Overview
This is a six year (2014-2020), $2.4 million (CAD) research initiative funded by SSHRC and IDRC as part of their International Partnerships for Sustainable Societies (IPaSS) initiative. It focuses on learning from the contexts in which indigenous girls and young women are subject to exceptionally high rates of sexual violence.
Canada
Self-identified young Indigenous girls/women, including First Nations, Metis, and Inuit, status or non-status, beneficiary, or non-beneficiary, Trans, Two Spirit, or gender-non-conforming
South Africa
Girls and young women of a range of sexualities who belong to two of the official government designated groups: Black and Coloured (mixed race), and who live in rural areas
Objectives
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To conduct research into:
- the role of girls as knowledge producers in informing the study and eradication of sexual violence; indigenous knowledge (in relation to methodologies, ethics and well-being) in the context of a transnational study of indigenous girlhoods;
- the impact of participatory policy-making in relation to sexual violence on local, national and international communities.
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To develop academic and professional alliances among Canadian and South African partners towards:
- building knowledge and understanding from disciplinary, interdisciplinary and/or cross-sectoral perspectives on sexual violence; conducting digital and other participatory work with girls, particularly in the context of policy dialogue related to sexual violence.
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To build capacity by:
- training and supporting girl-focused community structures to combat sexual violence;
- providing high-quality research training to undergraduate, masters, and doctoral students and postdoctoral fellows in working with the development of digital tools and youth media, and to girls and community scholars in both local and international contexts through institutes.
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To promote the exchange of knowledge and research findings to:
- advance the application of digital and social media tools in participatory research, and the development of innovations in communication networks in addressing sexual violence;
- engage policy makers in girl-led dialogue on sexual violence through exploring good practices; and
- create a transnational platform for raising awareness and advocacy on sexual violence.
Partners
Indigenous partners and other community and government organizations. 40 co-applicants and collaborators from 14 post-secondary institutions in Canada and South Africa. Over 20 local, national and global partners-stakeholders.
Canada
McGill University
Native Youth Sexual Health Network
Girls Action Foundation
Mount Saint Vincent University
Dalhousie University
Status of Women Canada
University of Victoria
York University
South Africa
University of KwaZulu-Natal
Agenda Feminist Media Project
International Centre of
Nonviolence
Nelson Mandela Metropolitan
University
North-West University
‘From the Ground Up’ Research Methodologies
Digital storytelling
Participatory video
Cellphilms
Drawing
Mapping
Social media
Youth-led media making
Community-based research
Participatory action research
Research as intervention
Research as social change
Indigenous methodologies
Partnership Design
Working Group 1
Digital/Participatory Interventions
Working Groups 2
Girls as knowledge Producers
Working Group 3
Engaging Policy-Makers
Working Group 4
Communication for Social Action
Cross-Cutting Themes
Girl-Led Networks for Change, Ethical Practice, Indigenous Methodologies, Girls’ Well-being, and Land and Place
Research Team
Co-Principal Investigators Claudia Mitchell (McGill University) and Relebohile Moletsane (University of KwaZulu-Natal); Co-investigators Jessica Danforth, Sandrina de Finney, Naydene De Lange, Myriam Denov, Sarah Flicker, Marnina Gonick, Steven Jordan, Linda Liebenberg, Ann Macaulay, Eun Park, Carrie Rentschler, Linda Theron, and Shaheen Shariff.
Contact
claudia.mitchell [at] mcgill.ca (Claudia Mitchell, PhD)
(514) 398-4527 Ext. 09990
Department of Integrated Studies in Education
3715 Peel, Room 214
McGill University
Montreal, Quebec H3A 1X1
