WIIKWEMKOONG—On Wednesday, February 22 the Wikwemikong Tribal Police Social Navigator Initiative was proud to co-host a Human Trafficking Awareness Conference. The one-day event was held at the Rabbit Island Centre on the Wiikwemkoong Unceded Territory.
The conference dealt with a variety of topics that included: What is Human Trafficking; Sudbury and Areas Victim Services; Victim Support Services; and Lived Experience.
The conference also included presentations highlighting human trafficking from victims who survived and escaped the trauma and shared their personal accounts. Speakers of note included Jessica Desmond, survivor and main speaker, Jessica Summers, member of victim support services for Manitoulin, Vincent Bolt, psychotherapist and Tiffany Pyoli-York, Sudbury and area victim services.
The conference, which was attended by over 70 people, is one of many initiatives that the Wikwemikong Tribal Police Service Navigator Program will be providing to Wiikwemkoong and the surrounding area.
The Social Navigator Initiative would also like to thank the community partners that helped in the organization and planning of the event including the Community Wellness Human Trafficking Committee, Wiikwemkoong Unceded Territory (WUT), Wikwemikong Tribal Police Service, and WUT Prevention which sponsored the event as well as Chief Rachel Manitowabi and Band Director of Operations, Shelley Trudeau.
