Indigenous family violence and sexual abuse: Considering pathways forward.

Source: (2008) Journal of Family Studies. 14:240-253.

Australian Indigenous experiences of family and sexual violence have received much media and
government attention since 2006. Three state government reports into the problem have been published
in this time. These reports highlighted the disproportionate incidence of sexual assault and
family violence within Indigenous communities and the many complexities associated with such
experiences. They also illustrated that Indigenous communities are actively considering pathways
forward for healing and for justice for victims, their families, and the broader kin network who
inevitably feel the ripple effects of such violence. Increasingly, international examples of pathways
forward are being considered for their applicability in the Australian Indigenous context. This
paper critically examines the international case study ofthe Community Holistic Circle Healing
process developed by the community of Hollow Water, Canada. Australian Indigenous family
violence reports since 1999 have identified this process as an example of best practice in the
management of sexual violence in Indigenous communities and have recommended that similar
such models and processes be considered for implementation in Australia. This paper critically
examines the program in its own context and reflects on the feasibility of its transference into the
very different geographic, social, cultural, political and spiritual contexts of Australian Indigenous
communities. (author’s abstract)