Guelph, ON N1H 3A2
Canada
In honour of Sexual Assault Awareness Month join Guelph Anti Pipeline, OPIRG-Guelph, and Guelph Resource Centre for Gender Empowerment and Diversity for a discussion on the connection btw Barrick Gold Corporation, Gender Based Violence targeting Indigenous Women, and Extractive Industries.
SPEAKERS:
Everlyn Galpe and Joycelyn Mandi from the Porgera Women’s Rights Watch in Porgera, Papua New Guinea
Hayley Moody from the Sexual Assault Centre of Brant
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After years of denying cases of sexual assault, Canadian mining company Barrick Gold compensated 119 women and girls who were victims of sexual violence by mine security to the tune of ~$10,000 each for these abuses, but had them sign an agreement that they could never sue the company. Eleven of the women refused this remedy package and threatened to sue the company, resulting in a higher out of court settlement. Since that time, the 119 women who originally accepted the money from Barrick have organized into women’s groups and started to demand more dignified treatment from the company. Many others have never received any compensation at all, as allegations of sexual violence continue.
From gaslighting tactics, to the cultural and legal barriers that prevent women from sharing their stories, we will look at the systemic forces that work to silence victims of abuse. We will also hear from courageous women who have self-organized with other survivors to tell their stories and demand accountability.
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Hayley is a queer Métis-Ojibwa woman currently living on the Haldimand Tract in Brantford, Ontario. She works at the Sexual Assault Centre of Brant as a Sexual Violence Counsellor and Advocate, working exclusively with students from Wilfrid Laurier University. Hayley will be discussing some of the ways in which gender based violence against indigenous women and two-spirit folks is used as a tool of colonization by the extraction industry across Canada ( this area of Turtle Island).
This event is FREE for everyone and we will be providing snacks!
If you have any questions or concerns about the event please email guelphgap@gmail.com
The space is wheelchair accessible.
There isnt child care being run out of this space. If you are in need of child care to attend please reach out to volunteer@opirgguelph.org
*Guelph is on the traditional territory of the Attawandaron/Attawandaronk/Chonnonton and is a gathering place for many nations. We strive to be accountable to this in all aspects of our work by fostering positive relationship while challenging destructive ones.*