Introduction

The silent suffering of girls and women who have been subjected to rape and other assaults demands immediate attention. Silence must end. Support systems must be created. Aboriginal victims of violence need safe houses, rape crisis centres, counselling services and clinics ... They need a society that cares about them and values their safety, their dignity and their rehabilitation.¹ (click here for footnote)


Elders tell us that sexual violence was almost unknown in traditional societies. Sexual violence towards youth and adults is all too common now. Not only is it damaging to individuals, it tears at the fabric of our families, communities and nations.

Sexual violence occurs when a person threatens or tries to scare someone, or forces or convinces them to take part in unwanted sexual activity. Sexual violence can involve words and actions such as unwanted kissing and touching, intercourse, being made to watch a porno movie, or being made to touch someone else. Sexual violence and physical violence often go together. The offender or offenders (often there is more than one) could be a relative, a boyfriend or girlfriend, your partner, someone you work with, or a stranger. It can happen in your home, at bars and community events, or anywhere.² (click here for footnote)   Sexual violence is usually carried out by someone you know.

Sexual violence hurts every part of the victim — mind, heart, body and spirit. It affects how we feel about our bodies and how we feel about relationships and sex. It is harder to trust other people if you have experienced sexual violence, and many survivors report being afraid, sad, angry or "numb" for a long time. Sexual violence also can affect how we as parents and grandparents talk to children about sexuality (we may be very negative and emotionally "closed"), the sexual risks we take (for example, not being careful because we feel worthless), and whether we get regular medical care (because we don’t want to be touched by a doctor or admit we have been hurt).

Many people believe that sexual violence is rooted in unhealthy communities and families, where self-respect and respect for others has been replaced with anger and the need to have power over others in order to fell better about ourselves. Sexual violence is very similar to family violence in this way. Healing will require working on self-esteem in abusers and survivors, teaching the traditional values of equality, respect and cooperation, especially between men and women, making sure that abusers are provided with services but also are expected to take responsibility for their actions. Preventing sexual violence begins with teaching healthy sexual values to our young children and talking with and listening to youth to make sure they develop healthy relationships.

In a presentation to the Royal Commission on Aboriginal Peoples, Emma LaRocque linked sexual assault of Aboriginal people to gaps in sex education:

With respect to sex and violence, education and sexual enlightenment may be our best hope for our future. One of the biggest problems in Aboriginal homes and communities is lack of qualitative sex education. As a rule, parents and other adults are not providing sex education to their young. Children are left to their own devices and to the influence of popular culture, misguided peers or even abusers to learn about sex. In this sense, sex problems are recycled. Aboriginal children and teenagers are desperately in need of solid sex education.³ (click here for footnote)


LaRocque believes that teenage girls with little or no sex education, living in a place where there is alcohol and violence in general, are more likely to be attacked or coerced into sex. Sex education must promote respect for persons, especially women, respect for differences and self-respect.

Youth are at high risk of sexual assault. They need guidance to develop healthy and safe approaches to sexuality, to understand what sexual violence is and why it is wrong, and how to take precautions to reduce the risk of being assaulted. Youth can talk to and educate each other about this issue — for example, here are some thoughts from a Métis youth:

If younger girls or young women were taught to recognize a situation where something potentially dangerous could happen, that would help. For example if a young teenage girl finds herself in a house or room with five older guys and they are all drinking, then that is a recipe for a potentially dangerous situation. Girls should be taught how to recognize these situations early on. When you are a young teenager looking for acceptance, you don’t think to yourself that older guys are looking for something else. You think they like you because you are mature or you’re cool or whatever. There should be more discussions with young women and even pre-teens about what potential situations could lead to sexual violence.
Métis youth living in eastern Ontario

Survivors of sexual violence may be at risk of having HIV or other sexually transmitted infections. Counselling and medical care should address this risk, as well as the risk of pregnancy. Treatment may be available right after the assault that reduces the risk.

Some things that increase the chance of getting a sexually transmitted infection are: the attacker is known to have HIV; has had unprotected sex with men or is a needle-drug user; or the survivor has anal or genital injuries; and there was more than one assault. Counsellors need to decide how and when to discuss HIV and other sexually transmitted infections with a survivor, since it is a scary topic and she/he is already hurt.