2022 Progress Report on
the Missing and Murdered
Indigenous Women, Girls,
and 2SLGBTQQIA+ People
National Action Plan
May 23, 2022

Note to Reader
The Progress Report for the National Action
Plan honours, and is inclusive of, all Indigenous
women, girls, and Two Spirit, Lesbian, Gay,
Bisexual, Transgender, Queer, Questioning,
Intersex, and Asexual Plus (2SLGBTQQIA+)
people who are unique and distinct inidentities, ancestries, histories, and traditions.

Indigenous

The Final Report of the National Inquiry into
Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women andGirls (MMIWG or the “National Inquiry”) reliedon shared understandings of specific terms anddefinitions related to missing and murdered
Indigenous women, girls, and 2SLGBTQQIA+
people. These terms and their definitions
are also used in the Progress Report of the
National Action Plan, both for consistency andto respect the collective efforts by all parties
involved in the National Inquiry.1

First Nations

The MMIWG Final Report stated that “In the context
of the National Inquiry, the term ‘Indigenous’ can beunderstood as a collective noun for First Nations,
Inuit, and Métis people in Canada…Throughout
the report, we use the term ‘Indigenous’ to identify
experiences that may be held in common by First
Nations, Métis and Inuit”…” (p. 59).

As the MMIWG Final Report noted, “While the term
‘First Nations’ is relatively new, the original Nations of
this land existed before colonial contact and continue
to exist today, despite the Canadian government’s
intentional assimilation policies (particularly throughthe Indian Act) that fractured and displaced them.” (p.
88). The Report refers to Status and Non-Status First
Nation Peoples in its definition (p. 249).
Inuit
As the MMIWG Final Report stated, “Inuit are an
Indigenous circumpolar people found across theNorth. Most Inuit live in Inuit Nunangat – the land,
water, and ice that make up the Canadian Inuit
homeland. This homeland is made up of four regions:
Inuvialuit, in the western Arctic; the territoryof Nunavut; Nunavik, in northern Quebec; andNunatsiavut, in northern Labrador.” (p. 88)..

1 Unless otherwise noted, all terms and definitions are taken from MMIWG Final Report, https://www.mmiwg-ffada.ca/wp-content/
uploads/2019/06/Final_Report_Vol_1a-1.pdf.

2

MétisUrban Realities

The Métis emerged as a distinct Indigenous people
and nation in the historic Northwest during the late
18th century. The historic Métis Nation Homeland
encompasses the Prairie Provinces of Manitoba,
Saskatchewan and Alberta and extends into
contiguous parts of Ontario, British Columbia, theNorthwest Territories, and the northern UnitedStates. In 1870 the Métis Provisional Governmentof Louis Riel negotiated the entry of the Red River
Settlement into Confederation as the Province ofManitoba. 2 The Métis Nation defines “Métis” as aperson who self-identifies as Métis, is distinct fromother Aboriginal peoples, is of historic Métis Nation
Ancestry and who is accepted by the Métis Nation.”3

Identity is complex and Urban Indigenous
communities honour, respect and celebrate thiscomplexity. One may identify as First Nations, Inuit,or Métis, but some may feel that they do not fit into
these categories and may more readily identify withthe term Indigenous, which is inclusive of complex
identities. However, we also recognize that someare not comfortable being identified as Indigenous.
Therefore, we use and understand the terms
Indigenous and First Nations, Inuit, and Métis toalways mean “regardless of residency,” “regardless ofrelationship to the Crown,” and inclusive of the fullcomplexity of our identities.
The Urban Sub Working Group defined urban as: First
Nation, Inuit and Métis people living in small, medium,and large communities, including rural, isolated,
and remote communities, which are: off-reserve;
outside of their home community, community oforigin or settlement; or outside of Inuit Nunangat(Inuit Homelands).

