No reconciliation without justice for MMIWG

The prime minister has called it a genocide. The National Inquiry’s Final Report into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls (MMIWG) offered a roadmap for action. Yet more than three years after its release, the crisis of violence against Indigenous women, girls and two-spirit people continues unabated. We cannot have meaningful reconciliation in this country without urgent action to stop this violence. That’s why Call to Action 41 from the Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s report called for the launch of a National Inquiry into MMIWG; addressing this issue is central to creating a new relationship with Indigenous peoples based on respect for fundamental human rights. In spite of this, it is not being addressed with anything close to the level of urgency that’s required. While we hear a lot of talk from this government about the importance of addressing violence against Indigenous women, girls, and two-spirit people, its spending priorities tell a different story. Budget 2022 contained zero dollars of new funding to stop the violence, and even funding that was previously committed has not yet been spent. For example, we discovered through an Order Paper question that almost none of the federal government’s $724.1-million Violence Prevention Strategy that was announced in fall 2020 has been spent. Not a single shelter has been built, nor a single unit of transitional housing to support Indigenous people experiencing gender-based violence. This is unacceptable, and it is costing lives. The facts tell a sobering story. Indigenous women, girls, and gender-diverse individuals are 12 times more likely to go missing or be murdered than any other population in Canada. Despite the fact that Indigenous people make up just five per cent of this country’s population, Indigenous women make up 16 per cent of all female murder victims, and 11 per cent of missing women. Over the past few decades, thousands of Indigenous women, girls, and two-spirit people have gone missing or been murdered. In my own riding of Winnipeg Centre, Man., this crisis is deeply felt. The situation is so dire that the former minister for Crown-Indigenous relations referred to Winnipeg as “ground zero” for MMIWG. Last May alone, five Indigenous women in our city lost their lives to violence and failing systems. That’s why, for years, advocates have been demanding a 24/7 low-barrier safe space. The establishment of such facilities is directly related to Call for Justice 4.7, which calls upon “all governments to support the establishment of Indigenous-led low-barrier shelters, safe spaces, transition homes, second stage housing, and services for Indigenous women, girls and 2SLGBTQQIA people … .” I want to acknowledge that we have had productive conversations with federal ministers about the need for sustainable funding for a 24/7 safe space in Winnipeg and are expecting to hear good news soon. The solutions are right in front of us. If implemented, the 231 Calls for Justice from the National Inquiry’s Final Report would have a transformative impact on the lives of Indigenous women, girls, and two-spirit people. So where is the sense of urgency to make them a reality? One of the solutions is outlined in Call for Justice 4.5, which calls on “all governments to establish a guaranteed annual livable income for all Canadians, including Indigenous peoples, to meet all their social and economic needs.” We know that there is a direct correlation between poverty and the violence that has resulted in the murder and disappearance of Indigenous women, girls, and two-spirit people. Indeed, more than one-third of all Indigenous women and girls live in poverty. That’s one of the reasons why I introduced Bill C-223, an Act to Develop a National Framework for a Guaranteed Livable Basic Income (GLBI). A GLBI, in addition to current and future public programs, would help to ensure that Indigenous women, and all marginalized people, have what they need to live dignified, secure lives. We have the resources to end this genocide and ensure that Indigenous women, girls, and gender-diverse individuals can be safe in their communities. What we lack is the political will, which is why we must keep up the pressure on this government to turn words into action. Our lives are valuable. We are not disposable. It is long past time for MMIWG and their families to be given the justice they deserve. Without justice, reconciliation cannot be achieved. Leah Gazan has been the NDP Member of Parliament for Winnipeg Centre, Man., since 2019. She is currently the NDP critic for children, families, and social development, as well as the critic for women and gender equality and deputy critic for housing. The Hill Times

No reconciliation without justice for MMIWG

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No reconciliation without justice for MMIWG

We have the resources to end this genocide and ensure that Indigenous women, girls, and gender-diverse individuals can be safe in their communities. What we lack is the political will.

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