Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls: initiatives will rally communities across Canada to commemorate, heal and advance reconciliation

From: Women and Gender Equality Canada

News release

Over 100 survivor, community and family-led projects to receive federal support from the Commemoration Fund to honour the lives and legacies of missing and murdered Indigenous women and girls, including LGBTQ and Two Spirit people.

June 24, 2019 – Winnipeg, Manitoba – Department for Women and Gender Equality

Commemoration is a powerful way to honour truths, support healing, create awareness, and advance reconciliation. The Government of Canada recognizes that we cannot fully address the systemic causes of violence against Indigenous women, girls and LGBTQ and Two Spirit people without acknowledging the past.

That’s why today, the Honourable Maryam Monsef, Minister of International Development and Minister for Women and Gender Equality, announced that the Government of Canada is investing over $13 million in over 100 commemoration initiatives from coast to coast to coast to help honour the lives and legacies of missing and murdered Indigenous women and girls, including LGTBQ and Two Spirit people.

This responds to the National Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls’ interim report, issued in November 2017, and stems from a Call for Proposals launched by Minister Monsef under the Commemoration Fund in February 2019.

The National Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls submitted its Final Report on June 3, 2019. The Government of Canada is carefully examining its findings in order to establish a holistic and effective path forward. As a next step, the Government of Canada will be reviewing and bring forward a National Action Plan to address violence against Indigenous women, girls and LGBTQ and Two Spirit people.

Quotes

“Our government is listening to survivors and families who have told us that in order to move forward meaningfully, we must also pause to remember and honour those who are missing and whose lives have been lost. That is what we are doing by supporting these commemorative projects across Canada – ensuring that we will never forget our sisters in spirit and that we can prevent such tragedies in the future.”

The Honourable Maryam Monsef, P.C., M.P.
Minister of International Development and Minister for Women and Gender Equality

“By commemorating and honouring the lives of those who are missing and whose lives have been lost we will remember the legacies of missing and murdered Indigenous women and girls, including LGTBQ and Two Spirit people and unlock healing for the families.”

The Honourable Carolyn Bennett, M.D., P.C., M.P.
Minister for Crown-Indigenous Relations

Quick facts

In 2016, the Government of Canada dedicated $53.8 million to establish the National Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls, to complete its important work, and it received additional funding of $38 million to support its extension to complete its Final Report.
The National Inquiry released an interim report with recommendations on November 1, 2017. The Government of Canada responded to the interim report on June 5, 2018.
The National Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls presented its Final Report to the public at a televised closing ceremony in Gatineau, Quebec on June 3, 2019.
While Indigenous women make up only 4% of Canada’s female population, 16% of all women murdered in Canada between 1980 and 2012 were Indigenous (Crown-Indigenous Relations and Northern Affairs Canada).

Associated links

Contacts

Braeson Holland
Press Secretary
Office of the Minister for Women and Gender Equality
343-549-8825

Valérie Haché
Senior Communications Advisor
Department for Women and Gender Equality
819-420-8684

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Date modified:: 2020-11-26

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