SELF DEFENCE TRAINING
Indigenous Self Defence & Personal safety education
OVERVIEW
Indigenous self defence
Street Safe Self Defence is recognized across Canada as a leader in violence prevention and response in partnership with Inuit, First Nations and Metis communities.
Through our work, we’ve developed Canada’s first program of its kind designed specifically for women living in the 14 Inuit communities of Nunavik, Quebec. This initiative addresses the urgent and often under-resourced need for practical, culturally aware strategies to prevent and manage intimate partner violence, sexual assault, bullying, and other forms of social and anti-social violence. It also equips participants with vital de-escalation skills, empowering them to respond to danger with clarity and confidence.
We recognize that trauma is not a distant chapter in history—it’s a daily reality shaped by the lasting effects of colonialism, systemic racism, intergenerational violence, and the erosion of traditional support systems. These realities are compounded by challenges such as overcrowded housing, limited access to emergency services, and barriers to culturally safe resources.
In many Indigenous and Inuit communities, education surrounding violence prevention, situational awareness, and immediate self-protection strategies is absolutely critical.
Our trauma-informed approach is built with and for the communities we serve. We combine evidence-based violence prevention with practical, real-world skills -delivered in a way that honours cultural identity, respects lived experience, and restores a sense of safety and self-determination. Our training addresses not only the individual risks faced by women, youth, and Elders, but also the broader need for community-wide safety networks that strengthen resilience against violence in all forms.
Street Safe Self Defence is committed to walking alongside Indigenous and Inuit communities, providing tools that work in their realities – not just in theory. Together, we are breaking cycles of violence, building safer environments, and ensuring that the knowledge to prevent harm is in the hands of those who need it most.
Self Defence And Violence Prevention Training Provides Critical Life Skills.
Our work with Inuit, First Nations and Metis communities is built on more than programs — it’s built on trust, relationships, and a deep respect for culture.
We understand that safety doesn’t look the same in every community. The realities of violence, and the ways it impacts daily life are shaped by history, geography, and lived experience. We’ve seen this first-hand in Indigenous high schools and elementary schools in the Toronto region, where social violence takes a heavy toll on children and young adults.
Over the years, we’ve worked alongside the Métis Women’s Council, the Wahta Mohawk Women’s Group of Sudbury, the Rupertsland Métis Institute of Alberta, and women living in all 14 communities of Nunavik. Those partnerships have shown us exactly what education and training women need to stay safe — and why those skills must be practical, adaptable, and rooted in the realities of violence faced by Indigenous Peoples
In Akwesasne, we’ve led Human Trafficking Awareness and Prevention sessions and worked with the Seven Dancers Coalition to provide self-defence training tailored to the threats their women face. In each case, our goal remains the same:
If we can help you stop the before, the after will never happen!
But we also know that good people sometimes find themselves in harm’s way. When that happens, our focus shifts from prevention to equipping people with skills that work when you need them most. Our methods don’t rely on size, strength, or athletic ability. They are simple, effective, and designed to be remembered under stress.
If your community is looking for effective, trauma-informed and culturally aware violence prevention and self-defence training in Canada, we will meet you where you are — and work with you to change and empower lives.
What is included in this course:
Empowering & Changing the Lives of First Nation, Inuit and Metis People
- What is Self Defence?
- Conflict Management and De-Escalation
- Trust Your Intuition
- Safe Choices
- Bullying
- Intimate Partner Violence
- Generational Violence
- Self Defence Tactics
- Self Defence & the Criminal Code
- Sextortion & Digital Blackmail
- Social Violence Management
- Cycle of Violence
- Online Harrassment
- Policing Mistrust
- Community Safety
- Survival Mindset
Benefits
Course Takeaways
While each Indigenous community holds its own strengths and challenges, the goals of this training are shared. Women, youth, elders, and families all benefit from culturally respectful, trauma-informed safety education. This training honours lived experience, supports healing, and offers clear, practical tools that stay with participants long after the session ends.
Grounded Confidence
Learn how to carry yourself with strength and clarity—whether you’re walking through your community or standing up for your safety.
Culturally-Aware
De-escalation
Understand how to recognize tension early and respond in ways that protect your safety and dignity, without escalating harm.
COMMUNITY-CENTERED AWARENESS
Build habits that keep you alert to your surroundings -on the land, in town, and in your home, so you can recognize risk before it becomes danger.
NERVOUS SYSTEM PEACE
Leave with practical tools that help settle your body and calm your mind, even after hard experiences or close calls.
TESTIMONIALS
Word on the street
Check out what some of our past clients have said about our programs!
What we know
Violence prevention and personal safety education for Indigenous Communities must include truth, healing, and lived experience.
Violence against Indigenous women
is 6 times higher
than the national average
Many northern and remote communities have limited access to assistance or emergency services. Knowing how to respond in the moment can save your life.
Lateral violence and intergenerational trauma continue to impact safety across all age groups
FAQ
QUESTIONS YOU MIGHT HAVE:
Why is this training needed in my community?
Because safety education hasn’t always been available in ways that reflect your reality. Many Indigenous communities face unique challenges—like isolation, limited emergency response, and the ongoing impact of intergenerational trauma. This training meets you where you are, with tools that work in the real world—not just in theory.
What if I’ve already been through something hard—will this be too much for me?
You’re not alone. This training is trauma-informed and designed with care. We don’t make people relive pain – we focus on reclaiming strength, learning skills, and making space for healing. You decide what you take in. You’re never pushed, and you’re always in control.
Self Defence Training Programs
Protect Yourself Today
Looking for a comprehensive, specialized, and unique self defence training program that will teach
you lifetime skills in as little as five hours? We can help! Contact us today to get started!