Annex C: Our Actions on the Calls for Justice from the National Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls

Indigenous people, specifically Indigenous women, girls, and 2SLGBTQIA+ people, are overrepresented as victims of crimes – violent crimes,^[1] sexual crimes,^[2] and gender-based crimes.^[3] Our investigation sought to incorporate this understanding into every aspect of our work. In undertaking our investigation, we considered the 2019 National Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls (MMIWG).^[4] We summarize below the areas and chapters where our work intersected with these Calls for Justice.

We thank the OFOVC First Nation, Inuit and Métis Advisory Circle (FNIMAC) and colleagues at Indigenous Services Canada (ISC) for their collaboration in completing this investigation. We are especially grateful to the First Nation, Métis, and Inuit who wrote, called, or spoke with us about their experiences. We are grateful for your courage and hope we have honoured your truth.

 

Description of the MMIWG Calls for Justice	Actions Taken	Discussed in Chapter
Human and Indigenous Rights and Governmental Obligations
1.5 Prevent, investigate, punish, and   compensate for violence  We call upon all governments to immediately take   all necessary measures to prevent, investigate,   punish, and compensate for violence against   Indigenous women, girls, and 2SLGBTQ people.	Indigenous populations experience disproportionate rates of sexual violence. Our systemic investigation highlighted  these disparities across the report. We also emphasized the need for enhanced supports for Indigenous survivors.	All
1.6 Eliminate jurisdictional gaps that disrupt service delivery We call upon all governments to eliminate jurisdictional gaps and neglect that result in the denial of services, or improperly regulated and delivered services, that address the social, economic, political, and cultural marginalization	Across multiple chapters, we emphasized the need to reduce jurisdictional barriers that impede Indigenous survivors’ access to services, including victim services and sexual assault evidence kits, in remote and northern communities.	Access to Services
1.9 Challenge the acceptance and normalization of violence We call upon all governments to develop laws, policies, and public education campaigns to challenge the acceptance and normalization of violence.	We focused on dispelling rape myths and stereotypes that contribute to the normalization of sexual violence by addressing false narratives and bias about sexual assault, the “perfect victim,” and gender norms are present in our society and weave their way into public perceptions.	Introduction: Myths and stereotypes
Calls for Justice for All Governments: Human Security
4.7 Sustainable funding of services for survivors of violence We call upon all governments to support the establishment and long-term sustainable funding of Indigenous-led low-barrier shelters, safe spaces, transition homes, second-stage housing, and services for Indigenous women, girls, and 2SLGBTQ+ people who are homeless, near homeless, dealing with food insecurity, or in poverty, and who are fleeing violence or have been subjected to sexualized violence and exploitation. All governments must ensure that shelters, transitional housing, second-stage housing, and services are appropriate to cultural needs, and available wherever Indigenous women, girls, and 2SLGBTQ+ people reside.	Our investigation emphasized the need for stable, long-term funding for front-line organization that support survivors - including those serving Indigenous communities. We echo calls for Indigenous-led, low-barrier, and culturally safe services that are available wherever survivors reside. Funding recommendations include: Investment in independent legal representation and advice for survivors. Dedicated funding for sexual assault centres to provide independent survivor advocates. Re-allocation of federal funding from the Indigenous Justice Strategy to Indigenous-led survivor advocate programs. Funding for testimonial aids in northern courts.	Access to Services
Calls for Justice for All Governments: Justice
5.3 Law reform on sexualized violence and intimate partner violence We call upon the federal government to review and reform the law about sexualized violence and intimate partner violence, utilizing the perspectives of feminist and Indigenous women, girls, and 2SLGBTQIA people.	Our report calls for comprehensive legislative reform to address sexual violence, many of which can impact Indigenous survivors. Across multiple chapters, we outline concrete proposals to strengthen protections and reduce retraumatization. Recommendations include: Amendments to Criminal Code provisions Amendments to the Canadian Victims Bill of Rights See our detailed legislative proposals in Annex A.	All
5.5 (iii) Capacity development for investigation of sexualized violence We call upon all governments to fund the provision of policing services within Indigenous communities in northern and remote areas in a manner that ensures that those services meet the safety and justice needs of the communities and that the quality of policing services is equitable to that provided to non-Indigenous Canadians. This must include but is not limited to the following measures: iii) Capacity must be developed in investigative tools and techniques for the investigation of sexualized violence, including but not limited to tools for the collection of physical evidence, such as sexual assault kits, and specialized and trauma-informed questioning techniques.	Our investigation highlights gaps in the availability and accessibility of sexual assault evidence kits (SAEKs) in northern and remote communities, where Indigenous survivors often face significant barriers to forensic and medical care. We document promising practices to address these gaps, including a model in which Sexual Assault Examiner Nurses (SANEs) provide real-time virtual support to frontline nurses in remote communities. This approach offers a scalable solution to address resource constraints and build local capacity through trauma-informed skill-sharing.	Reporting to Police and Investigations
