| Sexual Violence In Aboriginal Communities |
| The issue of domestic violence in First Nations and M�tis communities is one that demands urgent study and action. There is every indication that violence has escalated dramatically. For example, studies show that among Indians "the single most important group of health problems in terms of both mortality and morbidity is accidents and violence". |
| While domestic or family violence clearly affects all members within a family, the most obvious victims are women and children. A 1989 study by the Ontario Native Women's Association reported that 8 out of 10 Aboriginal women were abused. While this study focused on northern Ontario, it is statistically representative of other communities across the country. There is growing documentation that Aboriginal female adults, adolescents and children are experiencing abuse, battering and/or sexual assault to a staggering degree. A 1987 report by the Child Protection Centre of Winnipeg stated that there is "an apparent epidemic of child sexual abuse on reserves". And just recently, it was reported by the press that on one reserve in Manitoba, 30 adults were charged with having sexually abused 50 persons, many of them children. |
| Since it is considerably more difficult to get precise statistics on M�tis people, it is virtually impossible to say with any exactness the extent of sexual violence in M�tis families or communities. However, as more victims are beginning to report, there is every indication that violence, including sexual violence, is just as problematic, just as extensive as on reserves. In November 1992, the Women of the Metis Nation of Alberta organized an historic conference near Edmonton dealing specifically with sexual violence against M�tis women. The interest shown by M�tis women from across Canada was overwhelming. The stories shared by the 150 or so conference participants indicated that M�tis women, no less than Indian women from reserves, have been suffering enormously - and silently - from violence, including rape and child sexual abuse. |
| And what do victims of sexual assault face within Aboriginal and mainstream communities? The following is a brief but realistic scenario. Aboriginal victims face obstacles that come with all small communities. There is a lack of privacy. Fear of further humiliation through community gossip and fear of ostracism and intimidation from supporters of the perpetrator may all be at work. Often a Victim is confronted with disbelief, anger, and family denial or betrayal. Secrecy is expected and enforced. There is, in effect, censorship against those who would report sexual assault or even other forms of violence. But if a victim does proceed with reporting, who will want to hear? And if she goes out of the community, she faces racism/sexism in the form of judgement, indifference or disbelief. Many non-Aboriginals in positions of social service or power either have little knowledge of what circumstances confront the victim, or they do not take complainants seriously. The stereotype that Aboriginal women are sexually promiscuous is still quite prevalent. Also, in many communities women cannot trust policemen since some policemen, especially in previous generations, were also doing the attacking! This is not to mention that the entire process of reporting is itself a formidable challenge. If the victim goes as far as the courts, a whole new set of problems emerges. It is well-known that even for white middle-class women, rape trials are torturous, with no guarantee of justice at the end of it all. If only 10 per cent of white women report sexual assault, then considerably less than 10 per cent of Aboriginal victims report. And of course, the conviction rate is dismal. The other problem is the fact that the courts are wantonly lenient with regard to sentencing. As a rule, thieves and minor drug dealers receive way stiffer penalties than do child molesters, rapists or even rapist-murderers! This in itself is a chilling message regarding societal devaluation of human dignity. Many Aboriginal communities have expressed concern that courts are especially lenient with Aboriginal offenders who assault other Aboriginal people. The easy parole system, along with lenient sentencing, further sets up Aboriginal victims. If the victim succeeds in sending her assailant to prison, she may expect quick retaliation. Sexual offenders may come out of prison within three weeks, perhaps six months. These men usually go straight back to their small settlements and proceed to wreak further violence and intimidation. When all is said and done, what of the victim? Where is the help for her? Where is the concern for her rehabilitation? The whole judicial process reflects privileged, white male definitions and experience. It also reflects tremendous na�vet� - na�vet� often found in white liberal social workers, criminologists and justices. These lenient sentences are consistent with the growing heroification of rapists and child molesters as 'Victims'. Today there is persistent sympathy for sexual offenders with little, of any, corresponding concern for the real victims. |
