sexual violence prevention

"To me, prevention is about breaking free from violence and shame, and rebuilding our communities with love, support, and traditional values. By doing this, we can heal from our past, reclaim our identities, and move from just surviving to living our fullest lives.

"For me, prevention is like planting seeds to negate sexual assault in our communities. Prevention is making positive changes that will allow future generations to live without violence in their lives and watching our communities flourish as our ancestors taught us.

​"For me, prevention means to change the root causes of sexual violence​; deeply entrenched power imbalance​s,​ a hatred ​or fear of the feminine​, seeing sex as a transaction​.​ We interrupt settler colonialism, racism, sexism, homophobia, porn culture, by re​viving our Coming of Age ceremonies, speaking our own languages, healing ancestral and current wounds. We thrive by learning communication, ​empathy, enthusiastic consent, accepting rejection​, and knowing who we are.

"For me, prevention looks like healing the whole community, and how we can bridge the gap between gender-specific resources. I think finding those ways of answering those questions is prevention, too.

"For me, sexual violence prevention means being intentionally proactive in all the ways that we talk and learn about sex, health, boundaries, love, and community. It means speaking out and interrupting behaviors in our daily lives when we see or know of things and situations that have the potential to cause harm. Prevention is a daily practice that each of us has a crucial and unique role in!

"For me, prevention means using our Indigenous values to restore balance and uplift all living things as sacred. It’s about creating a better world for our next seven generations, and using our cultural teachings as a roadmap to get us there.

"For me, sexual violence prevention means protecting and connecting our communities in ways that are rooted in culture, respect, and education. It’s about restoring traditional values, creating safe spaces, and ensuring future generations are grounded in their identity, and the strength to use their voice without fear.

"For me, prevention means recognizing our rights and connecting to our spirit. It means connecting to our physical spirit and understanding that we do have a voice and the freedom to use that voice.

"For me, prevention involves youth work and education. It involves having continuous conversations with youth about their sexuality and body sovereignty in an age-appropriate way to foster healthy sexuality, autonomy, and the ability to recognize when someone infringes on that.

"For me, prevention looks like body sovereignty, healthy sexuality, and connection. Prevention is understanding the reality of intergenerational trauma and the impacts of what our communities have endured and persevered through. Prevention is connecting people with what they need, and I do that specifically through data. 

"To me, prevention means healthy sexuality in our communities. How do we expect to talk about or battle sexual violence when we can’t have conversations or platforms about healthy sexuality? Prevention starts with healthy sexuality.