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Language was important to the work, as was a study of the renewal of Indigenous justice traditions and legal principles at N’Amerind Friendship Centre in London. The study was carried out over one year with four major programs and organizations involved. To be able to look at our past and the way that we had ceremonies, and we marked change in our lives and learned to be respectful and kind to each other, are ways for us to look towards moving forward,” she added.
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And it’s a very contemporary conversation. “I want to convey that (the report) was our elective reaction to wanting to address violence. We’ve also been working for a number of years with respect to dealing with homophobia and transphobia, and trying to recover our traditions around two spirited people,” said Maracle. “At the Ontario Association of Indigenous Friendship Centres, we have for a very long time worked addressing violence against Indigenous women and girls. The report, Ceremony and Transitions: Culture-based Approaches to Violence Prevention, is a response to the high levels of violence against Indigenous women, girls and 2SLGBTQQIA+ people happening today, and can even help bring forward solutions to the crisis of missing and murdered Indigenous women and girls (MMIWG), according to OFIFC executive director Sylvia Maracle. That’s the finding in a report released by the Ontario Federation of Indigenous Friendship Centres (OFIFC).
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Rights-of-passage ceremonies and traditions for youth can help prevent violence against Indigenous women, girls and 2SLGBTQQIA+ people.