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LIIDLII KUE/FORT SIMPSON - A three-day workshop held in Fort Simpson last week put a spotlight on an uncomfortable issue.

Twenty-five people attended the Dehcho Regional Workshop on Family Violence that was hosted by Dehcho Health and Social Services (DHSS) from Feb. 25 to 27.

Twenty-five people attended the Dehcho Regional Workshop on Family Violence last week in Fort Simpson. During a small group session Margaret Watson, front left, a mental health addictions counsellor, Ruby Minoza, a youth intervention worker, Bob Vibert, with Brighter Futures, Darlene Bugghins of the Judith Fabian Group Home and Roy-Ann Bugghins, a community representative from the Hay River Reserve, share information about how family violence was dealt with in the past. - Roxanna Thompson/NNSL photo

"Family violence is a really hard topic, a scary topic for many people," said Ethel Lamothe, the manager of mental health and addictions for the health authority.

The issue of family violence, however, needs to be addressed, Lamothe said. Health and social services is working to create the first strategic family violence plan for the region.

One of the goals for the workshop was to get feedback from DHSS staff and community representatives on what the plan should look like, Lamothe said. The plan could include the creation of a new job position so there would be a staff person dedicated to working with communities on this issue, she said.

In order to make recommendations for the plan, workshop participants first examined what family violence is.

"It takes many forms," said Aggie Brockman, a co-facilitator for the workshop.

Family violence can include physical, emotional and financial abuse as well as neglect and isolation. It can happen to anyone, said Brockman.

Workshops like this one are important because there are a lot of myths surrounding the issue, said Lois Little, the other facilitator.

One common misunderstanding is that alcohol, stress and drugs are the main causes of family violence. Those thing don't cause violence, violence is a choice, said Little.

"We want to challenge those myths," she said.

During the three days participants learned about family violence initiatives the territory as well as what's being done in First Nations communities in other parts of Canada.

At the workshop's close on Friday many participants said they had learned a lot including new strategies for addressing family violence in their communities.

Roy-Ann Bugghins from the Hay River Reserve was the only teenager at the event. The 17-year-old said she wanted to attend the workshop as soon as she heard about it.

There's family violence on the reserve, said Bugghins who wanted to learn more about the issue.

"I found new ways to help my community," Bugghins said.

The workshop also provided a chance for people to network and share strategies, said Edith Squirrel, the co-oridnator for the Family Life Program in Fort Providence.

Squirrel said she learned about different facilitators and resource people she can contact. Gathering people together to talk about family violence is important, she said.

"It lifts you up and makes you feel you are not alone in the fight to stop family violence," said Squirrel.