The Strong Women’s Circle

Addressing Violence by Restoring Balance, Culture, and Connection

Authors

  • Val Wood Elder, Cold Lake First Nation
  • Sharon Goulet Indigenous Relations Strategist, City of Calgary
  • Lana Wells Faculty of Social Work, University of Calgary

Keywords:

Family Violence , Child Welfare, Violence Prevention, Indigenous-Led Systems, Strong Women’s Circle, Indigenous Children

Abstract

The Strong Women’s Circle is more than a project—it is the creation of ethical space and truth- telling; rooted in Indigenous teachings, lived experience, and community resilience. Brought to life by Indigenous Elders, grandmothers, researchers, and community partners, the Circle provides a space for honesty, healing, and advocacy.

At its core, the Strong Women’s Circle seeks to address the root causes of family violence and to transform systems that have long harmed Indigenous children and families. It recognizes that prevention begins with restoring balance—reviving language, land-based teachings, kinship ties, and the spiritual and cultural practices that sustain community well-being. Through dialogue, storytelling, and ceremony, participants are shaping a new vision for safety and belonging that reflects Indigenous ways of knowing and being. This commitment to culturally grounded prevention connects directly to the broader conversation about child welfare reform in Canada.

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Author Biographies

Val Wood, Elder, Cold Lake First Nation

Valerie Wood is a Dene Sų́łiné grandmother, educator, and Cultural Advisor dedicated to addressing systemic racism in child and family services. She believes Indigenous peoples hold the solutions and must reclaim their authority in these matters. With decades of experience in human service program delivery and teaching Dene language and culture, her work spans college-level instruction, community-based education, and Indigenous language revitalization. Valerie holds a Child and Youth Care diploma and a BA in Anthropology and Linguistics. She also served as a DFNA Director for over eight years, gaining deep insight into child intervention services for Indigenous children and families.

Sharon Goulet, Indigenous Relations Strategist, City of Calgary

Sharon Goulet is a Red River Métis woman and member of the Métis Nation within Alberta, with ancestral ties to families connected to Louis Riel. She holds a BA in Cultural Anthropology from McGill University and bachelor’s and master’s degrees in Social Work from the University of Calgary, specializing in Indigenous leadership, policy, and community development. For nearly 30 years, she has served in various roles with the City of Calgary, including as an Indigenous Relations Strategist, leading projects such as the Elders’ Lodge for culturally appropriate housing for Indigenous seniors. Sharon’s work emphasizes ethical space, cultural resurgence, and Indigenous-led solutions to urban challenges. She is also involved with Mahegun Tails Inc., dedicated to Indigenous storytelling, and is a member of the O'Brien Institute for Public Health, contributing to public health research.

Lana Wells, Faculty of Social Work, University of Calgary

Lana Wells is the Brenda Strafford Chair in the Prevention of Domestic Violence and Associate Professor at the Faculty of Social Work and Fellow at The School of Public Policy at the University of Calgary, Canada. Lana is currently leading Shift: The Project to End Domestic Violence. The purpose of Shift is to enhance the capacity of policy makers, systems leaders, and service providers to reduce rates of domestic violence through primary prevention (www.preventdomesticviolence.ca).

References

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Published

2026-01-02

Issue

Vol. 13 No. 4 (2025): Special Issue: Abstracts from the 2025 International Indigenous Voices in Social Work Conference

Section

Articles