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Post by Manager of Victim Services and Outreach Programs, Dalya Israel I was scrolling my Facebook feed last night, trying to stay in the loop on all things popular culture when I came across a news article about the horrifying misogynistic killing of Janese Talton-Jackson. I read the news report and instantly began looking for […]

This is what you can make possible:

  When WAVAW was founded over 30 years ago, the work started with one woman and one crisis line. She responded with, “I believe you.” Three simple words that re-connect survivors to humanity after such brutality. Many women encounter victim blaming, shaming and doubt that their experience really happened. At WAVAW, we believe in women […]

Dressing Up

Post by WAVAW Relief Staff, Jane Halloween has always been one of my favourite holidays. The carnivalesque, liberatory nature of becoming someone else for an evening surpasses in excitement and anticipation all other festivities. What’s not to love about excessive amounts of candy and face paint? Seeing friends and family become more flamboyant, sparkly, and […]

A Look Into Decolonizing Praxis

Written by Charlene Hellson, WAVAW Aboriginal Women’s Counsellor WAVAW was invited to Alberta to share our Decolonizing Praxis at the Knowledge Exchange on Supporting Families of Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women at the conference panel hosted by the Policy Centre for Victims Issues.  We were also invited to deliver a 90 minute session the following day at the […]

Are you kidding me?!

As the election nears, it is clear that blaming women for injustice we experience continues to be a problem among politicians and parties. In 2015, we still see headlines like this: That’s right. Women can and should *choose* to make as much money as men. In the same vein, conservatives want women to stop *choosing* […]

We love our Volunteers

WAVAW Volunteers are feminists. WAVAW Volunteers get up in the middle of the night to tell strangers they are not alone. WAVAW Volunteers get up in front of dozens of strangers and call out patriarchy, colonization, police brutality, and rape culture. WAVAW Volunteers educate one person at a time about WAVAW and about ending violence. […]

Exactly Like Other Girls

Guest Youth Post by Ruby “You can bind my body, tie my hands, govern my actions: you are the strongest, and society adds to your power; but with my will, sir, you can do nothing.” -George Sand There are so many women in this world to look up too. Look at the courage of Malala […]

I am home, I am safe

Guest post by WAVAW Volunteer The exterior of my house is off-white, fenced off from a busy street by a grey fence. After months of searching I have finally moved into a neighbourhood where I can feel and be safe. I live in a collective house with other queer people, some of whom are racialized […]

Getting an IUD: Reflections on negotiating sexuality in a rape culture

Guest Post by WAVAW Relief Staff, Faye So Many Layers Women face many barriers to making informed decisions about birth control – we live in a rape culture that shames us for our interest and proactiveness around sexual activity and health. Medical professionals have their own biases and assumptions about what’s best for each woman, […]

Origin of the Round Dance Ceremony

Guest post by Kay L. Carlson Story of the Origin of the Round Dance as told by Cree Elder John Cuthand: The story goes there was a woman who loved her mother very much. The daughter never married and refused to leave her mother’s side. Many years later, the mother, now very old, passed away. […]