Ministers Alty, Gull-Masty and Chartrand issue a statement of support on International Women’s Day

March 8, 2026 — Ottawa, Ontario, Unceded Algonquin Traditional Territory

The Minister of Crown-Indigenous Relations Rebecca Alty; Minister of Indigenous Services Mandy Gull-Masty; and, Minister of Northern and Arctic Affairs Rebecca Chartrand issued the following statement:

“Today, on International Women’s Day, we honour the leadership, wisdom, and vision of First Nations, Inuit and Métis women, girls and 2SLGBTQI+ people. We recognize those who came before us and we honour the leaders, Knowledge Keepers, matriarchs, and advocates who carry this work forward today and those who will continue to shape the path ahead.

This year’s theme, ‘Give to Gain,’ calls on all of us to embrace generosity and collaboration as crucial components of shared progress—reminding us that when we invest in the wellbeing, opportunities, and leadership of Indigenous women, girls, and 2SLGBTQI+ people, we strengthen all our communities.

Every Indigenous woman, girl, and 2SLGBTQI+ person has the inherent right to live in safety, dignity, and respect—and to lead the solutions that support their wellbeing.

To help advance this right, we are strengthening Indigenous‑led capacity by providing $8 million in 2025–2026 through the Supporting Indigenous Women’s and 2SLGBTQI+ Organizations Program. We continue to support access to post‑secondary education, skills training, lifelong learning, and community‑based, culturally grounded initiatives that honour identity, belonging, and wellbeing.

Following the lead of Indigenous Peoples, we are taking steps to help end gender-based violence by establishing shelters and transition homes for Indigenous women, children, and 2SLGBTQI+ people facing violence, including in northern and urban communities. The Indigenous Shelter and Transitional Housing Initiative, delivered in partnership with the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation, is part of the $724.1 million Comprehensive Violence Prevention Strategy launched in 2021. This investment will result in 38 new shelters and 39 transition homes across the country, places of safety, healing, and hope.

This work also supports broader efforts to end the national crisis of missing and murdered Indigenous women, girls, and 2SLGBTQI+ people. Over the past year, we have advanced the Federal Pathway and contributed to the National Action Plan to End Gender‑Based Violence. At this year’s National Indigenous–Federal–Provincial–Territorial Meeting on Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women, Girls and 2SLGBTQI+ People, we focused on how to reduce safety risks linked to major project development, and an update was provided on the Red Dress Alert pilot, led by Giganawenimaanaanig, which recently concluded its engagement phase.

Together, these commitments — along with the implementation of the UN Declaration Act and Action Plan —supports our shared goal of making sure the rights of Indigenous Peoples are fully respected in Canada and helps create lasting, meaningful opportunities for Indigenous women, girls, and 2SLGBTQI+ people.”