English - Ontario Association of Children's Aid Societies

foretellers of the future and conferring of lucky names on children or adults. Twospirited
Aboriginal peoples were “valued and respected teachers, healers, caregivers,
educators and, if need be, warriors”. The influence of European values through the
process of colonization impacted the two-spirited people by imposing strict gender
roles. “The arrival of the Europeans was marked by the imposition of foreign views and
values on Native spirituality, family life and traditions. The missionary churches’ views
on sexuality, for example, created many new taboos.
We were given tasks that were
difficult so that we would be
experienced by the time we were
married, so that in times of hunger we
could survive . . . ​Boys had an even
harder time, for they had to be able to
provide for their wives and children
after they grew up. It seems as if they
had to go out all the time . . . ​As soon
as a boy woke up, he was asked to
dress and go outside to check the
weather, so that he would be trained
to go outside no matter what the
weather was like.
- Ajunnginiq Centre, 2007
“When a man chooses to use violence
towards a woman he is de-spiriting
her. He is changing the very spirit she
entered the world as.”
- Pauline Shirt (Cree Elder)
D. FAMILY VIOLENCE IN FIRST NATIONS, INUIT AND MÉTIS
COMMUNITIES
While we cannot know whether family violence occurred prior
to contact with European settlers, the incidence of violence
may have been significantly less and the way violence was
addressed would have been different.
This is due to several reasons related to the family structure
being so different from the Western model: women and men
were seen as interdependent; both were seen as equal but
different; cultures were often matrilineal; and men were seen
as weak when they were abusive.
When a man battered a woman, he was considered irrational
and could no longer assume leadership roles when hunting or in
a war party. He could not be trusted to behave properly and he
might bring harm to others.
When abuse did occur, the abuser was confronted immediately
by his male relatives or those of the victim. If the abuse
continued, punishment could be severe, including banishment,
castration and death.
The extended family and the community would ensure that
the woman and children were protected from the abuser. If the
woman could not care for her children in the immediate
situation, there was family to support her in her
responsibilities.
Today, the incidence of violence has increased and the
community safety nets are at times expanded to ensure the
safety of women and children. Communities are working on
regaining a sense of balance.
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E. MAINSTREAM SERVICE MODELS
Mainstream models are often focused on addressing the immediate safety issue by
moving the victim of the violence, usually the woman and the children, from the
family home and the community. Shelters have been established for women and
children. After being charged with family violence, men are often returned to their
homes because the appropriate resources do not exist in remote communities. The
mainstream approach is often contrary to Aboriginal models and practices used to
support families to recover as a family and address the core issue that has led to the
violence.