Shining a Spotlight: Social Development

“Restoring the Circle” training program set to launch this summer.

NWAC’s Social Development Policy Unit’s WAGE-funded project provides training to service providers to improve the experiences of 2SLGBTQ+ Indigenous survivors of gender-based violence in their service setting. Our team marked an important milestone in May with the design and development of “Restoring the Circle,” a three-hour, self-led online training curriculum for service providers.

Back in 2019, we held eight trauma-informed regional engagements with Indigenous 2SLGBTQ+ gender-based violence survivors. We also launched a national survey to learn about the gaps in services that survivors have experienced and to receive their thoughts on potential interventions. Following these sessions, our team held a two-day national gathering last September to review the results of these regional engagement sessions and to co-develop training recommendations.

This winter, we were honoured to have two participants from the national gathering join our team as advisors and co-creators of the training materials. Chi Miigwetch to Two-Spirit Elder Albert Macleod and Two-Spirit Knowledge Keeper Paulie Poitras for their generosity and guidance. Their contributions to this important project include grounding the process in ceremony and highlighting the importance of intergenerational knowledge-sharing. The training materials include stunning creative content by the Indigenous design team at Design de Plume.

In March, when we put out a call for pilot testers from the housing and shelter sector, we were overwhelmed by the response. More than 40 service providers expressed interest in participating. In early May, we launched our pilot test of “Restoring the Circle” with 19 service providers from across Canada. Their feedback will help us to refine the training program in preparation for our official launch of “Restoring the Circle” in mid-July.