Doris Rajan, Director of Social Development, with IRIS’ Working Together project, was in Regina recently to meet with the local project team to clarify project goals, intended impact and begin planning for implementation.

Led by the Newo Yotina Friendship Centre and the Regina Immigrant Women’s Centre, the Local Steering Committee, including members from the police, family services, shelters, Indigenous leaders, immigrant settlement services and advocates from the disability field – came together to address the issue of violence in women’s lives.

“It was very exciting to see how Indigenous women, refugee women and women labelled with intellectual and psychiatric disabilities and their advocates are coming together and beginning the dialogue. It will be challenging at times, but as Brenda Dubois said in Regina, ‘you need friction for movement’,” said Doris Rajan.

The Working Together Against Structural Violence project researches and brings together Canadian women who face barriers, whether that is migrant, indigenous or disability status. Learn more here.

Here’s a sneak peak into the discussions held at the Newo Yotina Friendship Centre and the Regina Immigrant Women’s Centre.