#NotInMyCity is marking National Indigenous Languages Day in Canada by announcing their human trafficking educational resources have been translated to Blackfoot, Plains Cree, and Dene.
An advisory committee of Indigenous Elders consulted on the translation of the educational resources, which are crucial in helping to identify potential signs of trafficking in different settings such as schools, hotels, airports, and more.
“As a Cree woman raising a family, having these educational resources translated into Indigenous languages means a lot to me. Now those in our community who do not speak English can gain a deeper understanding of how to better protect themselves and their loved ones from the horrible crimes of human trafficking that we are confronted with both on and off the reserve.” said Elder and Indigenous Consultant, Marsha Hanson.
Statistics show 93% of human trafficking victims in Canada are girls and women, but more research is urgently needed to understand the impact on the Indigenous community specifically, as the vast majority of human trafficking goes unreported.
“#NotInMyCity including our Indigenous languages in their training gives our communities hope for a future free from the unacceptable atrocities of human trafficking,” says Leonard Bastien/ Weasel Traveller, Elder.
Equipping Canadians with the tools to identify the signs of human trafficking and exploitation is an important first step in keeping people safe. As #NotInMyCity founder Paul Brandt says, “Our goal is to end human trafficking in Canada, and that is only possible when all Canadians are educated and aware.”
The next step in making #NotInMyCity’s education accessible to a wider audience is the translation of their human trafficking awareness e-learning course, currently available in English and French, to Blackfoot, Plains Cree and Dene. This process has already started and will be completed later this year.
Visit notinmycity.ca/learn/ to take the free interactive e-learning course or to find the human trafficking indicator resources available for download.
