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Former victim helps victims

Paul Bickford
Northern News Services
Published Monday, August 15, 2011

K'ATLODEECHE/HAY RIVER RESERVE
Jaimie Forsey can identify with victims of crime in her role as supervisor of the Hay River Victim Services Program.

NNSL photo/graphic

Jaimie Forsey is the supervisor of the Hay River Victim Services Program. - Paul Bickford/NNSL photo

She once was a victim herself.

"That's why I am very passionate about helping other victims," she said. "There is hope and in working together we can make a difference for a healthier tomorrow."

Forsey was a victim of domestic violence in a relationship in Fort Good Hope.

"I have been through the court process as a victim," she said. "I think that really assists someone as a service provider in this sort of program to understand where victims have been, and that there is hope for a better tomorrow. It can get better."

Forsey, 31, has been the supervisor of the Hay River Victim Services Program since May. That's when the program began to be run by K'atlodeeche First Nation (KFN) on the Hay River Reserve after the band signed a contribution agreement with the Department of Justice.

The program, which was previously run by the Hay River Health and Social Services Authority, helps clients on the reserve, and in the Hay River area, Fort Providence and Fort Resolution.

"We are very honoured to have this program," said Forsey.

The program's services include offering support to clients in courtrooms, helping people write victim impact statements, helping with safety planning, offering information and providing referrals.

"I think this service is critical to the criminal justice system because there are so many programs for offenders and the accused," Forsey said.

"That's why I'm passionate about this job. The victims deserve to have a voice in this process and it's good that there is a program that provides direct services to victims."

One misconception about the program is that it offers counselling, she noted. "That is something we do not do. If a client requires counselling, we do an immediate referral to appropriate counselling agencies."

The program's work plan for this fiscal year is focused on creating awareness of what it offers and providing direct services to clients. Next year, it aims to incorporate holistic healing.

Forsey, who is not aboriginal herself, has three children with treaty status from her relationship in Fort Good Hope, where she lived for almost 10 years. Her children are members of Behdzi Ahda First Nation in Colville Lake.

Forsey first went to Fort Good Hope to spend a few months with her father, who was serving as an RCMP officer in the community.

While in Fort Good Hope, Forsey said she fell in love with the community and the people.

"I owe everything I've learned regarding traditional knowledge to the people of Fort Good Hope, especially the elders," she added.

"The people supported me and helped me through so much. I'm so thankful to the people of Fort Good Hope for everything they've done to help me and my children."

When she was a student at Cape Breton University, where she earned a Bachelor of Business Administration, Forsey also spent time during the summers in Iqaluit and Behchoko when her father served in those communities.

In Fort Good Hope in 2007, Forsey started working as the community justice co-ordinator.

"My passion grew towards restorative justice," she recalled.

"In my heart, I knew this was something I wanted to be involved with for the rest of my life."

She is now a member of the Hay River Community Justice Committee.

"I strongly believe that jail is not always the answer," she said.

Forsey and her children moved to Hay River in early 2010.

Originally from Reserve Mines, N.S., Forsey started working with KFN in February as the liaison with an aboriginal rights committee formed as the communication arm of chief and council in land claim negotiations with the federal and territorial governments.

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