POLICE CHARGING POLICIES & DOMESTIC VIOLENCE - Native ...

f) Women's RoleThe majority of aboriginal women are ill-informed of their legal rights in a domesticviolence situation and the availability of legal aid. Sometimes, the effect of mandatorycharging policies disempowers aboriginal women from taking responsibility for their owndecisions. When the police remove the victim from the home for her safety, the questionarises as to whom is being protected? The victim? The offender? The security of thevictim should be the first priority. 77Contributor to the chapter include Margaret Wiebe, Women’s Advocacy Program, Winnipeg, Manitoba; Ma Wawi WiChi Itata Centre Inc., Winnipeg, Manitoba; Community Legal Education Association, Winnipeg, Manitoba; Legal AidManitoba, Winnipeg, Manitoba; Manitoba Justice; Charlottetown, PEI RCMP; Ontario Solicitor General; DakotaOjibway Tribal Council, Brandon, Manitoba; Judy Bartlett, Victim/Witness Assistance Program, Burns Lake, B.C.;Happy Valley RCMP; Chief Coroner, GNWT; Six Nations Police; Gitksan-Wewt’suwet’en Education Society,Hazelton, B.C.; Public Legal Education Association, Whitehorse, Yukon Territory; Labrador Legal Services; MicMacNative Friendship Centre; Council for Yukon Indians; Akwesasne Mohawk Police; Government of the NorthwestTerritories; Native Para-judicial Services of Quebec; Justice Canada; Siksika Nations Police Services; Justice NewBrunswick; Milton, Nfld. RCMP; Yellowknife RCMP; and Dalhousie University, Halifax, N.S.Pg. 16