Woman from Katlodeeche First Nation wants support for victims of family violence

A woman fromKatlodeeche First Nation said she's noticed the number of women facing domestic abuse is rising.

The N.W.T.RCMP said there was a "slight increase" in emergency calls betweenJan.1 and May 22, 2017, and during the same time period in 2018.

In 2017, there were 78 calls related to women facing domestic violence in Hay River. In 2018, that number roseto 88 calls.

Georgina Fabian has noticed the issue largely intheKatlodeecheFirst Nation reserve, where she lives.

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"People are too ashamed to talk about family violence," she said. "So they don't talk about stuff."

Fabian said having more workshops to help people deal with domestic abuse and violence would help members of the community.

"I want the counselling on the reserve and somebody to educate young people about relationships and talk about family violence openly," she said.

'We should have more help'

Fabian saidit can be hard for community members to travel from theKatlodeecheFirst Nation reserve to Hay River to get help.It's about a 20-minute drive.

But for Fabianit's a challengebecause she doesn't have adriver's license and has to rely on taxis or community members to make the trip.

She said many people aren't willing to take her into town without payment.

"I think by now we should have more help, more support," said Fabian. "I find that we're isolated."

She's been on a waiting list to get counselling in Hay River for about a month and a half, and she hasn't heard back about getting an appointment.

She saidshe feels like she's ready to talk about her experience in residential school with a counsellor, but no one is available.

Whatservices are available?

Counselling services are currently available on the reserve one full day a month, and the dates that councillorsare expected to visit are posted around the community.

Five to six counselling sessions are available during each visit,according to Damien Healy, manager of communications with the Department of Health and Social Services.

Residents also have access to counselling in Hay River, which has five full-time counsellors three mental health counsellors and two focusing onaddictions.

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Healy said there's about an eight-week wait time to see a mental health counsellor for non-emergency issues.

Residents canalso apply for medical travel to pay for the trip from the reserveto Hay River.

Healy said there are some workshops in Hay River, including one called What Will it Take?for bystanders of family violence. It was most recently brought to the community on Monday.

Fabian said she attended the workshop at the friendship centre. People discussedfamily violence openly at the session, and that's exactly what she wanted.

"It was a really good experience," said Fabian.

The territorial government brought two other workshops to Hay River, one focusing on mental health and the other on suicide intervention, he said.