Sudbury Police, N'Swakamok project to address violence against women

Morning North7:21New partnership to help reduce violence against indigenous women

It's hoped that a partnership between Greater Sudbury Police and the N'Swakamok Native Friendship Centre will be one step towards reducing violence against aboriginal women. Lisa Osawamick of the friendship Centre joined us with more details.

Members of the Greater Sudbury policeand those from the N'Swakamok Native Friendship Centre have formed a committee to reduce violence against Aboriginal girls and women.

The project, called "Looking ahead to build the Spirit of our Women - Learning to live free from Violence," is looking to hire a full-time co-ordinator to be a liaison between the police and the Friendship Centre, andto come up with strategies to help address the issue.

The committee received about $166,000 from theDepartment of Justice Canada to be used inthree years to fund the co-ordinatorposition.

The co-chair of the committee who helped developthe projectsaid working with the police on this issue is very important.

"We look at collaboration, we look at partnerships and that's a way to get everyone on board to help address violence in our community," said LisaOsawamick.

"Working together with Greater Sudbury Police is just strengthening our approach as a community."

The project has been in the works for 1.5 years.

'Helping and learning'

The committee was formed when police chief Paul Pedersen asked the N'Swakamok Native Friendship Centre to host a forum to discuss the issue of missing and murdered indigenous women.

"We can see the discussion that's going around nationally. It's not lost on us here in Sudbury," Pedersen said.

Pedersen saidhe hopes the collaboration willhelp police educate themselves on how to deal with the issues.

"Our goal is to not have any missing persons in the first place. And if we don't have any missing persons, then wereduce the chances of having murdered indigenous women as well," he said.

"For us, it really is a strategy that moves forward together. Our goal for the police service is as much about helping as it is about learning."