STARDALE STUDY RELEASED ON VIOLENCE AMONG GIRLS IN MELFORT

Melfort Journal -- A study that targets violence in young girls in Melfort
has been released that lists several recommendations to deal with the
problems in the community.

"Defining the Future: Embracing our Girls" was directed by Helen McPhaden
of Stardale Women's Group with research conducted by the University of
Saskatchewan's RESOLVE program and Picton Associates of Calgary.

Gang-style violence

The study was initiated after Stardale became aware that many young girls
in Melfort were caught in a cycle of violence and abuse.

Several of these girls had taken part in gang-style beatings on other girls
where constant violence was an answer to problems.

But violence was not the only reason behind the study. Several of the girls
identified in the study were also known to abuse alcohol and drugs, engage
in sexual behaviour and not complete the secondary education.

Some of the recommendations to come from the study include the building of
a non-denominational youth centre in Melfort, the organization of a
Mentorship Program and increased public awareness of the issues surrounding
violence among girls in Melfort.

Lack of cooperation

"This is not just a Melfort issue. It's becoming more and more of a rural
issue," said McPhaden, who added that she did not get much cooperation from
service providers in the community, who seemed to boycott the study.

"It's like Melfort doesn't want to acknowledge that it has any problems.
(The violence is) there, but people are afraid to talk about it," she
explained in a telephone interview from Calgary on the reasons for a lack
of cooperation with the study.

McPhaden also suggested that an article in the Globe and Mail, entitled
"What is wrong with the girls in Melfort?" might have played a part in the
lack of cooperation in the community with the study.

"It's because it's threatening, it's too close to home, it's intimidating
and they're afraid. Small communities don't rock the boat," said McPhaden.

According to the study, the project was initiated to understand the
experiences of some girls in Melfort and try to create positive change.

The study was divided into two parts: Part One had several girls fill out
questionnaires to express their views and Part Two focussed on community
resources available for youth in Melfort.

However, because of the U of S guidelines for research, any girls under 14
were not allowed to partake in the study, which left only seven girls on
the record to discuss the problems in the community. McPhaden did
acknowledge that it was a small sample of girls, but added that the study
was not meant to encompass the behaviour of all girls in Melfort.

During the interview stage, many of the girls said that there was a lack of
resources for youth in Melfort and an inherent gang mentality in the
community, which often led to their troublesome behaviour.

One girl spoke in an interview on her thoughts when she saw a group of
girls she didn't like and replied, "Your first intention is to beat the
living snot out of these little witches, and pretty much you wanna leave
'em for dead. Whatever you're going to do, that's your first instinct these
days is to fight," said the girl, who cannot be named.

Easy to find drugs in Melfort

Many of the girls also stated that they could get drugs easier than alcohol
in Melfort and that there are plenty of drug pushers lurking in the community.

Five of the girls in the study admitted to using a variety of drugs
including cocaine, marijuana, speed, crystal meth, ecstasy, crack and acid.

"Yeah, like in the four corners of this town there's just certain people,
like you can walk down the street and someone is going to pull up and say
'hey, you want this?' or whatever, you know? 'Have a sample.' It's like...
offering candy to little kids," said the youth in the report.

McPhaden said that a larger research project will be conducted once a
feasibility study is completed and that she hopes members of the community
will come forward to participate.

In the mean time, Melfort is about to become part of a national spotlight,
as McPhaden said that CBC is planning on doing interviews on the project
and that a Toronto-based producer is planning a documentary on the project
and on Melfort.

The entire report is available online at http://www.nald.ca/Stardale/.