Marching against violence
‘People think there’s no hope out there but there is’
MEMBERTOU — Anita Paul has experienced and witnessed abuse and violence in many parts of her life.
A residential school survivor, the 65-year-old said there was abuse in her home, in her school and in some of her relationships.
Along with experiencing it, Paul also knows many people who live on and off reserves living in abusive situations. These are the reasons she wanted to be a part of Sunday’s March Against Family Violence, held in Membertou, despite the bitter cold.
Temperatures were around -20 Celcius with the wind chill and police were advising people to ride in the bus provided by Membertou First Nation. Paul was determined to walk the three blocks to the Mawio’miokuom Society building where the march ended and this encouraged another seven to join her.
“Just think of the people that escaped in the cold, or the people who were thrown out into the cold. So what if you’re cold? Just think of them and what they went through,” she said.
“There are so many different (types of) abuse. People think there’s no hope out there but there is.”
About 20 people attended the march. Avery Carter, a sexual violence prevention support coordinator with Family Services of Eastern Nova Scotia, said all it takes is one small group to start a dialogue.
“Maybe a child will go back to school and tell a friend what they did over the weekend or someone will tell a co-worker,” said the 23-year-old who just finished a master’s degree in global health policy from the University of Edinburgh (Scotland.)
Carter was one of the organizers of the week of events taking place from Antigonish to Cape Breton, including family activities, workshops and community walks. She said the main focus is prevention and awareness.
“Some individuals don’t realize, they don’t really know the signs to look for (in domestic violence) … and so many don’t realize there are services out there to help them,” she said.
“A lot of rural communities across Nova Scotia don’t’ always have access to these services and they need to know there is still help available.”
Paul said walks like Sunday’s get people talking about domestic violence.
“It makes you aware and people should be aware of it. Then it can’t be hidden under the rug,” she said.
“People need to be open about it.”
Family Services of Eastern Nova Scotia, the Strait and Area Sexual Violence Prevention and Coalition, the Native Women of Nova Scotia Association, and Kwe’jijnaq (Membertou women’s association) put on the march and will be hosting a free breakfast and movie on Wednesday at 8:30 a.m. in the Mawio’miokuom Society building.
There are events across Cape Breton during Family Violence Prevention Week. In Eskasoni First Nation there is a family violence prevention day from 1-5 p.m. on Wednesday at the Sarah Denny Cultural Centre. Thursday features healthy relationship workshops in Wagmatcook and Sydney (Access 808), and a dolls project session in Waycobah.
There are family events like skating and story time in Inverness, Mabou and Port Hawkesbury, and a woolen folk art workshop for kids in Margaree Forks. All events are free. For a complete list go to the Eastern Nova Scotia’s Family Violence Prevention Week Facebook page or visit www.ensfamilyservice.ca.