Plan needed to prevent domestic violence, says N.W.T. coroner

The chief coroner of the Northwest Territories wants to see a concrete plan to prevent domestic violence in the territory.

This is one of two recommendations Cathy Menardis now making following the 2009 death of Alice Black, a 31-year-old mother of seven.

Black died after being beatenby her common-law husband, TerryVital,in Gameti, N.W.T. Vital pleaded guilty to manslaughter and is serving a seven-year sentence.

Menard said Blacks death was a wake-up call on just how much work still needs to be done to address family violence in the territory.

"Otherwise, Alice Black died in vain and we cant have that," she said.

Menard is recommending that the territory create an action plan for people who face domestic violence, especially for those in communities with limited or no RCMP resources.

"We need some sort of plan to protect people so they have something whether its a place to go or a system in place, or people know protocols so they can get assistance. Figure it out. Every community with limited resources has to have a plan bottom line," said Menard.

She wants front-line workers to address the issues and ensure community members report abuse.

Menard also wants to see the government, RCMP and other community organizations work together on the plan.

Menard is also recommending a long-term public education campaign, similar to an anti-smoking campaign, to curb the acceptance of domestic and family violence.

"It's not okay. There's that old saying 'it takes a village to raise a child', but it takes a village to protect each other too," she said.

The Yellowknife YWCA said the report comes two weeks after the territory ended some funding for programs in communities without family violence shelters. The YWCA said that four-year program provided a total of $1.2 million for community-based initiatives around prevention, advocacy and outreach.

Lyda Fuller from the YWCA said the report amounts to a renewed push for more attention to family violence in the North.