By Tiffany Cassidy

Prince Albert stands against abuse towards women

Jun 16, 2012 | 8:31 AM

People from Prince Albert are walking to Saskatoon this weekend to raise awareness about abuse towards women.

The group first met at City Hall on Friday to discuss programs and ways they could put a stop to the abuse.

Beverly Benson was one of the speakers, and shared her history of abuse.

“My life experience has been nothing but abuse,” Benson said.

Benson was raised in a home where her father often physically abused them and gave verbal assaults. When she was nine her mother committed suicide to escape the violence.

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She then went to a foster home where social workers verbally assaulted her and others First Nations people. She also went through verbal and sexual abuse.

Through the years Benson began to heal.

Now, she has successfully ended the abuse cycle in her family. She is proud of the people her children and grandchildren have become. She’s working to raise awareness of abuse and to help others.

Conrad Burns organized the City Hall meeting and the walk. Benson honoured him at the event with an eagle feather for courage, a medicine pouch, and sweet grass.

Burns is committed to ending abuse towards women. But, he said it’s a complex issue.

“You can’t create one model to fix everything,” he said. “You’ve got to go at it in all directions because this is ongoing and it’s happening on so many different ways all at once.”

Burns said physical abuse is the easiest to spot because it’s the one that leaves the bruises, but that emotional, psychological, and spiritual abuse can have just as great of an effect on a person.

Burns said the most important thing people can do is care, and through that people can stop abuse.
He will be walking the whole way from Prince Albert to Saskatoon this weekend, and others will join him when they can.

It is reported that one in four women has experienced domestic violence in her lifetime.

Programs available

A number of support programs are available in Prince Albert for women who suffer from abuse.

Prince Albert Safe Shelter for Women
Phone: 764-7233

Among other things, this shelter provides temporary shelter, transportation, information and support counselling for women and children.

Catholic Family Services
Phone: 922-3202

Among other things, this organization provides counselling services for family violence.
Iskwew through the Prince Albert Co-operative Health Centre

Phone: 953-6229

Among other things, this program provides counselling, support referrals, and advocacy to victims of violence in a variety of settings. It also runs talking circles at the Bernice Sayese Centre every Monday from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m.

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