Tungasuvvingat Inuit (TI) will be opening the first Inuit 2SLGBTQ+ drop-in space in Ottawa. This will be known as the Arsaniq (Northern Lights) Drop-In.

SA国际影视传媒淪exual diversity has historically been the norm, not the exception, among Indigenous peoples,SA国际影视传媒� said Jennifer Chafe, manager of Ilagiiqatigiitsiarniq, TISA国际影视传媒檚 program created for helping support the well-being of Inuit families who may be affected by violence or for those who need help navigating urban, southern systems.

Arsaniq Drop-In will be open to the Inuit community for activities, workshops and discussions surrounding the Inuit 2SLGBTQ+ community.

This is particularly important for Inuit in Ottawa and other urban environments, said Chafe.

SA国际影视传媒淚ndigenous 2SLGBTQ+ people are more likely to experience violence than heterosexual Indigenous peoples. WeSA国际影视传媒檙e talking about the marginalized of the marginalized. Twice as many are likely to experience assault, including physical and sexual assault than non-Indigenous LGBTQ+.SA国际影视传媒�

The lack of services and resources for this group of people can erode an individualSA国际影视传媒檚 trust in these systems and may prevent a person from seeking help when needed.

The goals of the program according to TI include:

- Improving the overall health and well-being of 2SLGBTQ+ Inuit by providing safe, culturally appropriate spaces

- Support and enhance coordinated, community-based delivery to improve outcomes for 2SLGBTQ+ Inuit

- Provide a coordinated system of community-based prevention programs and services which are community designed and delivered to best meet the needs of 2SLGBTQ+ Inuit

Services of Arsaniq Drop-In are expected to include holistic, harmonized, culturally appropriate and strength-based approaches while providing a preventive perspective on the social determinants of ones own health. They hope to provide a reconciliation-focused program based on foundations of Inuit cultural identity.

The grand opening for OttawaSA国际影视传媒檚 Arsaniq Drop-In will be on Friday November 25, 2:30 p.m. to 5 p.m. at the Bronson Centre in Room 222.