| Sexual violence is global and universal. Men of all backgrounds, cultures, classes and economic status assault women. Indeed, history is replete with examples of rich, powerful and privileged men who abused women and children. This suggests that the origin of sexual violence is considerably more disturbing than we might like to admit. Maybe it is not as mysterious as we make it out to be. Most adults who violate others do so from a place of awareness and choice. As one article on child sexual abuse, written by a group of concerned Aboriginal women, states: "Offenders are aware of what they are doing and they know it is wrong."' North American popular culture feeds off the objectification and degradation of women. Women are presented as sexual playthings who must conform to male needs. Stereotypes of female sexuality are concocted as a rationalization for violence. It is about male maintenance of power, but it is a conscious and deliberate form of power, not one that is necessarily caused by 'abuse' or other traumas. Obviously power brings all sorts of advantages. It has been in the interests of men to keep women down. Society supports all this with its tolerance of violence against women. The criminal justice system reflects its bias through its laws and judgements. Rape in any culture and by any standards is warfare against women. And the degree to which any community tolerates sexual violence is an indication of concurrence in this warfare against women. |
| The point is, we may never know for certain what exactly causes sexual violence. But whether we know or not, we should never use any 'explanation' - be it psychological, personal or political - as absolution for the offender. We should never justify or tolerate sexual violence. The criminal justice system must do its duty and serve 'justice' not only because justice is essential to a victim's healing, but also because a message must be given that sexual violence is insupportable. Justice and concern for rehabilitation must not be seen as mutually exclusive. The other point, and perhaps more to the point, is why all this concern with finding reasons or explanations for what causes men to be rapists and child molesters? Given that we may never know, should we not turn our attention to the real victims? |
| The silent suffering of girls and women who have been subjected to rape and other assaults demands immediate attention. Silence must end. Support systems must be created. Aboriginal victims of violence need safe houses, rape crisis centres, counselling services and clinics. They need family and institutional support. They need therapists who are skilled in dealing with post-traumatic stress syndrome. They need a society that cares about them and that values their safety, their dignity and their rehabilitation. Laws must be changed and enforced. The whole judicial process of dealing with complaints of violence must be changed. |
| It cannot be emphasized enough how very desperately long-term qualitative counselling/therapy and community programs are needed. Long-term therapy programs are required. Rape and early childhood abuse cause lifetime devastation. As concerned Aboriginal women put it, "...sexual abuse is a reality and a hell that must no longer be ignored.... We have felt the pain and anger ... for damaging a child's life forever." An indication that Aboriginal women are suffering from post-traumatic stress syndrome can be seen in the level of female violence, alcoholism and extent of incarceration. Studies show that rural Aboriginal women move to urban centres to escape family or community problems. Most Aboriginal communities are small, making the situation that much more difficult for victims. Apathy and lack of leadership or family support effectively chase victims from their own communities. This should not have to happen. No one should ever have to leave home in order to feel safe. The Aboriginal leadership at the federal, provincial and regional levels must take a strong stand against violence, and certainly against sexual violence. The message and modelling must be clear and firm that sexual violence against women, teenagers and children is inexcusable, intolerable and insupportable. In effect, the Aboriginal leadership must take the initiative in raising the consciousness of communities about the destructiveness inherent in violence. Violence must be raised as the social problem it is, a problem requiring urgent attention. Forums for discussion, education, and information must be set up to facilitate awareness and social concern. Every effort must be made by the leadership to prevent abuse and to help those who have been abused. All ancient cultures have had traditions of justice, and Aboriginal cultures no less so. Aboriginal cultures used a range of penalties, depending on the nature of the offence: ridicule, shunning, payment or violence in kind (in the tradition of Can eye for an eye'). We may disagree with some ancient measures, but we cannot deny that justice is essential to the human psyche. There is no peace or healing without justice. Simply on the basis of providing therapeutic service to victims, offenders must be made accountable. But places of confinement/custody should have extensive and mandatory rehabilitation programs. Such programs should incorporate not only personal therapy but education with respect to decolonization and spiritual/cultural renewal and a sociological grasp of sexism and its relationship to violence against women. And of course, there should be long-term rehabilitation programs for victims and their families and communities. The destruction inherent in any violence ripples widely into the families and communities of victims. |
| With much thanks to: Emma D. LaRocque * Permission is granted for noncommercial reproduction related to educational or clinical purposes. Please acknowledge the source. Copies available from: National Clearinghouse on Family Violence Family Violence Prevention Division Health Programs and Services Branch Health Canada Ottawa, Ontario Canada K1A 1B4 Tel.: 1-800-267-1291 TDD Telephone Device for the Deaf) line: 1-800-561-5643 Fax: (613) 941-8930 |
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