iiksis'stonkinii  - Strengthening the Warrior Within

iiksis'stonkinii - Strengthening the Warrior Within is focused on building resiliency and instilling perseverance of healing with Indigenous men and women who been exposed to and have become criminalized due to relationship and family violence.  The project intends to equip participants with the right tools to regain their sense of pride through experiential learning to address emotional expression and building skills for healthy relationships, as well as enhancing parenting skills. Participants are connected to ceremony and reconnected to cultural teachings to enhance well-being. The program is healing centered and focused on overall wellness to address the underlying factors associated with domestic violence. The project is based on restorative justice practices related to making amends, taking accountability and rebuilding harmony within the family structure. 

iiksis'stonkinii fills the gap for Indigenous specific supports and services . Domestic violence has intergenerational roots which has contributed to violent responses from ongoing exposure to violence experienced in childhood resulting in violence in adult relationships. Iiksis'stokinii will contribute to assisting families in understanding how pain is externalized in the form of domestic violence and how to strengthen emotional regulation to learn healthier emotional expression.

Iiksis'stokinii is an approach to rebuilding the lives of Indigenous families by strengthening traditional gender roles and rebuilding the family structure through a (w)holistic approach. Restorative Justice: Focuses on accountability and taking responsibility for actions. Healing Centered: A focus on individual and family healing to strengthen family wellness. Cultural Reconnection: Connects participants back to traditional teachings and ceremonies to support healing and strengthen cultural identity. Regaining Concepts of Gender Roles: Traditional roles and  responsibilities from a cultural perspectives to build self-esteem. Understanding the Roots and Impacts of Violence: Knowledge of the intergenerational impacts on families to establish awareness and understanding of the effects of colonization. Building Healthy Relationships: Builds skills for improving relationships. Improving Family Functioning: Regain harmony and balance for positive connections to break the cycle of violence. 

Through our work in the Soksipaitapiisin Restorative Justice and Case Management Table we work with both Indigenous women and men coming into the system as both offenders and victims of domestic violence. iiksis'stonkinii fills the gap for Indigenous specific supports and services for men who are both offenders and victims of domestic violence. Indigenous men benefit by regaining stronger family relationships and develop the skills to overcome intergenerational traumas which have led to family violence.