Nipissing researchers receive national funding to examine supports for Indigenous survivors of sexual assault
North Bay, ON – Nipissing University researchers Dr. Nancy Stevens, Assistant Professor of Indigenous Studies, and Dr. Rosemary Nagy, Professor of Gender Equality and Social Justice, have been awarded a Partnership Engage Grant valued at $24,829 from the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council (SSHRC) to further their research into available supports for Indigenous survivors of sexual assault.
The project, entitled “Indigenous survivors, sexual assault services and bridging cultures – a case study”, will examine the Muskoka Parry Sound Sexual Assault Service’s history of providing Indigenous-specific supports for Indigenous survivors of sexual violence. The goal is to help agencies provide more effective supports to Indigenous clients and add to a base of promising practices when it comes to developing and delivering Indigenous-specific therapeutic supports in sexual assault centres across Ontario.
“Despite extremely high rates of victimizations, there has been virtually no research or writing done about mainstream community sexual assault centres or services providing culturally appropriate supports to their Indigenous clients,” said Stevens. “This funding will enable us to host some focused discussions with the staff and board of the organization to explore what has been done well, where the challenges lie, and how the supports might grow. It will also allow us to mentor student skills-development in research and writing and build their experience in working with community.”
SSHRC’s Partnership Engage Grants are meant to respond to immediate needs and time constraints facing organizations in non-academic sectors. In addressing an organization-specific need, challenge or opportunity, these partnerships let non-academic organizations and postsecondary researchers access each other’s unique knowledge, expertise and capabilities on topics of mutual interest.
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