History of NICAFV

The formation of the National Indigenous Circle Against Family Violence (NICAFV) marks a significant milestone in addressing family violence within Indigenous communities. This initiative symbolizes the commitment of Indigenous people to take responsibility and ownership of the challenges that affect them, particularly family violence.

NICAFV emerged from a series of grassroots-level consultations with Indigenous family violence service providers and other experts from across the country. The first formal meeting was held in 1999 at the University of Manitoba, which played a pivotal role in shaping the organization & mission and objectives.

By the spring of 2002, NICAFV was established and formally incorporated as an organization, which provided a legal framework and structure for its operations.

NICAFV conducted a national consultation involving stakeholders such as Indigenous family violence service providers and experts from across Canada. This consultation served to gather insights, share the best practices, and identify common challenges faced by Indigenous communities regarding family violence.