ABOUT THE TOUR

About the Tour...How it came to be

The dream to cycle across Canada began with one of  us dreaming out loud  and the spirit of friendship.

On May 9 th  , 2004 (appropriate ly  on Mother's Day) with the support and encouragement from my family and friends I announced my  plan s   to cycle across Canada . I knew then that if I was going to take on such a challenge it had to be for a purpose. Something good will have to come from it.   I nstictively , I knew and felt  that th e journey to cycle across Canada would be to bring attention family violence, to raise awareness...to make a difference! This is how the Aboriginal Women on the Move first come about.   As I talked and shared my hopes and dreams with others, two other cyclists, Chi and Donna, a mother and daughter team signed on to join Aboriginal Women on the Move. 

The National Aboriginal Circle Against Family Violence ( www.nacafv.ca ) were contacted and a formal request was made to form a partnership with the Aboriginal Women on the Move. I  share d  my plans with   NACAFV, how I wanted to form a partnership with the NACAFV, it was my way of giving something back! I have worked in the area of family violence for about 13 years, I have seen and heard a great deal of pain...as well as witnessing the ongoing process of recovery and healing. I also realized that a whole lot has not changed in terms of family violence and violence against women in our communities...the   statistics are still staggering ...women and children are still being harmed and abused. My question...WHY!!!

 Aboriginal Women on the Move-Cross Canada Cycle Tour is about making a difference and getting people involved.  We  want to learn and hear about the realities of family violence being faced by our women and families,   we  want to learn and hear about how the cycle of   violence  is being broken   in families and in communities. Let's talk  and share and problem-solve.   I t is not about the bike...it is not about the cycling, the   bikes and the cycling are simply the mode s  in which we are using to raise awareness and bring attention to the social and health issues of family violence  , then  taking it one step further....let's do something about it. 

We   remind   ourselves  of the journey (from now to May 28, 2006)   that we must travel   before our departure from Vancouver , not to focus so much on the actual cycling  .I t is this part of the journey that will provide much in teaching and sharing and just as   we as suspected  , the promotion of the tour is and has initiated dialogue. In the short period of time...people are talking and sharing with us their experiences,   support,  feedback  and  comments...this is bigger than we had anticipated.

It is through this dialogue of sharing information: solutions and best practises in addressing family violence will present themselves and better equip those who work in the field of family violence with the knowledge and skill  to assist those who find themselves caught in the vicious ccyle of family violence.

Together we can make a difference! 

Sheila Swasson