THE National Toshao’s Council (NTC), on Friday, launched its pilot programme aimed at empowering men to lead the charge in fighting violence against Indigenous women and girls.

The project was launched at the council’s secretariat at the Sophia Exhibition Centre, where it was announced by officials that the project will create practical solutions to tackle prevalent issue.

Delivering remarks at the launch was Minister of Amerindian Affairs, Pauline Sukhai, who hailed the project as an innovative one, noting that there has never been such an aggressive position taken in the past by Indigenous leaders in relation to violence against women and girls.
“I truly believe that while it may not be a new scenario, it is an innovative action taken by Indigenous leaders under the umbrella of the National Toshao’s Council to take hold of this situation and provide leadership on it,” she said.

Sukhai said too that the government has made significant steps to ensure that the scourge of domestic and gender-based violence is addressed.
Providing a detailed breakdown of the project, NTC Secretary, Shane Cornelius said that the project is called “Empowering Men to be Agents of Change to Fight Violence against Indigenous Women and Girls” and is being made possible through the support of the Canadian Fund for Local Initiatives (CFLI).
This project, Cornelius said, embodies the shared vision for a safer, more inclusive and harmonious society for Indigenous women, as they play a pivotal role as the backbone of the communities, torchbearers of traditions and guardians of the land.

Far too many Indigenous women and girls suffer in silence and are victims of violence.
“It is our responsibility as leaders to address this issue head-on and put an end to this injustice. This pilot project is particularly significant as it highlights the pivotal role that male toshaos or community leaders can play in addressing the deeply rooted issue of violence against Indigenous women and girls,” Cornelius said.
He added that while they recognise that gender-based violence continues to cast a dark shadow over the progress and prosperity of Indigenous communities, leaders must recognise the power they hold to reshape their communities for the better.

Cornelius added: “We must harvest our influence and leverage our position to create a safer, more equitable environment for our women and girls. Empowering men to be agents of change sends a strong message; it tells our women and girls that they deserve to live without fear, without harm and with respect and dignity; that is their inherent right… it tells our men that they have the capacity and the responsibility to be allies in this fight.”

He related that the vision of the project is to create a ripple effect through various Indigenous communities with an aim to educate and sensitise male leaders about the true impact of violence against women and girls, and provide them with the tools and knowledge to become advocates for change.

A multifaceted approach is expected to be implemented which will encompass campaigns, workshops and training programmes, among other things. It was further highlighted that the project goes beyond theoretical knowledge and is about fostering practical solutions.

Meanwhile, Caroline Mireault Charge d’Affaires at the Canadian High Commission commended the NTC for developing the project and their proactive approach towards fighting such a prevalent issue.

She added that one of the goals is to bring a continuous reduction of gender-based violence from Indigenous communities, and for men to hold each other accountable to eradicate violence against women and girls.