Ending gender-based violence against Indigenous Peoples

While anyone can be a victim of violence, Indigenous women, girls and 2SLGBTQI+ peoples face a greater risk of all forms of gender-based violence (GBV) in Canada. Learn how Women and Gender Equality Canada (WAGE) works in partnership with national Indigenous leaders and other federal departments and agencies to ensure a whole-of-government approach to ending GBV against Indigenous Peoples in Canada. 

On this page

• Current rates of violence
• Federal government initiatives
  • WAGE-led initiatives
  • Other federal departments and agencies’ initiatives
• WAGE funding
• Resources

Current rates of violence

Indigenous women are disproportionately affected by gender-based violence in Canada.

Homicide  

• Indigenous women are overrepresented as victims of intimate partner homicides in Canada. 

• While Indigenous women account for about 5% of all women in Canada, they make up about 26% of all women killed by an intimate partner in 2022.  

• The homicide rate for Indigenous women and girls was over six times higher in 2022 than for their non-Indigenous counterparts.^{Footnote 1}   

Intimate partner violence

• 1 in 6 (17%) Indigenous women have experienced at least one form of intimate partner violence.^{Footnote 2}

• This statistic increases drastically when we consider intersectionality, as 86% of 2SLGBTQ+ Indigenous women had experienced intimate partner violence in their lifetime.^{Footnote 3}  

 Sexual assault

• In Canada, more than 4 in 10 (43%) Indigenous women have been sexually assaulted at least once since the age of 15, including: 
  • 45% of First Nations women,
  • 44% of Métis women, and 
  • 26% of Inuit women. 
• In comparison, about 30% of non-Indigenous women in Canada have reported experiencing sexual assault at least once since the age of 15.
• Among Indigenous men, 12% have experienced a sexual assault at some point since the age of 15, including 9% of First Nations men, 16% of Métis men, and 8% of Inuit men – compared to 8% of non-Indigenous men.^{Footnote 4} Footnote4

Federal government initiatives

WAGE-led initiatives

Sustained coordinated efforts across all orders of government and with Indigenous partners are necessary to ensure sustainable, equitable, and meaningful progress is made towards ending gender-based violence against Indigenous women, girls, and 2SLGBTQI+ people, no matter where they live. 

Federal GBV strategy

Announced in June 2017, It’s Time: Canada’s Strategy to Prevent and Address Gender-based Violence (the federal GBV Strategy) is the Government of Canada’s response to gender-based violence. It builds on current federal initiatives, coordinates existing programs, and lays the foundation for greater action on GBV. The United Nations, as well as multiple international and national bodies, have indicated that national action plans are crucial in addressing GBV.

National Action Plan to End Gender-based Violence

In November 2022, the Federal, Provincial, and Territorial Forum of Ministers Responsible for the Status of Women launched the National Action Plan to End Gender-based Violence, which has a vision for a Canada free of gender-based violence that supports victims, survivors, and their families. The federal GBV Strategy is the Government of Canada’s contribution to the National Action Plan to End Gender-based Violence.

The National Action Plan consists of five pillars and a foundation. Pillar 4 – which focuses on implementing Indigenous-led approaches – is aligned with and complementary to the Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women, Girls and 2SLGBTQQIA+ People National Action Plan led by Crown-Indigenous Relations and Northern Affairs Canada (CIRNAC). Both plans aim to prevent GBV, address its root causes, and provide better supports for victims, survivors, and their families.  

Other federal departments and agencies’ initiatives 

Many federal departments and agencies contribute to the national effort to end gender-based violence. Find out what actions they are taking by visiting the Federal action on gender-based violence web page or the Indigenous Peoples web section for an overview of the Government of Canada’s programs and services for First Nations, Inuit and Métis. Learn more about Indigenous Peoples and communities through various topics such as housing, treaties, reconciliation, benefits and rights, health services and social programs.  

Truth and reconciliation

CIRNAC is the lead department for delivering on Truth and Reconciliation Commission Calls to Action.

