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INUVIK - This past Sunday, Ingamo Hall women hosted a workshop to help others through their experiences of abuse or violence.

The gathering at Ingamo was a forum on building healthy relationships, parenting and surviving violence.

A workshop was held this past weekend on violence and other issues facing women in the region. A group of 35 women gathered on Sunday to talk about their experiences. - Dez Loreen/NNSL photo

Co-ordinator Joanna Lehrer said the gathering is a part of a local initiative that is partly funded through Heritage Canada.

Lehrer said the meeting was aimed at bringing women together to share their experiences of domestic violence.

"We want to work together to prevent abuse from happening in the future," said Lehrer.

She said there were 35 participants at the gathering, willing to talk and listen to others. Lehrer said sharing is important because it opens the topic of violence for discussion.

"Women don't often get a chance to share their stories," she said.

"Many people feel relieved when they share their stories of what happened to them."

"It also helps to find out that other women have been in a similar situation."

After the women in attendance had some time to open up and share, Lehrer said some of the participants took her aside and thanked her for the opportunity.

"A few women here said they are living glorious lives now," said Lehrer.

"People can learn from their experiences, about how they got from a life of pain and trauma to their new happy lives."

Lehrer said many service delivery systems in the north are based on southern models which doesn't work all the time.

"We hope this will open up some knowledge about what women in the North are facing," she said.

"We want to show what people need here and then work to address those needs."

The information at the forum was documented by video recorder and notes were taken as well.

Lehrer said she wants to meet again with the participants, as well as any other interested women in the region. Gerri Sharpe-Staples was one of the participants, who also helped plan the event.

"We want to focus on domestic violence, come up with solutions," said Sharpe-Staples.

She said the gathering included women who were survivors of abuse, as well as a panel of professionals willing to give advice.

Sharpe-Staples said information was also handed out about services in town for victims of abuse.

She added a lawyer was also in attendance to give advice on what legal options are available for victims of abuse. Sharpe-Staples said she hopes the information gathered will affect the way people see violence in the North.

"Joanna was taking notes on the recommendations, so hopefully there are some strong points to come from that," she said.

She said people in attendance seemed worried about the gaps of information for those women who have survived abuse.

"Some people don't know what to do, or what they can do," she said.

Sharpe-Staples said once the recommendations and information is compiled, the women will meet again as a working group to make their next move.

"This is important for everyone in the Territories," she said.

"Domestic violence happens in the house, but it affects the whole community."