New funding to support families of missing and murdered Indigenous people and Indigenous victims and survivors of crime 

Budget 2023 announced concrete and sustainable investments of $95.8 million over five years and $20.4 million annually on an ongoing basis, starting in 2023-24, to support Indigenous families in accessing information about their missing or murdered loved ones, and to enhance victim services to support their healing journeys.

These investments support the Government of Canada’s ongoing efforts to implement the National Action Plan to end racism, discrimination and violence against Indigenous women, girls and 2SLGBTQI+ people. These investments act on the Government of Canada’s commitment to improve the availability and accessibility of Indigenous-led, culturally safe and trauma-informed victim services. This commitment was made in the Federal Pathway to Address Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women, Girls, and 2SLGBTQQIA+ People, which is the federal government’s contribution to the 2021 Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women, Girls, and 2SLGBTQQIA+ People National Action Plan.

These investments also help implement, at the federal level, the Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s Call to Action #40, which called on all levels of government, in collaboration with Indigenous peoples, to create adequately funded and accessible Indigenous-specific victim programs and services.

Family Information Liaison Units

Family Information Liaison Units (FILUs), first established in 2016, provide specialized services to families of missing and murdered Indigenous women, girls and 2SLGBTQI+ people. Culturally grounded and trauma-informed in their design and delivery, FILUs work directly with families to ensure they have access to all the available information they are seeking about their missing and murdered loved ones, regardless of where that information is held, across jurisdictions and government agencies. FILUs also ensure that families have access to community supports and services to assist them with their healing. FILUs are available to families across Canada. Funded by the Government of Canada, their programs are delivered through provincial and territorial victim services, and in many cases in partnership with Indigenous community organizations.

FILUs are a responsive and effective model to support the families of missing and murdered Indigenous people. They have helped thousands of family members overcome systemic and structural barriers in accessing up-to-date, accurate information about their loved ones. They have also increased awareness across the justice system about the experiences of families of missing and murdered Indigenous people.

Indigenous leaders and advocates have been calling for an expansion to the supports and services delivered through FILUs and for the establishment of sustainable funding. In response, the Government of Canada is increasing support for FILUs and ensuring sustained funding on an ongoing basis. The Government of Canada is investing $37.3 million over five years and $7.75 million annually on an ongoing basis for FILUs. This funding is provided through Justice Canada’s Federal Victims Strategy’s Victims Fund.

This expanded and ongoing funding will allow FILUs to:

• expand, as needed, their services to families of all missing and murdered Indigenous people, including men and boys;
• strengthen their capacity to meet the needs of First Nations, Inuit and Métis families across Canada;
• increase awareness among family members and justice agencies about the services they provide;
• create new partnerships with government and community agencies to support First Nation, Inuit and Métis families; and   
• operate for as long as Indigenous families in Canada need their assistance.

Supporting Families of Missing and Murdered Indigenous People: Community Support and Healing for Families Initiative

The Community Support and Healing for Families initiative was also established in 2016 to support families of missing and murdered Indigenous women, girls and 2SLGBTQI+ people. This initiative funds Indigenous community agencies, organizations and Indigenous governments to design and deliver community supports and healing services for families. These community-led initiatives have successfully increased access to culturally grounded, responsive supports for families through a wide range of activities such as family-centered workshops, family gatherings, ceremonies, family support networks, and access to cultural advisors and Elders.

These community-led initiatives are of critical importance as they help families through grief and trauma within a family-centered framework. In recognition, the Government of Canada is providing renewed, increased, and sustainable funding of $20.0 million over five years and $4.15 million annually on an ongoing basis to the Community Support and Healing for Families initiative. This funding is provided through Justice Canada’s Federal Victims Strategy’s Victims Fund.

The expanded and ongoing funding will allow the Community Support and Healing for Families initiative to:

• increase the availability of community-based supports and healing services for families;
• expand, as needed, community-based supports and healing services for families of all missing and murdered Indigenous people, including men and boys;
• enhance their ability to support Indigenous youth and children of missing or murdered parents and loved ones; and,
• ensure that families of missing and murdered Indigenous people have access to Indigenous-led, community-based supports to assist them with their grief and in their healing journey for as long as needed.

Supporting Indigenous Victims and Survivors of Crime: Increased access to Indigenous-led, co-developed victims services and supports

First Nations, Métis and Inuit are severely overrepresented among victims of violence in Canada as children, youth and adults. Research, reports and commissions have clearly linked these experiences with past and present colonial policies, which have resulted in the disruption of community and family structures, as well as intergenerational trauma.

In addition to supporting families of missing or murdered Indigenous people, Indigenous advocates and leaders have called on governments across Canada to increase and improve access to justice, including increasing access to culturally grounded supports and services for Indigenous victims and survivors of crime. These calls were made through the final reports of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada and the National Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls.

Indigenous agencies and organizations have the best knowledge on how to move forward. Not only are they aware of the intersectional barriers that Indigenous victims of crime face when accessing services and supports, they also have the best knowledge on how to overcome them.

In recognition of this, the Government of Canada is providing $38.6 million over five years and $8.45 million annually on an ongoing basis to support a wide range of Indigenous-led and co-developed activities, services and supports for Indigenous victims and survivors of crime across the country. This funding will help Indigenous people who are victims of sexual violence and exploitation, gender – based violence, hate crimes, and other experiences of victimization and harm, to access culturally grounded supports and services.

Further information on a call for proposals for this new funding will be shared in the coming months.

These investments also help implement, at the federal level, the Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s Call to Action #40, which called on all levels of government, in collaboration with Indigenous peoples, to create adequately funded and accessible Indigenous-specific victim programs and services.