SLIDE 1
Cultural Considerations for Cultural Considerations for Supporting - - PowerPoint PPT Presentation
Cultural Considerations for Cultural Considerations for Supporting - - PowerPoint PPT Presentation
Cultural Considerations for Cultural Considerations for Supporting Aboriginal Victims Supporting Aboriginal Victims Vicky Laforge Vicky Laforge April 27, 2009 April 27, 2009 Ottawa, ON Ottawa, ON The Laforge Family My Story My Story
SLIDE 2
SLIDE 3
My Story My Story
◊ April 9, 2006 ◊ At the home of Bonnie
and Romeo Laforge
◊ Two homicides and one
kidnapping with a 17 hour stand-off
◊ Nipissing First Nation
population 850 - effects
- n community
◊ April 9, 2006 ◊ At the home of Bonnie
and Romeo Laforge
◊ Two homicides and one
kidnapping with a 17 hour stand-off
◊ Nipissing First Nation
population 850 - effects
- n community
SLIDE 4
Considerations regarding time
- f tragedy
Considerations regarding time
- f tragedy
◊ On Reserve Jurisdictional issues - APS,
OPP - various depts, Sturgeon Falls Police
◊ Everyone is related and knows one
another - personal to everyone
◊ Trauma to the entire reserve ◊ On Reserve Jurisdictional issues - APS,
OPP - various depts, Sturgeon Falls Police
◊ Everyone is related and knows one
another - personal to everyone
◊ Trauma to the entire reserve
SLIDE 5
After the Crisis - Two Paths of Healing After the Crisis - Two Paths of Healing
Western/Native Traditional Healing
- Therapists, psychiatrists,
counsellors, bereavement counsellors,
- Grief workshops, fasting,
sweat lodge ceremonies, weekend retreats with Native healers, visits with Elders, pow wows, and healing circles
Western/Native Traditional Healing
- Therapists, psychiatrists,
counsellors, bereavement counsellors,
- Grief workshops, fasting,
sweat lodge ceremonies, weekend retreats with Native healers, visits with Elders, pow wows, and healing circles
Court Process
- Gave me a lot of grief
and feelings of not being included in the process, no one worked with me and my immediate family.
- Receiving closure March
2008 - second degree murder - elig parole after 18 years Court Process
- Gave me a lot of grief
and feelings of not being included in the process, no one worked with me and my immediate family.
- Receiving closure March
2008 - second degree murder - elig parole after 18 years
SLIDE 6
Court and who helps the Victims? Court and who helps the Victims?
◊ Extremely stressful part of the process ◊ Crown Attorneys office ◊ Knowing and understanding a process
that you are unfamiliar with
◊ The emotional needs of the Victims ◊ Impact Statements ◊ Community involvement ◊ Extremely stressful part of the process ◊ Crown Attorneys office ◊ Knowing and understanding a process
that you are unfamiliar with
◊ The emotional needs of the Victims ◊ Impact Statements ◊ Community involvement
SLIDE 7
How I got through the suffering How I got through the suffering
- Every part of the process is painful,
nothing is easy
- People say we are strong, when we are
just trying to live
- Our normal has changed
- Every part of the process is painful,
nothing is easy
- People say we are strong, when we are
just trying to live
- Our normal has changed
SLIDE 8
Sentencing Sentencing
◊ The Long wait ◊ How does a victim know what their
rights are?
◊ Blind throughout the process ◊ Preliminary hearing ◊ The sentencing ◊ The Long wait ◊ How does a victim know what their
rights are?
◊ Blind throughout the process ◊ Preliminary hearing ◊ The sentencing
SLIDE 9
Moving Forward Moving Forward
◊ Healing is a journey that is a long and
winding road - good and bad days
◊ Getting involved, speaking out ◊ Utilizing ceremonies and striving for
that balance
◊ Healing is a journey that is a long and
winding road - good and bad days
◊ Getting involved, speaking out ◊ Utilizing ceremonies and striving for
that balance
SLIDE 10
Video - http://www.kanawayhitowin.ca Video - http://www.kanawayhitowin.ca
◊ My healing involves sharing my story,
connecting with others affected by violent crimes, and speaking out about family violence and violence against women.
◊ My healing involves sharing my story,
connecting with others affected by violent crimes, and speaking out about family violence and violence against women.
SLIDE 11