Video and comic book give hope to those facing domestic violence in Aboriginal communities

VANCOUVER — The Legal Services Society (LSS) and Healthy Aboriginal Network address domestic violence in the Aboriginal community with a new animated video and comic book aimed at Aboriginal youth and young adults.

Clear Skies is the fictional but all-too-real story of how a mother seeks the help of other women in her community, who offer her and her children a safe haven while she faces her husband in court and eventually moves on from an abusive relationship.

“Clear Skies reflects many of the First Nations communities I know and describes in an authentic way the social networks that Aboriginal women can rely in times of trouble,” said Hazelton lawyer Linda Locke, QC,. “The story gives hope to First Nations women that they can follow through with the legal process and have better outcomes for their families.”

It’s the first time LSS has produced a video and booklet of this kind, which is specifically aimed at Aboriginal youth and young adults. Forty-five percent of the Aboriginal population is under age 25 according to the last BC Census, and Stats Can reports that Aboriginal women are twice as likely to be victims of violence compared to the rest of the population.

“Aboriginal peoples represent a disproportionate number of our legal aid clients,” said LSS CEO Mark Benton, QC. “In 2014/2015, 21% of our family law clients and 40% of our child protection clients were Aboriginal. Clear Skies is a new and innovative way to reach out to those people who are facing family violence and show them there’s a way out of the situation they’re in,” he said.

“There’s a great need for this type of information in many Aboriginal communities, where there’s a lot of mystery around what options are available to women on reserve who want to leave an abusive relationship,” he added.

LSS partnered with the Healthy Aboriginal Network (HAN) to create the video and publication. HAN used legal content provided by LSS as the basis for creating the story and involved First Nations in its creation, including the writer, illustrator and animator. LSS tested the story with focus groups largely made up of First Nations.

The Healthy Aboriginal Network is a non-profit organization dedicated to the promotion of health, literacy and wellness.

The Legal Services Society provides legal aid services in BC, including legal representation for financially eligible people who are facing a family law issue involving violence.

Media contact:
Jacqueline Wood
Communications Officer
Legal Services Society
604-601-6220

NT5