ipl-logo

Marleen Bird: Secondary Victim

1190 Words5 Pages

Marleen bird was a 50-year-old aboriginal woman from a northern reserve in Saskatchewan. Bird suffered from substance abuse issues and homelessness. In 2014 Bird was viciously attacked and set on fire in a parking lot in Prince Albert Saskatchewan. As a result of the attack Bird lost both of her legs and much of her eyesight (Canadian Press, 2017). Bird suffered from years of victimization due to the injuries she suffered from the attack, the constant news articles reporting on the attack and the subsequent trials. There were also many people who suffered from secondary victimization as well Bird suffered secondary victimization throughout the trail of her attacker. Victim Profile/Background Marlene Bird was born on the Montreal Lake Cree …show more content…

Bird was brutally sexually assaulted and then set on fire in a dark parking lot. She then woke up in a hospital in Edmonton, Alberta after having to be flown there due to the extent of her injuries (McCue, 2017). Bird woke up in a hospital have lost much of the vision in her eyes and woke up to realize that both of her legs had been amputated due to the severity of the burns. The impact of the assault committed against Bird lasted for years. She had to re-learn how to do many things in her life now without the use of her legs, and hardly any vision in her eyes (McCue, 2017). Not only was bird sexually assaulted, but she had the free will to do simple tasks like walking and doing basic human needs as a result of the attack. Bird woke up every single morning realizing the effects of the attack and the victimization that it caused her. Not only that, but the psychological trauma she would have suffered from because of the attack at the tasks she was no longer able to complete by herself (McCue, …show more content…

The public came roaring in to show their support for Bird. Raising her lot of money and even getting a motorized wheelchair donated for her to use (McCue, 2017). She also received lots of support from the community in ways of kind thoughts and showing of support for her (McCue, 2017). The problem was both Bird and Lavallee were basically homeless before the attack and there were no wheelchair friendly rental properties that either of them could afford so they ended up having to move to Timber Bay 124 kilometers north of Prince Albert (McCue, 2017). With that there was almost no access to support like rehabilitation, counselling or any other basic need Bird would need after being victimized in such a serious way. The root cause to the lack of support for her lies in the socio-economic issues that many first nations communities suffer from within

Show More
Related
150 Words | 1 Pages

In February 2014, a horrendous event occurred that shocked not only the nation, but the world. Greg Anderson murdered his 11-year-old son Luke and the police then shot him at the Tyabb cricket oval. Luke’s mother, Rosie Batty, had suffered years of family violence and believes the killing was Greg’s final act of control over her. Rosie Batty knows pain no woman should have to suffer. Since that event, Rosie has become an outspoken campaigner against domestic violence, captivating hearts and minds all over Australia with her courage, compassion and forgiveness.

Read More
1646 Words | 7 Pages

The voices of Indigenous children are unheard and purposely ignored. This is portrayed through the literature of Birdie by Tracey Lindberg and Indian Horse by Richard Wagamese. Despite receiving apologies from Prime Ministers Stephen Harper and Justin Trudeau, the government system to protect First Nations families appears to have detrimental effects on the native children. This is proven by young children turning to drugs in order to satisfy their growing pain, by family members who abuse their kids because of alcohol addictions, and the increasing discriminatory behaviour by surrounding communities. To begin with, young children are turning to drugs in order to satisfy their growing pain.

Read More
1129 Words | 5 Pages

Seven Fallen Feathers Book Review Racism is a problem that has plagued Indigenous people since colonization. Seven Fallen Feathers: Racism, Death, and Hard Truths in a Northern City by Tanya Talaga is a non-fiction book covering the tragic deaths of seven Indigenous high school students in Thunder Bay, Canada. Talaga covers the crisis that took place in Northern Ontario between 2000-2011 and how it relates to the big picture problem that is historical mistreatment and ongoing neglect towards Indigenous communities. The author is an award winning Canadian journalist and author, having mixed Indigenous and Polish heritage, she concentrates much of her work on Indigenous people and problems in Canada. This book is an important read for any Canadian

Read More
1199 Words | 5 Pages

Glady’s Heavenfire Case Battered Woman Syndrome has provided women who have been abused at the hands of their partners recognition in the criminal justice system and is allowing women to tell their stories. Although there are controversies surrounding battered woman syndrome, it should not be viewed as an excuse for killing their partners. It is a real disorder that has affected thousands of women 's lives all over the world. Discussing the Gladys Heavenfire case will bring awareness to the life of a woman who has been abused by her partner for several years. Furthermore, it provides information on Indigenous women who are more likely to suffer abuse than white women.

Read More
697 Words | 3 Pages

After being exposed to her mother’s shooting, Amarika experienced many life changes, secondary adversities, and reminders of the trauma that she experienced. Amarika faced many risk factors in association with the aftermath of the traumatic event. She also experienced many protective factors that helped her slowly return to a regulated state. In discussing the facts of the case and their relation to the risk factors and protective factors, the parallels to the secondary adversities, changes in family life, and reminders of the trauma will become more evident.

