding sources to better support and sustain local GBV programming.

In August 2020, WAGE launched a call for proposals to support eligible organizations in developing and implementing promising prevention or intervention practices that will advance knowledge and enhance empowerment supports for at-risk populations and survivors of human trafficking.

The following national project is a recipient of this funding: 

Native Women's Association of Canada (NWAC)
Gatineau, Quebec
Project name: Kewabadjmin: SEEing Ourselves

Funding amount: $400,000

Project description: This project will develop, implement, and test an intensive healing and empowering program intervention for Indigenous women and gender-diverse people who identify as LGBTQ2+ and who are survivors of or at risk of sexual exploitation through human trafficking. It will increase knowledge about identifying and addressing past and ongoing traumas, current risk factors of being trafficked, and barriers to self-sufficiency. This will be achieved by engaging survivors, Indigenous Elders, and Knowledge Holders with experience in traditional healing and trauma to participate in a Living Experience Advisory Circle.