SOMBA K'E/YELLOWKNIFE - Tackling violence against aboriginal women has to begin with dialogue, Sheila Swasson said Tuesday night at the opening reception for the second National Aboriginal Women's Summit.

"We have to share, discuss and plan," added Swasson, the co-chair of the National Aboriginal Circle Against Family Violence.

Beverley Jacobs, president of the Native Women's Association of Canada, co-chairs the second National Aboriginal Women's Summit in Yellowknife this week. - Lauren McKeon/NNSL photo

Most of the dialogue at the summit, however, which drew more than 150 delegates from across the country, took place behind closed doors at St. Patrick high school and Weledeh Catholic school.

There is a good reason for that, said Beverley Jacobs, the summit co-chair and president of the Native Women's Association of Canada.

"This is a grassroots initiative," she said of the summit, which is themed "Strong Women, Strong Communities."

"We need to come together as women and speak freely, without cameras."

The closed doors, she added, "are for the women's safety and protection."

There were only a handful of opportunities for media to attend and only one for which the public was invited - the Journey for Change and Sisters in Spirit Initiative Walk.

One such media-friendly event was the opening reception, where Jacobs' co-chair Premier Floyd Roland spoke about a "special little lady" - his mom.

"At the end of the day," he said, "It's strong families and strong mothers that make a difference."

Jacobs said that media presence at the breakout and plenary sessions - which feature topics such as equality and empowerment and economic development and comprise the majority of the summit - can interfere with discussions that are often emotional and sometimes painful, and women should be able to speak without fear of publication.

It can be difficult enough to say what needs to be said, Jacobs said, especially when recounting experiences involving violence. Instead of opening the doors, she said an "action plan" will be released after the summit, detailing the outcome of the sessions.

Involving media is important though, said Vera Pawis-Tabobondung, president of the National Association of Friendship Centres.

"It's great to be an observer," Pawis-Tabobondung said Tuesday night. "They have a role too. They keep us on path."

But, safety of summit-goers aside, Jacobs said she would like to see the invite-only summit move beyond a set guest list to include interested members of the community.

"It's frustrating," she said. "I would like the summit to be open but unfortunately there are expectations."

And these expectations - providing food for participants and covering travel costs - gobble up the funding necessary to extend the number of participants beyond the delegates invited.

But that doesn't mean Northern women won't benefit from having the summit in Yellowknife, she said. Holding the event in the North will help to highlight the remoteness and the difficulty of connecting here, said Jacobs.

"I've been asked to be the voice of a national leader," she said. "But how can I listen without (the people of the North) coming together first?"

When asked how much it cost to put on the conference, Jacobs said she hadn't seen the budget. The conference was mostly funded through the federal government, she said. First Air also sponsored the event.