kʷəné ŋətəl iʔ iʔsaət
The Indigenous Response Network
kʷəné ŋətəl iʔ iʔsaət
"Helping each other get well." Joe Seward
kʷəné ŋətəl iʔ iʔsaət: The Indigenous Response Network (IRN) was formed in 2019 by Indigenous and community leaders, with support from Elders and partnerships with local organizations and Nations. The IRN brings together communities, Nations and individuals to work together to support education, healing and prevention of sexualized and gender-based violence in culturally grounded and supportive ways.
kʷəné ŋətəl iʔ iʔsaət was established on the principles of decentralization, healing, prevention and support with the intention of coming together with compassion, respect, safety, and accountability. Through the IRN, we aim to strengthen collective voices in sexualized and gender-based violence work.
About the Name
We raise our hands in thanks to the traditional lək̓ʷəŋən Language Keepers
Florence Dick, Ivy Seward & Joe Seward, who gifted kʷəné ŋətəl iʔ iʔsaət and gave the Network their name.
Pronunciation Guide: kʷəné ŋətəl iʔ iʔsaət
kʷəné ŋətəl iʔ iʔsaət
Kwun ang it
Kwun ang it tul
eet
ee-sawh-it
kwung-ang-it-tel eet-ee-sawh-it
Mailing Address
#201 – 3060 Cedar Hill Road
Victoria, BC, Canada
V8T 3J5
tel: 250-383-5545
The Network
Abigail Turner & Katie Webb
The program is led by Abigail Turner, IRN Program Coordinator, and Katie Webb, Prevention Co-Director.
Abigail’s nuučaan̓uɫ name is siiyčstakšiƛ. On their mother’s side, they are from the Snuneymuxw and Hupačasath First Nations through their grandfather the late Robert Thomas. On their father’s side, they are British. As a lesbian and a Salish/nuučaan̓uɫ person, they feel passionately about culturally-aware sexual health education and view it as a way to create healthy communities. Hence how they’ve ended up as the IRN Project Coordinator! They have a Bachelor of Arts - Honors degree in Gender Studies from the University of Victoria and have worked with urban Indigenous communities over the last 5 years. Outside of work, they prioritize spending their time with friends and family, getting in the ocean and supporting their communities in abolition/mutual aid efforts.
Katie Webb is a Queer, Two-Spirit person and second-generation adoptee with mixed European heritage, and Mohawk ancestry from Kahnawake First Nation. Currently residing as a guest on Lək̓ʷəŋən territory, Katie was born on the traditional lands of the Anishinaabe, Haudenasaunee, and Huron Wendat Peoples in what is commonly referred to as southern Ontario. Katie has over 20 years of experience within the health and social sectors, contributing to research, education, and consultancy, earning a Bachelor of Arts (CYC) in 2017 and a Master of Social Work, Indigenous Specialization (MSWI) in 2021. With experience in both Ontario and British Columbia, Katie has supported at-risk youth, students, individuals living with HIV/AIDS, survivors of domestic and gender based violence, as well as incarcerated and unhoused communities. For the past 3 years, Katie has proudly served as the Director of Prevention at the Victoria Sexual Assault Center, working alongside local and urban Indigenous communities to support survivors and prevent sexual violence.
The IRN is comprised of local Elders, community protocol liaisons, individuals from local organizations (including Victoria Native Friendship Centre, PEERS Victoria Resource Society, QomQem Coastal Connections), the Prevention team at VSAC, band designates from local Nations and representatives from Surrounded by Cedar Youth Council.
Youth & Family Services
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Get Help Now – Office of the Representative for Children and Youth (rcybc.ca)
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HerWay Home Children’s Health Foundation – http://childrenshealthvi.org/how-we-help/herway-home No referral needed, 250-519-3681, [email protected], Drop-in Hours: Tue & F: 12-3 pm/Thu: 3-6 pm
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Youth Empowerment Society Services – The Victoria Youth Empowerment Society (vyes.ca)
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Hulitan Family Services & Community Services Society Hulitan Family & Community Society Services – Greater Victoria Area, BC
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NIL TU,O- Child and Family Services Society NIL TU,O (niltuo.ca)
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Victoria Native Friendship Centre www.vnfc.ca 250-384-3211
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Surrounded By Cedar Child and Family Services Serving the Urban Indigenous community on Coast Salish Territory
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South Island Wellness Society- SIWS | Welcome to South Island Wellness Society
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Crisis Lines & Teams
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National Indian Residential School Crisis Hotline can be reached at 1-800-721-0066.
