Three years after Marina St. Croix sustained a violent attack from her former husband Tariq St. Croix, she and her four children continue to live at the scene of the crime.
Having sought help through social service avenues and bringing the matter twice to the rental board, SA国际影视传媒渢he government themselves have failed me,SA国际影视传媒� she said. SA国际影视传媒淗ousing failed to transfer me. ISA国际影视传媒檝e spoken to my MLA, she has failed to get any help for me, I brought it to the Supreme Court, they failed to help me.SA国际影视传媒�
St. Croix is turning to the public instead.
On Jan. 26, 2021 she launched a seeking $88,888 to give her family a fresh start.
In addition to the emotional turmoil caused from remaining at the residence SA国际影视传媒� including PTSD, regular nightmares, feelings of withdrawal and isolation and distrust towards men SA国际影视传媒� St. Croix said that when Tariq is released from prison, she and her children will no longer be safe in that home.
Tariq was sentenced to five years in prison for aggravated assault. After deducting the time already spent at the North Slave Correctional Centre (NSCC) and applying the standard 1.5 credit for pre-trial custody, he has 21 months remaining in his sentence.
Tariq is set to be released on May 2, 2022. SA国际影视传媒淚 do not plan on being here when he is released,SA国际影视传媒� Marina said. SA国际影视传媒淥r at least that is my hope.SA国际影视传媒�
One condition of TariqSA国际影视传媒檚 three year probation is that once released from prison, he is barred from re-entering the Northwest Territories. This order was made as a means of protection for St. Croix and her children but she said she does not trust SA国际影视传媒渁 piece of paper to tell him to stay away from my family and I.SA国际影视传媒�
On the night of the attack in question, Tariq was already on two separate court orders preventing him from attending the residence of his estranged wife. Both were brought on from prior convictions of violent attacks against her.
SA国际影视传媒淭he goal is to try to move somewhere else, I don't feel comfortable just sitting in the same place where he assaulted me,SA国际影视传媒� she said. SA国际影视传媒淓ven moving within this city is not going to provide me any field of safety, because everybody knows everyone here, and it doesn't take very long for someone to find out where you live.SA国际影视传媒�
Throughout the course of the court proceedings, Marina said she has been contacted on numerous occasions by TariqSA国际影视传媒檚 father and brothers expressing disbelief in the crimes she claims against her former husband and imploring her to SA国际影视传媒渢ake it easySA国际影视传媒� on Tariq. She has also continued to be taunted SA国际影视传媒渟nitches get stitchesSA国际影视传媒� by TariqSA国际影视传媒檚 friends she told the court at TariqSA国际影视传媒檚 sentencing hearing.
His freedom, her family's captivity
She said that his freedom is the start of their captivity.
SA国际影视传媒淲e were really upset when their plan was to take him out of the territories and leave us here,SA国际影视传媒� she said. SA国际影视传媒淵ouSA国际影视传媒檝e now just given him freedom to be in all the places that we would potentially be trying to run to.SA国际影视传媒�
SA国际影视传媒淭hese laws are put in place that are very lenient towards the accuser, and the women that are abused, we are the ones that have to go through another system of abuse, where these systems are very broken, and for some reason are catered towards the abusers,SA国际影视传媒� she said. SA国际影视传媒淭his is a Canada wide problem.SA国际影视传媒�
At the time of the attack, St. Croix was in school to obtain her nursing degree. She has since had to drop out of school to focus on her healing.
The familySA国际影视传媒檚 current home is under the umbrella of city housing and therefore low rent. SA国际影视传媒淚SA国际影视传媒檓 conscious of the fact that I am only surviving and making ends meet because I have low income rent,SA国际影视传媒� St. Croix said.
To relocate, however, the family will need the funds to afford housing at market rent in addition to flying a family of five to their destination and starting from scratch since they donSA国际影视传媒檛 have the means to pack and move their belongings.
St. Croix is still waiting for surgeries to recover from a labour made extra painful from injuries sustained in the stabbing. Her physical injuries raise questions as to whether or not she will be able to find work at their new location. She has also raised concerns over the job market due to the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic.
As of Tuesday afternoon, her GoFundMe campaign had collected $700 of her $88,888 goal. St. Croix is keeping her fingers crossed that she can raise enough to relocate sooner rather than later.
GoFundMe goal is lucky number
The $88,888 figure, she said, is considered a lucky number in Chinese cultures. After consulting a Chinese aunty, St. Croix said she decided to put all eights.
SA国际影视传媒淚 donSA国际影视传媒檛 have an amount, I just know that I need to get out of the North,SA国际影视传媒� she said.
Typically, in cases of family violence, names are ban from publication in order to protect the victim. St. Croix, however, said that SA国际影视传媒�a publication ban will being me no justice.SA国际影视传媒�
She said that she often receives messages soliciting her advice from others in circumstances of abuse and almost always tells them the same thing, SA国际影视传媒渄o as much as you can to just get out somewhere else.
SA国际影视传媒淭here are endless amounts of women in this territory that are being hurt, and maybe even killed, with EPOs (emergency protection orders) already in place. Men don't listen to a piece of paper.SA国际影视传媒�
As an Indigenous woman, St. Croix asserts the importance of telling her story and breaking the cycle of abuse and ensuing silence.
Tariq was originally charged with attempted murder, but pleaded guilty to the lesser charge of aggravated assault. St. Croix called the plea deal a joke and said that she wants to she harsher sentencing for those who harm Indigenous women and children.
