Canada’s inaction on MMIWG calls to justice a ‘national shame’: NFSC

One year after a national action plan was released by the federal government to address violence against Indigenous women, girls, and gender-diverse people, little progress has been made. That’s according to two Indigenous organizations which spoke out against the slow implementation of the 231 calls to justice outlined in the National Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls.

The National Family and Survivors Circle participated in developing the plan. Members from that group spoke Friday ahead of a private ceremony and meeting between Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and survivors.

Calling it “staggering” and “unacceptable” NFSC chair Hilda Anderson-Pyrz says the plan released in 2021 had opportunities to put families and survivors at the centre of the work. But she is critical of the so-called progress.

“This is a national shame and it is also dangerous. Each day of inaction in this area leads direction in the tragic loss of human life and further violence.”

Ottawa’s progress report Friday agreed with the criticism of the slow rollout of the plan, and the Minister of crown-Indigenous relations promised the federal government is working to address the gaps.

Before speaking about the report, Marc Miller offered his condolences to the families of Rebecca Contois, Doris Trout, Tessa Parie, and Grace Blackhawk — all Indigenous women who died as a result of violence in May alone.

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Miller also wore a picture of Kendara Ballantyne on his lapel, by request of her family who were in attendance Friday for the ceremony. Ballantyne was found dead in The Pas, Manitoba and her death remains under investigation.

Kendara Ballantyne’s death remains unsolved. The 18-year-old and member of the Mosakahiken Cree Nation was found deceased near the University College of the North in The Paz on Aug. 6, 2019. (Courtesy: justicefornativewomen.com)

“I want to acknowledge the dedication and devotion of First Nations, Inuit, Métis and 2SLGBTQQIA+ families, survivors, communities, organizations, and leadership in their tireless advocacy. We need your advocacy and guidance; our priority is to work together with you to end the violence against Indigenous women, girls and 2SLGBTQQIA+ people. We know there is still much more work to do and we remain committed to seeing this work through,” Miller said.

He agreed that the government of Canada needs to have a watchdog to look at how the calls are being implemented to “hold us to account.”

“This isn’t the time for the government of Canada to be telling everyone how well we are doing, or even how poorly we are doing,” Miller added.

Read more: Federal Pathway Annual Progress Report

Ottawa says it has supported Indigenous language and culture projects as well as provided money to Indigenous organizations that support the healing of families and survivors. It also says it has supported efforts to address systemic discrimination and the overrepresentation of Indigenous people in the justice system.

The report included commitments to funding or enhance existing funding in four areas: culture, health and wellness, human safety and security, and justice.

“Changing a culture that undermines the worth of women is not easy but we will keep at it. Together, we can make Canada safer and more inclusive for Indigenous women and girls,” said Patty Hajdu, Minister of Indigenous Services.

Hajdu was among seven ministers who renewed the commitment to end the tragedy of missing and murdered women, girls and 2SLGBTQQIA+.

“Sad results” under fire from victims group

The Native Women’s Association of Canada says the problem lies in the funding commitments, and says little has been done to directly support survivors and families.

“The federal budget of 2021 directed $2.2 billion over five years to address the genocide against Indigenous women, girls, and 2SLGBTQQIA people. But the commitments outlined in the plan were not separately costed, and there is little information to show how those funds are being distributed and what concrete action is being achieved,” a report released Friday reads in part.

“Today, we are seeing the sad results of the government’s weak response to the crimes being committed against Indigenous women, girls, and gender-diverse people,” said Lynne Groulx, NWAC’s CEO. “The National Action Plan, as it was drafted, was actually a recipe for inaction, and the people represented by our organization are paying the price.”

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The action plan was at the top of the 231 calls to justice put forth by the National Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls in their final report three years ago.

Some progress has been made on some of the actions, the association says, but not on the 30 broad commitments.

“Of those 30, we only found progress on 16 so that’s not very good by the government of Canada,” Groulx said. “It is frustrating because women are losing their lives. How long are we going to be talking about this issue? I don’t want, in seven years or 10 years, to be sitting here or my daughter to be sitting here having this same conversation. We have to take this seriously, it’s a genocide.”

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She says with the ongoing searches at the sites of former residential schools, there are competing priorities. But Groulx adds the government needs to act with urgency and keep this in the spotlight.

The association was one of the groups working with Ottawa on the plan, but walked away in 2021 after saying the exercise was fundamentally flawed and politically motivated.

Between 2015 and 2020, the group says Indigenous women accounted for 24 per cent of all female homicide victims in Canada.

“Even though they make up just five per cent of the country’s female population. There is nothing to suggest that those crimes are on the decline.”

With files from The Canadian Press