The Support Network for Indigenous Women and Women of Colour (SNIWWOC)
SNIWWOC
is a Canadian non-profit organization committed to the empowerment of women. We operate from a holistic and integrated service model that addresses the social, cultural and political realities of immigrant and indigenous communities. Our work is informed by a commitment to reproductive justice*
Reproductive justice recognizes that struggles for sexual and reproductive rights is not a singular issue. It has to be linked to wider struggles against oppression (racism, sexism, colonization, immigration rights, income, education, etc). These intersecting oppressions can limit a person's ability to have control over their body.
Our Mission:
To support BIPOC women, youth, and children to take greater control of their lives. We strive to provide culturally appropriate services in different languages, and all our programming is developed and delivered by women of colour.
Our Mandate:
To work against barriers that limit women and girl’s access to healthcare and full reproductive choice using food, art, and education.
The Problem:
According to Statistics Canada, one in five women is born outside Canada. Canada's visible minority women are relatively well educated, but are more susceptible to unemployment
—
According to Amnesty International, Indigenous women were nearly three times more likely than non-Indigenous women to report being a victim of a violent crime; this was true regardless of whether the violence was perpetrated by a stranger or by a spouse. Source
—
A woman is killed every 6 days in Canada by her partner. Source
—
Immigrant women aged 25 or older are less likely to self-rate their overall health as very good or excellent compared with the Canadian-born. Source
—
Black women continue to experience disparities in health outcomes, specifically heart disease, breast cancer, sexual and reproductive health. These conditions can impact quality of life and also contribute to higher mortality rates. These disparities are rooted in policy, research, health promotion and patient care.
Our Solutions:
We provide women of colour with education and information on how to navigate Canada’s healthcare system.
—
We know social isolation, perceived or not, has a negative impact on health outcomes - this isolation is particularly hard on BIPOC women. We aim to lessen this isolation by creating intentional spaces where women of colour can connect and heal through food, art, and education.
—
We support and advocate for Indigenous women, Black women, immigrant and refugee women and women of colour, and connect them to appropriate support streams.
—
We have a variety of free programs such as a dental hygiene clinic, counselling, peer support, groceries, online yoga, and domestic violence support groups that may normally be inaccessible to women of colour due to low-income or isolation.
—
We host regular events across the country with the aim of raising awareness and building community. These include a monthly dinner series, regular workshops, music celebrations, an annual neighbourhood festival in Quadra Village, and much more.