Tungasuvvingat Inuit Anti-Human Trafficking Program Receives $3 Million From Ontario Government

Tungasuvvingat Inuit (TI), an urban service provider for Inuit that provides community support, is receiving more than $3 million over five years to expand its programs for young victims and survivors of human trafficking in Ottawa.

The group's funding will be focused on its Alluriarniq program, which provides support to Inuit aged 12 and older facing sex trafficking or sexual violence.

Katelyn Collins, a youth worker in transition at TI, said this is important because many urban Inuit youth lack culturally relevant support.

“The cultural aspect is a huge part of their healing journey,” she said. ” [It’s] a way for them to walk this journey for themselves and really see how they want it to play out throughout their lives here in the South. »

Culturally relevant programs are also important because Inuit living in urban areas face additional barriers when seeking help, according to Alisa Praamsma, manager of TI's Alluriarniq program.

“The urban environment is really complex and for some Inuit we have additional experiences of racism, discrimination and socio-economic disparities,” she said.

Tungasuvvingat Inuit's anti-human trafficking program is grounded in Inuit Qaujimajatuqangit, harm reduction and peer-led approaches, and will support Inuit aged 12 to 29 through direct prevention actions, education, intervention and healing.

The program will provide early prevention and awareness services to Inuit youth, as well as culturally based programs and therapeutic practices, and help them access housing and counseling services.

Inuit youth population growing in Ottawa

Collins said improving TI's anti-trafficking programs would help in the long term as the number of Inuit youth in Ottawa increases.

Although Ottawa is to the south, the city has one of the largest Inuit populations (estimated by community groups between 3,700 and 6,000) outside the North.

Collins said TI was looking for a program that would bridge the service gap and provide support during the day and evening.

“It gives them a safe place to go, which isn’t always the case [because] Ottawa is a pretty big city,” Collins said.

TI's funding is part of the Ontario government's Anti-Human Trafficking Strategy, which includes $96 million in Indigenous-led community services and supports for victims and survivors of human trafficking over five years.

TI also received funding as a recipient of the Youth Violence and Human Trafficking Prevention Program, one of 11 community programs in Ottawa, Hamilton, London, Thunder Bay, Toronto and in the communities neighboring indigenous people aimed at preventing young people from getting involved in gun violence, gangs. activity and victimization, including human trafficking.

Other organizations receiving funding from anti-human trafficking and youth violence prevention programs include Minwaashin Lodge, a support center for Indigenous women based in Ottawa.

In addition, the social enterprise Urban Rez Solutions of Toronto, which will make social services more accessible to black youth, will receive funding, as well as the Afro Canadian Caribbean Association of Hamilton, which will offer a community program aimed at preventing crime and violence. and increase self-awareness and self-confidence.