Missing and murdered Indigenous women, girls and 2SLGBTQI+ people

The response to the national crisis of missing and murdered Indigenous women, girls and 2SLGBTQI+ people is also led by CIRNAC. In 2021, the Government of Canada launched the Federal Pathway to Address Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women, Girls and 2SLGBTQQIA+ People, which is part of the larger national action plan called Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women, Girls, and 2SLGBTQQIA+ People National Action Plan: Ending Violence Against Indigenous Women, Girls, and 2SLGBTQQIA+ People. 

• The Federal Pathway Annual Progress Reports summarize actions taken by nearly 20 federal departments and agencies, including WAGE, to address and support the safety and wellbeing of Indigenous women, girls and 2SLGTBQI+ people, as well as their families and communities impacted by violence. This work will continue in partnership with Indigenous families, survivors, leaders and partners, as well as with provinces and territories to ensure the transformational and long-lasting change that is necessary to address this crisis and make communities across the country safer.

Safe communities

Indigenous Services Canada (ISC) is helping Indigenous Peoples through the Pathways to Safe Indigenous Communities Initiative ($120 million over 2021-2026), which provides funding to implement Indigenous-designed projects to improve community safety and well-being. ISC is also providing funding for community-driven service delivery projects for family violence prevention activities, through the Family Violence Prevention Program. This program funds the operations of emergency shelters and transitional (second stage) housing to improve the safety and security of Indigenous women, children, families and 2SLGBTQI+ people across Canada, including in the North and in urban centres. 

Housing

To address the housing challenges that Indigenous communities too often face, the Government of Canada is collaborating with Indigenous partners on long-term approaches to address current and future gaps. Learn more about Housing for Indigenous Peoples, the National First Nations Housing and Related Infrastructure Strategy and similar initiatives.

WAGE funding

Since 2015, WAGE has funded over 541 projects^{Footnote 5}  to address gender-based violence, through the Women’s Program and the GBV Program, providing approximately $235.6 million to initiatives supporting Indigenous Peoples and 2SLGBTQI+ people. This represents 24% of all WAGE investments (data excludes COVID funding).

Missing and murdered Indigenous women and girls

Between 2019 and 2023, WAGE funded and announced 109 projects totalling $13 million, through its Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls (MMIWG) Commemoration Fund. This fund supported Indigenous organizations working with families, survivors and/or communities to develop and implement commemoration initiatives across the country. These initiatives aimed at increasing awareness and honour the lives and legacies of MMIWG and Indigenous 2SLGBTQI+ individuals for years to come.

Budget 2021 provided $55 million to WAGE over five years to bolster the capacity of Indigenous women and 2SLGBTQI+ organizations to provide gender-based violence prevention programming aimed at addressing the root causes of violence against Indigenous women, girls, and 2SLGBTQI+ people. Through this funding, WAGE has funded to date over 100 projects supporting First Nations, Métis, and Inuit organizations across Canada. 

• This investment is a key deliverable under the Federal Pathway to Address Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women, Girls and 2SLGBTQQIA+ People. The funding is also a significant contribution to Implementing Indigenous-led approaches, Pillar 4 of the National Action Plan to End Gender-based Violence.

Human trafficking

As part of the National Strategy to Combat Human Trafficking, a whole-of-government initiative led by Public Safety Canada, WAGE received $10 million over five years (starting in 2020) and $2 million per year ongoing for its Human Trafficking Initiative to support organizations in developing and implementing promising prevention or intervention practices for at-risk populations and survivors of human trafficking, including Indigenous people and youth. 

2SLGBTQI+ 

As part of Canada’s Anti-Hate Action Plan, Budget 2024 committed $12 million over five years to WAGE, starting in 2024-2025, to fund projects aimed at combatting hate against the 2SLGBTQI+ community. 

Resources

• Hope for Wellness Helpline: The Hope for Wellness Help Line offers immediate help to all Indigenous Peoples across Canada, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Call 1-855-242-3310 or chat online.  

• Indigenous mental health: Find programs and services that support mental health in Indigenous communities and learn about suicide prevention. 

• Missing and murdered Indigenous women, girls and 2SLGBTQI+ people: Support line for those affected by the issue of missing and murdered Indigenous women, girls and 2SLGBTQI+ people and need assistance.