The BCAAFC will manage the $5.34-million fund to help Indigenous communities and organizations expand safety planning capacity. Eligible projects include support for hosting planning sessions, culturally appropriate safety training as well as healing and cultural supports.

The fund advances Reclaiming Power and Place: The Final Report of the National Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls, and actions the government commitment made in A Path Forward: Priorities and Early Strategies for B.C., the Province’s plan to end violence against Indigenous women, girls and 2SLGBTQ+ people. Indigenous-led engagement sessions prioritized the need for safe spaces and safety plans that allow communities to implement their own solutions.

With 25 Friendship Centres throughout B.C. and a 50-year track record of supporting urban Indigenous communities, the BCAAFC is accessible to diverse populations, and has the required community connections, geographical reach and understanding of the causes of violence against women, girls and 2SLGBTQ+ people.