“We are paying a lot more attention”

By Dustin Patar

Reports of family violence within Nunavut have not escalated since the territory declared a public health emergency last month.

That’s in contrast with reports from elsewhere in the world that indicate domestic violence rates have spiked as a result of isolation measures intended to curb the spread of COVID-19.

“We have not seen any significant increase,” said Arijana Haramincic, the executive director of Family Services.

“There have been pockets of some family violence situations where they’re finding the calls would be increased over a day or two and then the calls would go down.”

The concern across other areas of the Arctic was that pandemic-related stresses would increase tensions in homes, causing an epidemic of violence that would further stretch already limited resources.

Haramincic shared that concern.

“People do tend to be under a lot of pressure and sometimes behaviours are not as controlled as they would be … in other times,” she said.

“We are paying a lot more attention.”

According to Haramincic, part of this includes checking in with shelters across the territory on a daily basis to ensure they’re not being overwhelmed.

“We have not had to turn any individuals away here [Iqaluit] or in any other shelter that we have heard,” she said.

“If you look at statistical information compared across any other time, we’re not seeing a level of need that is higher than available resources.”

In part, Haramincic chalks this up to planning, but she acknowledges that it’s still early to fully assess the ongoing situation, a sentiment echoed by the Umingmak Child and Youth Support Centre.

Although the territory still doesn’t have any cases of COVID-19, if that were to change, it could spike people’s sense of insecurity and vulnerability, which could lead to issues, said Haramincic.

Another concern, both in the North and around the world, is that increased isolation could lead to fewer opportunities for those experiencing abuse at home to reach out for help.

“Any situations where there is a requirement to keep away from your regular attendance in school or regular attendance at work, there’s always the potential that things are being unseen or unnoticed,” said Haramincic.

“Thinking from that perspective, there is a potential but we’re trying to mitigate that by reaching out to the community.”

While part of that outreach has been focused on professionals and parents, the other part has focused on children.

Often these calls are done through video-chat platforms such as FaceTime, something that allows Haramincic’s team to see the child while also giving them an opportunity to communicate “that we’re here, we’re still available.”

There’s another larger reason why Haramincic believes that there hasn’t been an increase in family violence, and one she’d like to thank Nunavummiut for it: “the community response has been fantastic.”

From the sharing of country food and food hampers to mothers with newborn babies receiving support from neighbours, Nunavut has come together.

“I think all of … those preventative measures and all the supports that GN has implemented … I think they’re maintaining the actual crisis from spiking a social crisis,” said Haramincic.

If you or someone you know is experiencing abuse or family violence, Family Services says to call your local community justice outreach worker, community social services worker, or Family Services office for support and counselling.

There are children and family services offices in each community. A full list, including phone numbers, can be found here.

Nunavut also operates family violence shelters in the following communities:

Iqaluit, Qimavvik Shelter: (867) 979-4500

Kugaaruk Family Violence Centre: (867) 769-6100

Kugluktuk Women’s Crisis Centre: (867) 982-3210

Rankin Inlet, Kataujaq Society Shelter: (867) 645-2214

If there is no family violence shelter in your community, the Family Services website states that your community social services worker or community justice outreach worker will accompany you to the nearest place of safety.

For a full list of other resources available, visit the Family Services website.

Correction

An earlier version of this story listed a family violence shelter in Cambridge Bay, when in fact that facility is no longer in operation. We regret the error.