Human trafficking survivor April Eve Wiberg speaks
Episode Stats
Words per Minute
136.17511
Summary
Find out more about Elder Leonard's journey to self-liberation from sexual exploitation and trafficking. Elder Leonard shares his experience of being trafficked and sexually exploited, and how he was able to escape the sex trafficking trade.
Transcript
00:00:03.320
Our healing journeys can be messy, filled with often out of nowhere triggers, responses
00:00:11.900
We are much like an onion with many complicated layers.
00:00:16.600
17 years ago I was self-liberated from sexual exploitation.
00:00:22.280
Before then I almost spent a decade of my life being sold in cities across western Canada
00:00:27.120
and the United States in cities such as Edmonton, Fort McMurray, Saskatoon, Vancouver, Las Vegas
00:00:38.180
When I was first targeted and groomed I was taught to hide my indigenous identity because
00:00:45.020
I was told that the sex buyers, if they found out about this, that I would be more likely
00:00:55.780
It was in New York City where I was being sold by an organized crime ring.
00:01:00.140
I had almost succumbed to the violence and exploitation until a good friend who knew what
00:01:06.060
I had been involved in, but who was also involved in the illicit drug trade, bought me a one-way
00:01:15.880
Today I know that if I did not leave New York City when I did, that I would have died there,
00:01:22.840
most likely becoming a Jane Doe, a murdered indigenous woman with no one to come find or identify
00:01:31.560
Because of my childhood and intergenerational trauma, I was hurt, insecure and angry.
00:01:37.640
I was disconnected from my family and my culture and I did not know my worth.
00:01:43.120
I was taught by my pimps and exploiters that all I had to offer were my looks and my body.
00:01:49.880
It was just a few years ago that I thought I was not even worthy of wearing a ribbon skirt
00:02:01.920
Today, however, I know that I am sacred and I now know my true worth.
00:02:07.740
Human trafficking for the purpose of sexual exploitation is organized crime.
00:02:15.680
However, the effects of sexual exploitation and the complex harm it causes its victims is
00:02:24.980
The groomers, the pimps, the profiteurs and the buyers must be held accountable for these
00:02:30.800
According to Alerts 2022-23 Annual Report, over a 12-month period, a trafficker was arrested
00:02:43.280
As long as the demand is high, there will be more and more victims.
00:03:00.900
Focus on efforts on healing, recovery, justice and prevention.
00:03:06.560
The average age of an online child exploitation victim is 13.
00:03:11.920
Learn to spot the signs of targeting and grooming.
00:03:15.840
An act of exploitation employee survivors, believe survivors, help amplify our voices like the
00:03:24.320
center of sexual center to end all sexual exploitation and not in my city does.
00:03:32.020
Involve survivors, our families and our communities.
00:03:38.920
Inclusive campaigns regarding the cross-border nature of this issue involves CSIS, the Canadian
00:03:54.360
And for our two-spirited relatives, our men and boys, they too are being targeted and groomed
00:04:02.160
We know that men and boys are also being groomed to become buyers and profiteers.
00:04:10.680
Again I want to thank Elder Leonard again for your prayer and your blessing.