Read More
974 Words | 4 Pages

Although, I feel Louie would have been justified in killing The Bird, I do not feel like it would have been a moral act the Louie was capable of. For a man to have endured so much pain to forgive, shows tremendous strength and bravery. I also don’t feel that Louie would have ever found true peace if he would have killed The Bird. The thought that he would have been guilty of committing the same abuse that he witnessed daily would have put him over the edge.

Read More
1437 Words | 6 Pages

Discrimination against minority groups has always been common, but invisible to the general public. The book Policing Black Lives: State Violence in Canada from Slavery to the Present by Maynard, Robyn highlights the “state violence against black persons in Canada” (Maynard, 2017, P.3). The author demonstrates solid connections between the issues of slavery in the past and the effects on modern society. Minority groups, especially African Canadians, who has been historically exploited and have been treated as tools more so than human beings. The book demonstrate these kind of treatment through Institutionalized racism, Neoliberalism and Deviance.

Read More
1648 Words | 7 Pages

Aboriginal Lives under Fire Throughout the novel The Day Road by Joseph Boyden, there are scenes, attitudes, and references that relate to issues that indigenous people face. The issue of aboriginal men and women being physically, verbally, and mentally assaulted in Canada on a daily basis. This is presented through both Xavier and Niska’s experiences, Xavier’s being through his treatment in the war and Niska’s being from all throughout her life. Now imagine living in an area where your race is treated differently, where the mass population calls you a waste of space.

Read More
708 Words | 3 Pages

This story really does seem like a tragedy because of all the things that go wrong in her life. It makes the reader feel the emotions that the main character is supposed to be feeling. This is why the story does not tell how Birdie is feeling when these things happen to her. I feel bad for Birdie, and it is hard to believe that some people take this story as anything other than a tragedy.

Read More
668 Words | 3 Pages

September 20th on the CBC News website a story published titled “Dudley George's brother in serious condition after being accidentally set on fire”. This story explains a celebratory walk done by Kettle Point First Nations that took a turn when a group called Stony Point set a protest fire in front of a military camp that was just agreed by the Ottawa government to be returned to the First Nations. The fire was set to show that not all band members where in support of the agreement that was made. Perry Neil Watson George was caught on fire and is now suffering from second degree burns. The story also mentions Dudley George, Perry's brother who was shot in a protest in 1995, and the accusations made by the Stony Point people that there chief is buying votes.

Read More
1589 Words | 7 Pages

Film #1 - “The People of the Kattawapiskak River” Introduction In the documentary “The people of the Kattawapiskak River”, the housing crisis and lack of assistance promised in Northern Ontario is represented. The Documentary closely follows the chief of the Attawapiskat tribe and portrays the difficult living conditions endured by local residents. These problematic conditions include the lack of clean water, electricity and basic housing especially during the intolerable cold Canadian winter. Moreover, when a colony around the world is suffering it is our duty as human beings to help them through their difficult times.

Read More
1252 Words | 6 Pages

Introduction The little community of Attawapiskat, Ontario, Canada has been and is currently facing an immense loss due to a high amount of youth suicides. The community has been under a state of emergency since April 2016 after many of the community’s youth have tried to or succeed at committing suicide. These suicides have been the product of colonialism and intergenerational trauma from the generations that came before them. The devastation in the community can teach Child and Youth Care practitioners how to put into action programs that build youth’s strengths and resilience as well as overcome any negative factor that have been created during this epidemic.

Read More
692 Words | 3 Pages

As I watched the documentary “Road Beyond Abuse,” I experienced a whirlwind of emotions. From disgusted and disappointed to impressed and joyful, I felt it all. It truly disturbed me to hear about the experiences both Michael McCain and Johnnetta McSwain endured. I was disgusted that no one protected these innocent children from being verbally abused, beaten, raped, and left to fend for themselves. It was shocking to hear that these children withstood this amount of abuse from their family members until they were teenagers.

Read More
1407 Words | 6 Pages

The Impact of Domestic Violence on the Aboriginal Community Domestic violence in Aboriginal community is a cause for concern regarding Aboriginal women 's health and safety. According to Kubik, Bourassa, and Hampton (2009) “In Canada, Aboriginal women have faced destruction in their communities and families as a result of multiple forms of oppression. Aboriginal women experience the highest rates of violence and abuse of any population in Canada”(p.29). Domestic violence is defined by Merriam-Webster’s Online Dictionary (2015) as “ the inflicting of physical injury by one family or household member on another; also: a repeated or habitual pattern of such behavior”. The objective is to look at the cause of domestic violence aimed at Aboriginal

Read More
443 Words | 2 Pages

Caged Bird both share a very common theme; segregation, slavery, and imprisonment. According to the poem Sympathy, “Till its blood is red on the cruel bar… I know why he beats his wings.” And from the poem Caged Bird, “…His bars of rage…so he opens his throat to sing.” These quotes show that both birds are treated like slaves. The bird from Sympathy was shipped until the back is full of blood and the bird from Caged Bird was held in a dungeon where it will die.

Read More

More about Marleen Bird: Secondary Victim

Related Topics

Open Document