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North Cariboo Métis Association seeks to empower women impacted by violence

New project to launch online next month due to pandemic
23530863_web1_201203-QCO-MetisAssociationRAW-empower-women_1
(supplied by Pixabay)

It may not have been their initial vision, but the North Cariboo Metis Association will continue to move ahead with a project to assist Indigenous women impacted by violence.

The novel coronavirus put a halt on a camp for what the association is calling RAW: Reclaiming Aboriginal Women.

“We were going to do some community-based events that were going to target Indigenous women and empower women affected by violence, but we’re changing that up a bit because of COVID-19,” president Tony Goulet said.

RAW is one of 20 unique projects across the province aiming to end gender-based violence by supporting and collaborating with Indigenous women and girls.

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Funded by $10,000 through the Minister’s Advisory Council on Indigenous Women’s (MACIW) Giving Voice Initiative, Goulet anticipates launching the project in January with online courses promoting wellness and healing through Métis cultural practices.

Initially, he had hoped for RAW to be similarly held as their family cultural camps each summer and winter.

“It’s only a stepping stone,” Goulet said. “It’s only a start.”

RAW is not the only project or event forced to go online due to the pandemic.

The association’s popular December ‘super bingos’ will be held virtually this month.



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