Cree post-secondary students in the Gatineau region were invited to a symposium on safety and well-being on September 21 hosted by the Cree Justice Department in collaboration with the Cree Women of Eeyou Istchee Association (CWEIA) and Maanuuhiikuu, the mental health department of the Cree Health Board.
Called “Building Resilience Together,” the symposium included workshops and presentations on street safety, human trafficking and well-being along with opportunities for self-care therapy, one-on-one counselling and cedar baths. Various Cree entities and regional organizations also hosted information booths.
“We’ve heard some students experiencing their drinks getting spiked, almost getting taken, being followed around, going in the wrong Ubers,” explained co-organizer Viviane Snowboy. “A lot of trafficking is domestic and most times victims know their traffickers. We talked about prevention tips, knowing the signs, what to do if you feel endangered.”
With increasing numbers of Cree students pursuing education in urban environments, the symposium aimed to warn them about dangers to which they may be uniquely vulnerable. Predators may try to exploit students navigating culture shock, schoolwork and budgeting challenges.
“Victimizers will know they are alone in the city, dependent on financial constraints and looking for connections being away from home,” Snowboy said. “I try to create a sense of community with the students to keep each other safe. Follow your instincts – if you feel unsafe at any time let somebody know.”
Discussing symptoms of date rape drugs, Snowboy shared that emergency rooms across Quebec now have tests available that can detect over 200 psychoactive substances, such as GHB. Snowboy has heard stories about nightclubs or Gatineau’s Casino du Lac-Leamy where people don’t remember leaving or got suddenly drunk after three drinks.
“Last year I was at the casino with my friend and she said there’s a man following me,” shared Snowboy. “All of a sudden, her phone detected an AirTag [tracking device]. We were weirded out and went back to our hotel. We did let security know and he was escorted out.”
There are other troubling instances of children nearly being taken at Ottawa’s Bayshore Mall or people being approached by false taxis. Snowboy advised Uber users to confirm the vehicle’s licence matches what’s on the app and to double-check the PIN provided.
Ottawa and Montreal have some of Canada’s highest rates of human trafficking, which is most commonly sexual exploitation by force or deception. According to a 2014 national task force, about half of trafficking victims are Indigenous women and girls. Snowboy explained that traffickers often take the form of boyfriends who use women’s information against them in coercive tactics.
To combat these risks, the symposium shared resources like human trafficking organization VoiceFound, the local Native Friendship Centre and university Indigenous support services. The Justice Department distributed hundreds of small alarms that can scare away potential attackers.
“While students are pursuing their dreams, we want to make sure someone has their back,” said Cree Justice Director Donald Nicholls. “We asked the EEPF [Eeyou Eenou Police Force] to reach out to the local police so if there’s any sort of incident it’s on their radar. We want people armed with knowledge – there’s a network of support there.”
Nicholls said that Cree Justice has worked with Patrouilles conjointes autochtones, a special Montreal police unit working in partnership with the Native Friendship Centre, which in some cases has found Indigenous women before they disappeared. Nicholls also identified resources like the local CAVAC office, which offers a uniquely Cree approach for crime victims and witnesses.
“You’re part of a community of support and we want you to realize the whole Nation is behind you, wanting you to succeed,” Nicholls told attendees.
This collaboration between the school and health boards with Cree Justice and other entities is a recognition that the safety and success of students are a shared responsibility. Discussing the dangers of opioids, Cree Health Board Chair Bertie Wapachee shared the growing range of health services available to urban Crees.
“There are risks we have to keep in mind for every point of service to ensure our people are taken care of,” Wapachee said. “It’s always good to be more prepared with a centralized system for those types of situations.”
The health board is expanding alliances with urban healthcare services, including agreements with pharmacies, optometrists and dental clinics. Wapachee said Montreal’s new downtown Indigenous health clinic is a promising alternative to busy hospitals.
“The caregivers, who we used to call escorts, could go to the clinic without having to wait 20 hours to be seen,” suggested Wapachee. “Hopefully that kind of service could expand to Ottawa. We have small service agreements with the schools that will be available to the Crees soon.”
While “building resilience” began with the Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls movement, based on Snowboy’s past experience as violence prevention coordinator in Sudbury, the symposium offered self-care and mental health workshops throughout the day. Massage therapy was also available, as was an Elder for emotional support.
“There was a whole presentation on art therapy, imagery students can transfer from their emotions to paper,” said Darryl Diamond, post-secondary student services coordinator. “Expression helps define what you’re experiencing or struggling to understand. The learning curve is high, the cultural adjustment is overwhelming at times.”
Further safety symposiums are planned for Montreal on October 26, followed by North Bay. Their message is not to let modern risks prevent anyone from achieving their goals but to be empowered by awareness and Cree cultural unity.
“When I left for college at 17, my late grandmother would always tell me in Cree please take care of yourself,” Diamond shared with students. “It was so endearing because she saw her children leave for residential school. Those words still stand today. There is a cultural significance in wanting our young people to come home safely.”