Minister of Crown-Indigenous Relations Announces Funding to Address Violence

OTTAWA –The 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-based Violence, spanning from November 25 to December 10, is an opportunity to recommit to speaking up against all sorts of acts of gender-based violence.

There is a real, ongoing crisis of gender-based violence against Indigenous Peoples in Canada. Indigenous women, girls, and Two-Spirit, lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer and intersex (2SLGBTQI+) people go missing and are murdered at alarming, disproportionate rates.

The Honourable Gary Anandasangaree, Minister of Crown-Indigenous Relations, announced over $13 million in funding for 31 Indigenous-led projects to keep working to put an end to violence against Indigenous women, girls and 2SLGBTQI+ people.

In Canada, self-reported data collected in 2018 indicates that more than six in ten (64%) Indigenous women have experienced physical or sexual violence in their lifetime. In comparison, approximately one-third of non-Indigenous women have experienced these types of violence.

The 2021 Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women, Girls, and 2SLGBTQQIA+ People National Action Plan was developed in partnership with survivors, families, Indigenous Peoples, Indigenous women’s and 2SLGBTQI+ organizations, as well as provincial and territorial governments, in response to the National Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls.

Anandasangaree stated, “To truly address the root causes of this violence, we need better data on First Nations, Inuit, and Metis people who go missing, according to the Final Report of the National Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls. From this new funding, approximately $7.1 million will support 18 Indigenous-led projects that will improve the collection of consistent and reliable data, and address current gaps in knowledge to better develop and support Indigenous-led, evidence-based solutions to improve the safety of Indigenous women, girls and 2SLGBTQI+ people in Canada.”

Funded projects will:

Explore ways safety is defined and measured among First Nations through the First Nations Information Governance Centre’s project, called Define and Measure Safety Among First Nations Women, Girls, and Gender Diverse Individuals.

Develop a data strategy and improve data methodologies that are specific to missing and murdered Inuit women, girls, and gender-diverse Inuit through Pauktuutit Inuit Women of Canada’s project, called Inuit Count. This will increase Inuit representation in current data and inform initiatives that reduce gender-based violence for Inuit, whose have unique circumstances and experiences.

Co-construct an interactive map by analyzing statistics, stories and images that will help improve understanding around the disappearances and murders of Indigenous women, girls, and 2SLGBTQI+ people in Quebec through the Quebec Native Women Inc.’s project, called Nānīawig Māmawe Nīnawind, Stand With Us.

To support the healing journeys of Indigenous families and survivors of missing and murdered Indigenous women, girls, and 2SLGBTQI+ people, approximately $6.2 million in funding has been allocated to 13 Indigenous-led projects.

Funded projects will:

Provide families and friends with a peer network that offers cultural healing and reinforces positive cultural identity and practices through Aboriginal Friendship Centre of Calgary’s project, called Cultural Healing and Supports for Indigenous Women, Girls and 2 Spirits.

Provide support and guidance for families to navigate health and wellbeing supports that are culturally relevant and available to them through the Ontario Native Women’s Association’s Indigenous Victim and Family Liaison Program expansion project.

Provide opportunities for The Pas community members to engage in cultural traditions and ceremonies that foster healing, such as arts, music and dance, peer support, and ceremonial feasts through The Pas Family Resource Centre’s project, called Kiseetiskatano (We Hold Each Other Up).

Each of these 31 projects, led by Indigenous organizations from coast-to-coast-to-coast, plays a crucial role in making communities safer and ensuring that survivors, families, and communities have access to Indigenous-led, culturally safe, and trauma-informed services and supports.