On December 6th, 2022, Battered Women’s Support Services (BWSS) hosted an in-person, community gathering for solidarity, healing, reflection, and resistance — marking both National Day of Remembrance and Action on Violence Against Women and the launch of our latest report, Color of Violence: Race, Gender and Anti-Violence Services.
Color of Violence: Race, Gender and Anti-Violence Services was motivated by the urgency of our moment. The pervasive reality of gender-based violence and its overlap with many escalating crises —such as the pandemic, toxic drug supply, precarity of poverty, and climate catastrophe — all disproportionately and deliberately impact Indigenous, Black, newcomer immigrant/refugee, and racialized women, girls, and gender diverse people. Additionally, survivors of colour face numerous barriers to accessing safety and support, such as lack of access to culturally safe services; mistrust of the legal system and other state systems; and being minimized or disbelieved. Despite this, the wisdom, power and hope of Indigenous, Black, newcomer immigrant/refugee, and racialized survivors continue to rise strong in our communities.
“We need a shift in power — a sharing of power and a shift toward community-based and grassroots ‘by, with, and for’ design.” – Project Participant
Bringing together the stories of Indigenous, Black, newcomer immigrant/refugee, and racialized survivors who participated in the Color of Violence: Race, Gender and Anti-Violence Services report, alongside performances and storytelling from community organizers, writers, poets, dancers and artists, our December 6th event wove together and exemplified the many ways in which we continue to use our voices as survivors of colour in service of healing, resistance, and relationship-building.
The event featured a territorial welcome from Cecilia Point (Musqueam Nation) and Deana George (Tsleil-Waututh Nation) followed by opening remarks from Angela Marie MacDougall (Executive Director of BWSS), Summer Rain (Manager of Direct Services and Indigenous Women’s Programs at BWSS), and Rosa Elena Arteaga (Director of Clinical Practice at BWSS). Rooted in the transformative power of music, dance, poetry, and storytelling, performances from Wildflower Women of Turtle Island, Jillian Christmas, JB the First Lady, Butterflies in Spirit, Zephyr Sunstar, Rabbit Richards, and Mercedes Eng illuminated struggles against violence in its multiple forms and offered paths toward collective healing and freedom for Indigenous, Black, newcomer immigrant/refugee, and racialized survivors.
“Divest from these systems as much as possible and ground solutions and actions in a community-based response.”– Project participant
Building on decades of crucial work on intersectional feminism and gender-based violence, BWSS has worked intentionally to humbly observe and center the needs of Indigenous, Black, newcomer immigrant/refugee, and racialized survivors in our communities.
Through the December 6th launch of our latest report, Color of Violence: Race, Gender and Anti-Violence Services and other efforts, BWSS continues to work alongside survivors of colour, placing their experiences, needs and visions for radically different futures at the very center of service provision, legal advocacy, systemic policy change, and community education and violence prevention programs in this province.
We know that together, our stories powerfully illuminate what is needed to end violence against Indigenous, Black, newcomer immigrant/refugee, and racialized survivors, and what it might mean to find healing, liberation and new ways of being in the process.
Below, photos and videos show powerful moments from the gathering and initial reflections from community members, performers, and BWSS staff who were present at our December 6th event.