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Indian Residential School Survivors Society (irsss.ca),1-866-925-4419
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KUU-US Crisis Line Society (www.kuu-uscrisisline.com)
toll free 1-800-588-8717
YOUTH: 250-723-2040
ADULTS: 250-723-4050
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Support & Counseling Services
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VNFC Awakening The Warrior Within | Victoria Native Friendship Centre (vnfc.ca) 250-384-3211
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PEERS Men’s Program: outreach supports & services for men/masculine-identified people in the sex industry, Email: [email protected]
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Tsow-Tun Le Lum Society Substance Abuse & Trauma Center, applications by referral worker m-f 9-12/1-4
(250) 390-3123 – [email protected] -
First Nations Health Authority Mental Health and Wellness Supports
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Citizens’ Counselling Centre Citizens’ Counselling Centre of Greater Victoria (citizenscounselling.com)
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Support Network for Indigenous Women & Women of Colour (SNIWWOC) Support Network for Indigenous Women and Women of Color (sniwwoc.ca)
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Health & Harm Reduction
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First Nations Virtual Doctor of the Day 1-855-344-3800 to book an appointment First Nations Virtual Doctor of the Day (fnha.ca)
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Island Sexual Health 250-592 3479
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VNFC Health & Wellness – Victoria Native Friendship Centre (vnfc.ca)
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Support Network for Indigenous Women & Women of Colour (SNIWWOC) Dental Hygiene Clinic — Support Network for Indigenous Women and Women of Color (sniwwoc.ca)
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QomQem Coastal Connections Indigenous Harm Reduction & Health Services
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Housing
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M’akola Group of Societies (makola.bc.ca)
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Aboriginal Coalition to End Homelessness We Stand Together to End Homelessness. (acehsociety.com)
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PEERS – [email protected], Phone: 250.415.1874 or
250.217.5436, 10:00 am — 3:00 pm Monday to Thursday -
Threshold Housing Society Homepage – Threshold Housing
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Other Services
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Community Fridge 2725 Rock Bay St. (at the corner of David St.)
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- Pacheedaht First Nationhttps://www.pacheedaht.ca/Sc’ianew First Nationhttps://scianew.com/T’Sou-ke First Nationhttps://tsoukenation.com/Tseycum First Nationhttps://www.tseycum.ca/Pauquachin First Nationhttps://www.pauquachin.ca/Tsawout First Nationhttps://tsawout.ca/Tsartlip First Nationhttps://tsartlip.com/Esquimalt Nationhttps://www.esquimaltnation.ca/contact-usSonghees Nationhttps://songheesnation.ca/
The Medicine Room
The Medicine Room is a space within the VSAC office that has been designed with guidance from Elders and community protocol liaisons. This is a space for healing that has a range of items to support survivors, including food/drinks, beading supplies, medicines (cedar, sage, sweetgrass, tobacco), blankets etc. People can take what they need from the Medicine Room, and can use the space as needed. The space is open to survivors already accessing our services, but we hope to expand use further as we move forward.
We ask that people be respectful and intentional in their use of the space. The IRN is currently developing a protocol guide to accompany the Medicine Room.
What we do
The IRN gathers monthly to share space. The meetings take different forms as needed but remain an opportunity for folks to support each other in their work or situations. Folks can lean on one another, give updates about upcoming projects/events, and share food and stories. Meetings are directed by and grounded in local protocol.
Youth council
The Network is excited and honored to be collaborating with the Surrounded by Cedar Youth Council.
There are approximately 15 youth who alternate attending monthly Network meetings to offer their insights,experience, knowledge, teachings or skills, and in addressing gender based violence.
The Youth Council have expressed interest in leading projects in support of the Network, one of which will be to create audio visual resources alongside local knowledge holders and community leaders.
