THUNDER BAY – Ian Hodgkinson of the Guardian Angels addressed the Bingwi Neyaashi Anishinabek First Nation Conference to “End Violence Against Women” on Sunday.
The BNA hosted a two day conference focused on ending violence against Aboriginal women. The attendees heard from a number of speakers.
The focus on the Sunday morning presentation at the Victoria Inn was on domestic violence.
Hodgkinson, a trained self-defence instructor, and the head of Guardian Angels Canada explained to the audience how critical having a community plan in effect is as a means of combatting domestic violence and enhancing community safety.
Some of the key points included the importance of listening to a victim and making sure that if you hear or see instances of violence that you have to get involved toward stopping it.
“There is an addiction to silence,” stated Hodgkinson. That silence contributes to the domestic violence problem.
The plans formed at the BNA Conference will go forward into the community.
Sunday night, a community feast and Pow Wow were held at the Victoria Inn.
