McGill University

Purpose

This 29-month project will support a feminist response and recovery from the current impacts of COVID-19, through systemic change. McGill University will achieve this by actively involving Indigenous girls and young women who have experience in arts-based work addressing gender-based violence (GBV), in the development and implementation of community-based activities that will create inclusive spaces for Indigenous boys and young men to participate in arts-based interventions. Building on this, the project will establish the Pathways2Equity Framework (Framework) which will detail steps to creating local and culturally relevant dialogues and knowledge-sharing events, and inform how to use 'dialogues-through-the-arts' approaches to: engage Indigenous boys and men in learning about GBV; dismantle harmful gender stereotypes and norms; and build foundations for establishing safer relationships. A pan-Canadian network will be established through sharing and discussing the Framework among communities with experience in arts-based interventions, and with new sites interested in adopting the Pathways2Equity approach. At the end of the project, McGill University will have contributed to addressing systemic barriers by addressing persistent harmful gender norms and attitudes, advancing inclusive policies and practices, and supporting positive distribution of authority, voices, and decision-making power, to support women’s equality.