Land Acknowledgement

Nova Vita acknowledges that our building, the work we do, and that we gather on the traditional territory of the Anishinaabe, the Haudenosaunee, the Neutral peoples and the Mississaugas of the Credit. We acknowledge that the Indigenous peoples are the original occupants of this land known traditionally as Turtle Island. We acknowledge that European settlers arrived here around 400 years ago and that colonization has had a detrimental impact on the Indigenous peoples of this land. We still carry with us today, the effects of our shared history, and we must work together with mutual respect and peaceful co-existence on our collective journey towards truth and reconciliation.

Nova Vita actively engages in anti-racism and anti-oppression work, and regularly works with partner organizations, such as Ganohkwasra Family Assault Support Services, to provide trauma-informed care and support.

For more information on domestic violence resources and community support services available for Indigenous people, visit the Indigenous Communities section of our website.

Colonialism & Domestic Violence

Colonialism and the denial of self-determination for Indigenous nations are the central conditions from which interconnected forms of violence arise, including family and sexual violence.

The continuum of colonial violence experienced by Indigenous communities is gendered. Countries that have experienced colonialism are 50 times more likely to have a high rate of intimate-partner violence against women, and in Canada, the rate of sexual assault against Indigenous women is approximately three times higher than among non-Indigenous women. Source: Shift The Project to End Domestic Violence

To learn more about these effects, visit

Indigenous Support Services