KITCHENER — Amy Smoke stands proud as a healthy and strong aboriginal woman.

On Thursday, she will speak at the 33rd annual Take Back the Night in Waterloo Region and stand up for the women, especially indigenous women, who feel they can't escape the gender-based violence that surrounds them.

"It's my duty to be a role model," said the 40-year-old Kitchener woman, who for eight years battled drug addictions, including a period as a heroin user.

"I'm safer and healthier. The challenges are easier to face when you know the path you are on," said the University of Waterloo social work student.

Smoke credits her aboriginal roots for showing her the way to a safer life. She embraced her indigenous culture and never looked back.

"My culture is a lifeline. It saved my life," she said.

Smoke will soon finish her bachelor's of social work degree, doing a placement at Waterloo Aboriginal Education Centre at St. Paul's University College at UW. She plans to enrol in Wilfrid Laurier University's master's of social work program with a concentration in aboriginal studies.

Smoke was born and raised in Kitchener and didn't know much about her Mohawk heritage.

Her grandparents came from Six Nations, but as a product of residential schools, her mother was forced to abandon her culture.

Smoke said she was not exposed to her culture and felt adrift. Her time in high school was marked by drug abuse, and by her 20s, she was in a treatment centre.

She attended an aboriginal lodge and learned about healing and native medicine.

"I was overcome with awe," she recalled.

Soon after, however, she returned to the same circle of friends and her life spiralled out of control. In her 30s, her heroin habit was in full control of her life.

She was in abusive relationship, in and out of jail and homeless.

Once she got herself into Anselma House, a local women's shelter, her life changed, Smoke said. She got on methadone to kick her heroin habit, went to Conestoga College to upgrade and enrolled at UW.

"When I'm walking with the original teachings of my people, I feel balanced and at peace," said the mother of two-year-old Skye.

Emma Smith, 21, co-president of the University of Waterloo's Aboriginal Student Association, said Smoke's story encourages healing for other survivors and understanding for those who haven't experienced sexual violence.

Smith grew up in Walpole Island and is Ojibwa. She didn't experience violence but understands the fear of feeling unsafe like many women her age.

Smith, who is studying fine arts and business, said she hopes to return to her reserve to teach elementary school. She sought out the aboriginal education centre at UW because "it was a comfortable space I could connect to," she said.

Smoke hopes her story will empower others who feel they can't escape the violence.

"You can get better and be on the other side of this," she said.

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But statistics tell a tragic story.

Sara Casselman, executive director of the Sexual Assault Support Centre of Waterloo Region, organizer of the Take Back the Night march, said that in 2014, Waterloo Regional Police responded to 629 calls for sexual assaults and other sexual violations.

The average is about 500 and the numbers are getting higher, but that could be because of media attention on sexual violence associated with the cases of former CBC personality Jian Ghomeshi and comedian Bill Cosby, she said.

But most often, gender-based violence is "notoriously" unreported, Casselman said.

Smoke agrees that indigenous women are more likely not to report violent crime because they feel authorities will not help them.

"No justice has been done for us," she said. "Our past historical representation makes it OK to be a victim. It's a horrifying stain for us."

The rally and march, which will be held at Kitchener City Hall Thursday at 6 p.m., is a way for survivors to speak out and break the cycle of violence, Casselman said.

"It's our role to amplify their voices, particularly those who are marginalized," she said.

Casselman said this year's rally will focus on the gender-based violence experienced by indigenous women, as well as transgenderand two-spirited indigenous women.

Casselman said she's pleased that this year's focus coincides with the launch of a national inquiry on murdered and missing indigenous women and girls.

The inquiry will examine systemic issues of violence, including poverty and cultural and historical causes of the vulnerability of indigenous women. Federal figures estimate more than 1,181 aboriginal women and girls have been murdered or are missing since 1980.

The five-person commission, led by B.C. indigenous judge Marion Buller, will have broad powers and can recommend to law enforcement that a criminal investigation be launched and compel witnesses to testify. The commission will travel from coast to coast to hear testimonies.

The United Nations and other international human rights bodies and non-governmental organizations have issued reports on indigenous women and girls who have gone missing or been murdered in Canada.