Indian Time - A Voice from the Eastern Door

The Three Sisters Program recently held a Zumbathon on October 5 to highlight October as Domestic Violence Awareness Month. There were 43 people who came out to dance their evening away. From 6-8pm participants danced to high-energy music with beats that one could not resist moving to. The lights in the gym of the Heart to Heart Fitness Center were dimmed to accommodate the dance-club like mood of the event. Participants were gifted with a bag filled with goodies and their name was entered into a grand prize drawing for a Fitbit.

The Three Sisters Program is a domestic violence and sexual assault program that provides services for victims. The program has been around for about 10 years now. The program was originally called Stop Domestic Violence, later they changed their name to the Three Sisters Program. Over the years the program staff has changed yet the program mission remains the same.

The Three Sisters Program provides people with support, resources and answers to questions like: How do I go about leaving if I am in a bad situation, or where do I go to find specific resources, such as a safe housing and social services, just to name a few. The program aims to help victims in any way that they can.

"People are grateful for the services that the Three Sisters Program provides." said Margie Tatlock, Domestic Violence Advocate with the Three Sisters Program.

The Three Sisters works collaboratively with other organizations in the community to help support and guide their clients.

Zumbathon held at the Heart to Heart Fitness

Tatlock mentioned that it is totally up to the individual whether they choose to use our services, "Either way, we just want people to know that the Three Sisters Program is an option and that we are always ready to help in any way that we can."

October 20, 2016, is wear purple day-the color of Domestic Violence Awareness Month. Wearing purple is used as a way to bring about further awareness and to let others know why ending domestic violence is important. People are encouraged to show their support by wearing purple on October 20.

The Akwesasne Mohawk Casino will be switching between purple and pink colored light to show their support for domestic violence and breast cancer awareness which also is part of the month of October. Speedway Plaza and other local businesses will also be donning purple on signage to bring about domestic violence awareness in the Akwesasne community.