5.11 Accessibility of restorative justice and Indigenous Peoples’ courts We call upon all governments to increase accessibility to meaningful and culturally appropriate justice practices by expanding restorative justice programs and Indigenous Peoples’ courts.	Our investigation explores Indigenous perspectives on restorative justice (RJ) and alternative justice processes. We document how some Indigenous communities maintain strong ties to RJ programs and culturally grounded approaches to harm and accountability. At the same time, we acknowledge that these alternatives are not universally accepted and resistance to RJ, transformative justice, Indigenous Peoples’ courts, and the application of Gladue principles exists.	Restorative and Transformative Justice
5.13 Access to legal aid and meaningful participation in the justice system We call upon all provincial and territorial governments to expand and adequately resource legal aid programs in order to ensure that Indigenous women, girls, and 2SLGBTQ+ people have access to justice and meaningful participation in the justice system. Indigenous women, girls, and 2SLGBTQ people must have guaranteed access to legal services in order to defend and assert their human rights and Indigenous rights.	Our investigation underscores the important role of independent legal advice and independent legal representation for survivors of crime. We highlight how access to legal support empowers survivors to assert their rights, navigate complex legal process, and protect their privacy throughout proceedings. We emphasize the need for adequately resourced, culturally safe, and trauma-informed legal services that are accessible regardless of income or geographical location. Such access is foundational to advancing equality and access to justice.	Legal Representation and Enforceable Rights
5.24 Distinctions-based, intersectional data collection We call upon the federal government to amend data collection and intake-screening processes to gather distinctions-based and intersectional data about Indigenous women, girls, and 2SLGBTQ people.	Our investigation addresses the need for intersectional data to identify systemic patterns affecting specific groups, such as Indigenous women, girls and 2SLGBTQIA+ people. In our survivor survey, we attempted to capture identity-based demographic information, including distinctions-based data, gender identity, and sexual orientation, to highlight disparities and inform our recommendations.	Methodology Data and Accountabilty
Calls for Police Services
9.1 Justice system acknowledgement of colonialism and discrimination and need for respect and Indigenous leadership in justice responses We call upon all police services and justice system actors to acknowledge that the historical and current relationship between Indigenous women, girls, and 2SLGBTQ people and the justice system has been largely defined by colonialism, racism, bias, discrimination, and fundamental cultural and societal differences. We further call upon all police services and justice system actors to acknowledge that, going forward, this relationship must be based on respect and understanding, and must be led by, and in partnerships with, Indigenous women, girls, and 2SLGBTQIA+ people.	We recognize the profound effects of colonialism and systemic discrimination on Indigenous survivors’ interactions with the justice system. In our reporting and investigations chapters, we examine how colonization and historical harms shape present-day barriers to reporting, particularly for Indigenous women, girls and 2SLGBTQIA+ people. These barriers, fear and mistrust, must be understood as a result of longstanding state and institutional violence.	Reporting to police and Investigations
Calls for Correctional Service Canada
14.6 Needs-based mental health, addictions, and trauma services We call upon Correctional Service Canada and provincial and territorial services to provide intensive and comprehensive mental health, addictions, and trauma services for incarcerated Indigenous women, girls, and 2SLGBTQ people, ensuring that the term of care is needs-based and not tied to the duration of incarceration. These plans and services must follow the individuals as they reintegrate into the community.	In collaboration with the Office of the Correctional Investigator, our lead investigator visited two federal women’s corrections institutions to hear directly from criminalized women and gender diverse people about their experiences and access to supports. A special thematic release specific to the experiences of criminalized survivors will be published, including recommendations to address access to supports.	Criminalized Survivors
14.8 Culturally safe, distinctions-based, trauma-informed model of care We call upon Correctional Service Canada to ensure its correctional facilities and programs recognize the distinct needs of Indigenous offenders when designing and implementing programming for First Nations, Inuit, and Métis women. Correctional Service Canada must use culturally safe, distinctions-based, and trauma-informed models of care, adapted to the needs of Indigenous women, girls, and 2SLGBTQ people.	Our special thematic release will highlight concerns that security classification tools and correctional planning processes may penalize incarcerated women, especially Indigenous women with complex trauma histories.	Criminalized Survivors
14.13 Eliminate strip searches We call upon Correctional Service Canada to eliminate the practice of strip-searches.	Our special thematic release will address the retraumatizing effects of strip searches on survivors of sexual violence.	Criminalized Survivors

Endnotes

[1] Government of Canada, Statistics Canada. (2022, July 19). Victimization of First Nations people, Métis and Inuit in Canada.

[2] The Assembly of First Nations (AFN). (2025, May 22). Murdered & Missing Indigenous Women & Girls - Assembly of First Nations. Assembly of First Nations.

[3] Government of Canada, Statistics Canada. (2022a, April 26). Violent victimization and perceptions of safety: Experiences of First Nations, Métis and Inuit women in Canada.

[4] National Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls. (2019). Reclaiming Power and Place: The Final Report of the National Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls.