Research on Violence, Resistance, and Safety in Indigenous Communities
Dr. Catherine Richardson, a Metis professor and researcher, is actively involved in projects addressing structural violence, cultural identity, and well-being in Indigenous youth and communities. She emphasizes the importance of accurate language, resistance, and social context in understanding and preventing violence. Through her work, she advocates for systemic changes and empowerment to create safer spaces for marginalized groups.
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Research on Violence, Resistance, Safety and Prevention McGill Centre for Research on Children and Families Catherine Richardson/Kinewesquao, Ph.D University of Montreal Centre for Response-Based Practice December 2, 2015
My Background -Metis with Dene, Cree & Gwichin ancestry -Raised on Coast Salish territory, Vancouver Island -A counsellor/family therapist, anti-violence worker -Professor Univ. de Montreal, Social Work -Mother of three teenagers -Co-director Centre for Response-Based Practice & Network of Spiritual Progressives, Quebec
Overview of Research Involvement -CIHR Promoting Health Through Collaborative Engagement with Youth in Canada: Overcoming, Resisting & Preventing Structural Violence. -mixed race Indigenous arts-based PAR youth group in Montreal (with Dr. Elizabeth Fast) -street-involved Trans/gender fluid arts-based PAR youth group in Vancouver with RainCity Housing -SSHRC Metis well-being after experiences of child welfare in Canada (book in progress) -Metis identity The Relationship Between Cultural Stories and the Sense of Self (book in progress) -Member of RIV Responses to Interpersonal Violence Network -Islands of Safety
I worked, for over a decade, with Metis Community Services on Vancouver Island, 1995 - 2011 In 2011, 451,795 people identified as M tis in Canada. They represented 32.3% of the total Aboriginal population and 1.4% of the total Canadian population. 4
-We begin with a shared analysis of violence, resistance, responses & accurate language and social context. - Just because people have problems doesn t mean there is something wrong with them/us. (A Wade)
History & Evolution of the RB Ideas Systemic thinking . The problem is not situated in the person, it is between people, in the social world People appreciate fairness, justice and situating their experience in context Feminist contributions, an analysis of power imbalances Social justice Human agency as part of human dignity
Four Operations of Language Work Together To Benefit Perpetrators & the Status Quo Conceal Violence Blame, Pathologize Victim Obscure Responsibility Conceal Resistance
The Four Operations of Language in Response-Based Practice Reveal the Violence & Oppression Contest The Blaming of Victims Clarify Responsibility Clarify Resistance
Resistance is a response to, not an effect of . . . Interviewing methods for elucidating and honouring individuals responses and resistance to violence and oppression Distinction between responses and effects (stories of resistance or stories of pathology/illness) Applies to social interaction in general, and to forms of adversity other than violence
Response-Based Contextual Analysis S. Bonnah, L. Coates, C. Richardson, A. Wade (2014) Social Material Conditions Responses to Social Responses Situation Interaction Social Responses Offender Actions Victim Responses & Resistance
Understanding Victim Resistance Those darn socks Boot laces Scrubbing the floor leaving the corner undone
Account 1: Contrasting Accounts of Male to Female Violence Sue and Tom had been dating for five weeks. One night they had an argument on the way home from the pub. Tom complained that Sue was cold and not interested in sex. Tom stopped to urinate in the bushes and asked Sue to stop and wait. He caught up to Sue at Sue's apartment. Tom wanted to come in. He pushed the door open and forced his way in. Tom pushed Sue hard against the wall, called her a nasty name, and punched a hole in the wall inches from her face. Tom grabbed Sue and punched her in the ribs, twice. Tom kicked her in the ribs, then left the apartment.
Account 2: Contrasting Accounts of Male to Female Violence Sue and Tom had been dating for five weeks. One night they had an argument on the way home from the pub. Sue complained that Tom was rude and drank too much. Tom complained that Sue was cold and not interested in sex. When Tom stopped to urinate in the bushes, Sue kept walking. Tom asked Sue to stop and wait, but she refused. By the time Tom caught up to Sue, they were at Sue's apartment. Sue told Tom he could go to his own place, but Tom wanted to come in. Sue insisted that he go to his own place. He pushed the door open and forced his way in. Sue told him to get out. Tom pushed Sue hard against the wall, called her a nasty name, and punched the wall inches from her face. Sue ducked underneath his arm and ran for the phone in the living room. Tom grabbed Sue and punched her in the ribs, twice. Sue rolled onto her side, gasping for breath. Tom kicked her in the ribs, then left the apartment. Sue found the phone and called her best friend.
Social Responses to Victims and Offenders How family, friends, professionals, and larger society (media, police, child protection, courts) respond when violence is disclosed. A majority of victims report receiving negative social responses Examples: What does positive and negative mean? Family, Friends, Police, Court, Child Protection Marginalized, disadvantaged people are more likely to receive negative social responses: LGBTQ, Aboriginal, Refugee, Disabled The quality of social responses may be the best single predictor of the level of victim distress
Victims Responses to Social Responses Victims respond physically (epigenetically, hormonally), emotionally, mentally, socially, spiritually to positive and negative social responses Victims who receive POSITIVE social responses: - tend to recover more quickly and fully - are more likely to work with authorities - are more likely to report violence in future Victims who receive NEGATIVE social responses: - less likely to cooperate with authorities - less likely to disclose violence again - more likely to receive diagnosis of mental disorder
How to stop violence Provide positive social responses upon disclosure, responses that . Stop the violence Make the person safe Let the person know they are valued and worthy of care Show them that violence is not a viable social tool
The Islands of Safety Team Cathy & Allan Cheryle Henry Family Therapists The Couples Love Guru 19
Team Members Jeff Smith Audrey Chartrand Erica Briggs Music therapist SW Grant writer Researcher
Islands of Safety is. -An orchestrated positive social response to victims of violence -An intervention for Metis & Urban Aboriginal families referred to the Ministry for reasons of violence -An Indigenous systemic-family therapy, feminist-informed, dignity-centered safety planning process -Committed to including dads, extended family & mothers with a focus on maternal safety and perpetrator accountability
Child Welfare & Legislation The model is used in accordance with the British Columbia Child and Family Services Act, Section 15, Mediation, Traditional Dispute Resolution Fits with recent shifts to a Collaborative Practice mandate Referrals come from the Ministry of Children and Family Development child protection workers or Aboriginal agencies
Consultation Process Phase One involved a process of community consultations with mothers, fathers, social workers, agency workers, advocates, family group conference facilitators, administrators, cultural teachers, elders Metis elder Maria Campbell shared Cree and Metis teachings, that form the central theme, layers of blankets representing Islands of Safety , a metaphor depicting the creation of safe spaces in a violent culture.
Dignity Focuses on what we already know, believe think and do Allows maximize freedom in appointments, topics of discussion Always asks permission, renegotiates each time Makes the spirit of safety explicit Treats people as responsible, choice-makers, acting with deliberation 24
Dignity involves. Manners Social protocols Avoiding humiliation in all encounters Repairing social harm & embarrassment Daily acts of kindness & caring A collective response to humiliation
Dignity Through Attending to Language Contesting the Colonial Code of Relations, Decolonization Contesting the Parallel Objectifying Practices Reversing the Four Operations Awareness of embedded pre-suppositions & Avoiding Advice-giving Talking about responses to acknowledge the activity, action and agency of the individual and contest accusations and diagnoses of passivity.
Structure - Four Stages 1. Agency referral 2. Preparation & pre - planning meeting 3. The Islands of Safety meeting - a one day process (with similarities to FGC, but with an accentuated attention to safety where there has been violence) 4. Follow up meeting
Safety Criteria The perpetrator has demonstrated . .. that no immediate threat exists, as evidenced by others and those who have been harmed a willingness to discuss the specific aspects of the violent behaviour responsibility for the violent actions, acknowledged the actions as wrong, apologized to those harmed & taken steps to restore safety and recovery for the victim a desire to become accountable, via a counsellor or third party a desire to participate in child safety planning and contribute to child safety
The Safety Conference Preparations are lead by those who are most vulnerable Family invites family & support people Children are invited to participate, in varying ways The role of the social worker is to document the presence & signs of dignity for the family Those who have committed violence attend if they meet the safety criteria
The Safety Conference Introduction Four Rounds of Structured Conversation The Planning Process Closure
Introduction to the Day Acknowledging the land, the ancestors, the diaspora Introduction to Islands of Safety meeting and agenda Introductions & acknowledging absent family members Settling in, attending to comfort and psychological & physical safety (no rules) Preferred interaction est. through earlier interviews
Round One Topic: Family History Traditional or regular family life Roles of family members Preferred views/moments of family interaction Underlying Assumption Families have pre-existing ability
Round Two Topic - Family History With Professionals How is everyone doing now? What do the facilitators/participants need to do to make this successful? Underlying Assumptions Attending to processes that reassert affronted dignity from past encounters Avoiding the replication of dominance & colonization
Round Three Topic: Family Responses to Violence & Threats Protection concerns for the child (re: The Act) Safety of the mother/non-offending parent Underlying Assumptions Safety is promoted through accurate accounts & through eliciting safety knowledge and responses to violence Risk, safety & capacity can be viewed through responses
Round Four Topic: Social Responses to Family Members What kinds of social responses have the family received? How do family members respond to the social responses? Underlying Assumptions Social responses are predictors of outcome Resilience & Capacity are group projects Pre-existing ability & family success can be eroded by negative social responses, particularly after disclosures of violence & requests for help
Private Family Safety Planning Time Questions for Consideration What is the family already doing to increase safety? Who, what, where, why & how often? Plan & Trial run Plan presented to facilitators Plan presented to child protection worker
Closing the Meeting A plan is finalized which addresses the safety of the child, the non-offending parent, and the commitment of others to upholding safety, unity responsibility to upholding safety The plan will be typed up by a facilitator and sent to the child protection worker & others chosen by the family The facilitators and family select a communications committee date is chosen for the follow up meeting, approximately three weeks in the future
Follow Up Meeting Held approximately three weeks after the initial meeting Communication team attends, consisting of the mother/non-offending parent, a facilitator, the child protection worker Assess ongoing community supports to ensure family safety Plan for closing the file
Interviewing For Accurate Accounts Identification Possible Change Responses & Resistance to Event Responses to Social Responses Social Responses To Event & To Family Event photo of Northern Vancouver Island Dignity Safety Dignity Safety Dignity Safety 39
Islands of Safety is an orchestrated positive social response to violence & a means to restoring dignity.
Thank you for listening! UNIVERSIT DE MONTR AL wwww.responsebasedpractice.com cathyresponds@gmail.com
