Six Nations group says $246K from province will help fight human trafficking

WARNING: This story contains details readers might find distressing

Ganohkwasra Family Assault Support Services has welcomed new funding from the Ontario government, which it said will go a long way toward providing awareness about human trafficking.  

The province announced Monday that the Six Nations-based organization would receive $246,165 for an anti-human trafficking project.

"This funding will be used to provide education to our community members about what human trafficking is," said executive director Sandra Montour, adding the project also focuses on mentorship.

"We are going to be providing mentorship for individuals who have been trafficked or at risk of being trafficked, with other individuals who perhaps are further along in their healing."

The project is one of 11 new community-based programs announced by the province — aimed at deterring youth from becoming involved in gun violence, gang activity and victimization, including human trafficking. 

The programs, delivered by Black and Indigenous-led organizations, will support youth and young adults aged 12 to 29.

Montour said human trafficking on reserve can look a little different than in the cities.

"Sometimes what happens is, due to poverty, due to having no place to stay, often people are couch surfing, especially the youth," she explained.

"After a while there become conditions for them to stay. Also, what may happen too is ... people are forced to perform sexual favours for drugs and alcohol."

'Human trafficking happening everywhere'

Montour said Indigenous communities are not exempt from human trafficking.

"I believe there is human trafficking happening everywhere, not just here in this community but it happens everywhere," she said. "I think that because people aren't aware of it they are not seeing it."

According to Montour, the experiences of residential schools survivors could also fit under the definition of human trafficking.

"They were taken against their will, many of them were taken against their family's will and they were made to work, they were made to perform labour for the upkeep of the facilities," Montour said.

The director said many people in Indigenous communities have family members who were in the schools.

"We heard that from our survivors so often, that many of them were forced to work on the farms … so they were exploited."

Government's strategy includes early intervention

Associate Minister of Children and Women's Issues, Jane McKenna, said intervening early with children and youth at risk of being targeted for human trafficking is a critical part of the government's strategy to combat it.

"These new programs will help prevent human trafficking, keep more young people safe and help youth find positive opportunities," she stated in a media release.

In 2019, Ontario was home to approximately 55 per cent of all police-reported human trafficking incidents across the country, the province said.

The government described Ontario as a "hub" for human trafficking in February.

The Combating Human Trafficking Act, or Bill 251, was first introduced that same month by Ontario Solicitor General Sylvia Jones, and was passed in late May.

It aims to combat human trafficking, but several legal advocates, community organizations and sex worker groups are sounding the alarm on the proposed legislation, saying it will only endanger already-marginalized sex workers by expanding police powers and lead to further targeting of poor and racialized groups.

Support is available for anyone affected by the lingering effects of residential school and those who are triggered by the latest reports.

A national Indian Residential School Crisis Line has been set up to provide support for residential school survivors and others affected. People can access emotional and crisis referral services by calling the 24-hour national crisis line: 1-866-925-4419.