University of Calgary researchers are advancing arts and storytelling strategies to end gender-based violence in collaboration with Indigenous advocates and the Urban Society for Aboriginal Youth (USAY).
Strong Women's Circle: The Next Generation is the newest installment in a trilogy of oral-history films produced by the USAY and Shift: The Project to End Domestic Violence, a UCalgary research-action hub housed in the Faculty of Social Work.
Released in October, this third film in the series highlights the experiences and insights of young Indigenous advocates. UCalgary students Katie Zoobkoff and Lazaya Villeneuve are at the helm of this project, appearing in the film alongside fellow youth advocates Sadie Turning Robe, Jorja Mirasty and Brooklyn Leibham.
Together, they speak to the impacts of ongoing colonial child-welfare practices and the world-building power of civic engagement.
"This project gave us space to speak honestly about how policy change can transform the child welfare system," says Zoobkoff, a third-year sociology student. "It reminded us that preventing the mistakes of the past means centering the voices of those most affected in every step of policy design."
Activist Michelle Robinson and Manitoba Minister of Families Nahanni Fontaine join the conversation in the film, connecting the personal to the political and the historical to the contemporary.
"(Youth) play a fundamental role in affecting and dismantling colonial structures," says Fontaine in the film. "Look at all of our women who show up in colonial spaces in their beautiful ribbon skirts, earrings and moccasins taking up space in places we weren't supposed to be in. That is the power of our youth."
Villeneuve, a fourth-year sociology and international Indigenous studies student, says the project is ultimately about self-determination.
"We're not asking for a seat at the table," says Villeneuve. "We're rebuilding the table so it reflects who we are and the kind of future we want for our communities."
Strong Women's Circle: violence-prevention research
The Strong Women's Circle films build on a Faculty of Social Work research project of the same name that maps the root causes of violence and identifies policy and systems recommendations to prevent violence against Indigenous peoples.
The research was developed through an earlier partnership between Mehegun Tails, Dr. Suzanne McLeod, PhD, and Shift: The Project to End Domestic Violence, a research hub led by Lana Wells, BSW'96, MSW'97.
"We developed this research project by bringing together Indigenous and Western world views for sustainable anti-violence solutions," says Wells, who is also the Brenda Strafford Chair in the Prevention of Domestic Violence and a Social Work associate professor. "Our findings build on decades of advocacy by Indigenous leaders and reflect the lived expertise of Indigenous women in Alberta."
These Indigenous women include Elders, grandmothers and Knowledge Keepers Doreen Spence, Karen Acuna, Dakota Eagle Woman, Jackie Bromely, Diane Meguinis, Violet March and Valerie Wood.
The Strong Women's Circle report proposes five transformative shifts to advance Indigenous sovereignty. It also outlines targeted reforms across six systems that heighten vulnerability to violence: justice and policing, child welfare, health, education, housing, and transportation.
A call to action to stop violence before it starts
For Wells, the film series is as much a research method as it is a movement.
"Each film in this series deepened our understanding of how Indigenous women and youth are defining safety and sovereignty for their families," says Wells. "We are honoured to support and learn from their leadership."
Grounded in honesty, resilience and hope, Strong Women's Circle: The Next Generation is both a reflection and a call to action a reminder that the future of child welfare and violence prevention must be shaped by those most affected by it.
Learn more about the Strong Women's Circle research to support Indigenous-led violence prevention.
