RESOLVE Statement Gathering Project: Partnering With the Truth and Reconciliation Commission and the Community Cheryl F

1. RESOLVE Statement Gathering Project: Partnering With the Truth and Reconciliation Commission and the Community Cheryl Fraehlich, RESOLVE Manitoba RESOLVE Research and Education for Solutions To Violence and Abuse

2. RESOLVE • Prairie-based research network that coordinates and supports research aimed at ending violence, especially violence aimed at girls and women • Centres at University of Manitoba, University of Saskatchewan and University of Calgary

3. Our Mission • Work with community groups to identify areas where additional research needs to be done • Work in interdisciplinary teams in partnership with community groups and other universities and centres in Canada • Train students and members of community organizations in research methods

4. The Alliance of Canadian Research Centres on Violence • RESOLVE (Manitoba, Saskatchewan & Alberta) • Centre for Research & Education on Violence Against Women Against Women and Children – University of Western Ontario • Freda Centre for Research on Violence Against Women and Children – Vancouver • Muriel McQueen Fergusson Centre for Family Violence Research – University of New Brunswick • Le center de recherche interdisciplinaire sur la violence familiale et la violence faite aux femmes (CRI-VIFF) – University of Montreal

5. RESOLVE Projects: The Healing Journey • A longitudinal, tri-provincial study examining women’s experiences of intimate partner violence • Funded by SSHRC (CURA) • Over 200 women from each of the Prairie Provinces have participated in semi-structured interviews • Relied on partnerships with community agencies and organizations

6. Statement Gathering Project: Phase I • Prepare a submission for ethics approval to the University of Manitoba Research Ethics Board • Recruit, hire and train 12 statement gatherers • Explore ways of identifying and recruiting individuals who want to provide statements about their residential school experience • Explore and identify safe spaces for statement gathering • Begin to gather statements in the community

7. Ethics • Detailed submission to Research Ethics Board • Not “typical” research • Required negotiation with TRC • Certificate of ethical approval received

8. Statement Gatherers • 12 trained statement gatherers: • 11 Aboriginal • 10 females/ 2 males • 6 students/6 community • English, Cree and Ojibway • Teams of 1 academic facilitator and 4 statement gatherers

9. Training • Two day in-house training • Introduction to TRC • Process and procedures for statement gathering • Role of health support workers • Compassion fatigue/self care • Team building • Two day training organized by TRC

10. TRC National Event: Winnipeg June 16 -19 • 14 RESOLVE statement gatherers worked at National Event (plus 6 RESOLVE Sask.) • 275 private statements • Some participated in youth sharing circle

11. More Training! • Reviewing process and procedures • Training on audio/video equipment

12. Statement Gathering Sites • William Norrie Centre • 2 rooms • Aboriginal Education Centre • 2 rooms • “Centralized” system to obtain information about the project and schedule statements

13. Recruitment • Presentations at community agencies: Osborne House West Broadway Women’s Centre Wolseley Family Place Nine Circles Community Health Centre Ma Mawi Kekinan Centre Urban Circle North End Women’s Centre Mothers of Red Nation Native Women’s Transition Centre Ikwe-Widdjiitiwin Andrews Street Family Centre Ka Ni Kanichihk

14. Recruitment • Recruitment process will be ongoing: • Revisiting agencies • Consultation with agency staff, elders, community members

15. The Future: Phase 2 • Continue statement gathering within community (Winnipeg) • Possible expansion to other Manitoba sites

16. Possibilities for Research • Examination of strength and resilience

17. Thank you!Questions? fraehlic@cc.umanitoba.ca