Launch of an information guide for Native people

On March 5, 2009, in Roberval, the CAVAC for the Saguenay-Lac-Saint-Jean region presented the guide Daring to break the silence for individual, family and community healing to court, community and social workers involved with the Native communities of Mastheuiatsh and Opiticiwan. The launch provided an ideal opportunity to highlight the contribution of each worker to the design of the guide, and also to the partnership for improving services for Native people.

The main objective of the guide is to make general information on the criminal court process more accessible. The guide will also be used by caseworkers to help Native people facing problems that could be brought before the courts. Several other documents have also been adapted to match Native realities. The project, coordinated by the CAVAC Saguenay-Lac-Saint-Jean, is part on an ongoing process to develop closer ties with Native community organizations and to adapt services to Native users.

A grant from the Department of Justice Canada allowed the guide to be translated into Innu, Attikamekw and English. All versions of the guide are available in PDF format.

The guide in four languages
• Oser briser le silence pour la guérison personnelle, familiale et collective
• Tshetshi minuinniut auen uikanishimau kie kassinuinnuat, uitamutau, aimitau eku (Innu)
• Ekoci wita kitci ki kikein kir otci, kiwitcicanak acitc kotenam otci (Attikamekw)
• Daring to break the silence for individual, family and community healing