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LIIDLII KUE/FORT SIMPSON
Fort Simpson is sending a message – it will not tolerate family violence.

Mandy Bayha, Liidlii Kue First Nation's interagency family violence protocol development co-ordinator, stands surrounded by the posters developed to raise awareness about family violence. - Roxanna Thompson/NNSL photo

The Fort Simpson Interagency Committee is taking a co-ordinated approach to decreasing the instances of family violence.

It began with a meeting in January to develop a protocol to address family violence and abuse. Ten agencies participated, including first responders such as the Fort Simpson RCMP and the Dehcho Health and Social Services Authority as well as other agencies such as the Deh Cho Friendship Centre and Thomas Simpson School.

The committee's goal was to establish a schedule for regular meetings on family violence and to develop a a course of action, said Mandy Bayha, Liidlii Kue First Nation's interagency family violence protocol development co-ordinator.

The agencies have created and signed onto a Fort Simpson Interagency Family Violence and Abuse Protocol. The protocol details the responsibilities of first responders to victims of family violence.

It also lists additional commitments agencies have agreed to, said Bayha. While the document focuses on first responders such as the Dehcho Health and Social Services Authority, it also outlines how other agencies can support them, she said.

The protocol is aimed at improving the delivery of services to adult victims of family violence, said Bayha. Just by coming together at regular meetings the agencies have started towards that goal, she said.

At the meetings, the agencies learned about the services and programs each is offering. Members of the committee have started to put that information to use to help direct victims of family violence to the appropriate agencies, said Bayha.

"When everyone came together it was really good," she said.

To Bayha's knowledge, this is the first protocol for family violence created in Fort Simpson. The document is needed, she said.

"No one agency has the mandate or resources to deal with issues of family violence and together collectively we can all come up with good solutions," said Bayha. "We need to be role models in the community to say we stand up against family violence, that we're a community that does not tolerate family violence."

A benefit of the protocol is each agency now knows what response to expect from another, said Const. Jesse Gilbert with the Fort Simpson RCMP Detachment.

Although family violence is one of the RCMP's priorities in Fort Simpson, being part of the interagency committee was still educational, Gilbert said.

"It opened our eyes to a lot of things," he said.

Gilbert said he was able to learn more about the policies, procedures and programs each agency has related to family violence. The more the agencies meet, the more they will be able to integrate their programs and ensure their policies and procedures are compatible with each other, he said.

"We've been very happy to be involved," said Gilbert.

Gilbert helped compile the RCMP statistics on family violence in Fort Simpson used in the proposal to receive funding for Bayha's position from the Department of Health and Social Services.

In 2010 there were 19 charges in relation to spousal abuse in the village. The committee is also launching an awareness campaign that will include brochures, posters featuring local residents and bracelets that carry the message, "We choose a strong community."

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