Distinctions-Based
The MMIWG Final Report noted the “very challenging
task of engaging in a legal inquiry process, while
incorporating distinctive First Nations, Inuit, andMétis cultures, languages, spirituality, and creating
opportunities for healing.” (p. 3). It also acknowledged
the “challenges facing specific groups, institutions,geographical, or other circumstances, within adistinctions-based approach.” (p. 83). In addition,
the MMIWG Final Report recognized that there
are “distinctive bases of discrimination, dependingon which Indigenous Nation or group’s experience
is in play. In other words, Inuit, Métis, and First
Nations women do not always face the same kindof discrimination or threat, even though all are
Indigenous.” (p. 104).

2 Métis National Council (2021). About. Available at: https://www2.metisnation.ca/about/.
3 Métis National Council (2021). Citizenship. Available at: https://www2.metisnation.ca/about/citizenship/.

3

Off Reserve Status and Non-status
Indigenous Peoples

2SLGBTQQIA+ People
The “+” at the end of “2SLGBTQQIA+” is a way of
being inclusive, honouring and celebrating how ourlanguages are expanding and offering choices for oursexual and gender diverse relatives to identify.

Off reserve status and non-status Indigenous Peoples
are amongst the most socially and economicallydisadvantaged groups in Canadian society, an
unfortunate reality deeply rooted in colonialism andits impacts. As the MMIWG Final Report noted, it wasa struggle to provide culturally safe wellness services
to “all those affected by the issue of missing andmurdered Indigenous women, girls, and 2SLGBTQQIA
people, whether they be Status First Nations, nonStatus First Nations, Inuit or Métis” (p. 70).

By relying on and employing the above-noted terms
and their definitions, the Progress Report of the
National Action Plan honours, and is inclusive of, allIndigenous Peoples affected by this ongoing tragedy,
including but not limited to First Nations, Inuit, andMétis women, girls, and 2SLGBTQQIA+ people.

The Congress of Aboriginal Peoples (CAP) represents
off-reserve status and non-status Indians, Métis andSouthern Inuit Indigenous Peoples. As identified
in the MMIWG Final Report, the development andimplementation of a National Action Plan to address
violence against Indigenous women, girls, and2SLGBTQQIA people is a partnership that calls for
programs and services that “must be no-barrier andmust apply regardless of Status or location” (p. 176).
Indigenous Women, Girls, and 2SLGBTQQIA People
The MMIWG Final Report noted that “we havechosen to use the phrase ‘Indigenous women, girls,
and 2SLGBTQQIA people,’ both to include non-binary
people and people with diverse sexualities, and as an
explicit reminder that gender-diverse people’s needs
must equally be taken into account.” (p. 59).

4

Dedication

For families and survivors of missing and murdered
Indigenous women, girls, and Two-Spirit, Lesbian, Gay,
Bisexual, Transgender, Queer, Questioning, Intersex,
and Asexual Plus (2SLGBTQQIA+) people, matriarchs,
leaders, grandmothers, mothers, aunties, sisters,
cousins, and friends. Thank you for your resiliency
and tireless commitment for holding all governments
and all Canadians to account for action on the
National Inquiry’s Calls for Justice and Les FemmesMichif Otipemisiwak (LFMO’s) Calls for Miskotahȃ
(Michif word for change) and for addressing the root
causes of violence against Indigenous women, girls,
and 2SLGBTQQIA+ people. You continue to teachthrough your lived experience and perspectives whatis needed to be done and the urgency that goes with
it. For Indigenous women, girls, and 2SLGBTQQIA+
people who have gone missing or have been murdered– the urgency is heard – more needs to be done now.

To grassroots organizations and communities, yourcontinued support and action, working alongsidefamily members and survivors, your dedication
to creating safe spaces, and your on-the groundeveryday commitment is valued and treasured. Your
support is unwavering and necessary in the drive
towards safety and transformational change.
For advocates and allies, your ongoing efforts topush forward and ensure that missing and murdered
Indigenous women, girls, and 2SLGBTQQIA+ people
are at the forefront of government decision making ismuch appreciated.
To all Governments – reaffirming your commitment
and continuing to act on, and implement, theNational Action Plan and continuing to act upon yourresponsibilities and accountabilities in partnershipwith families and survivors, Indigenous women, girls,
and 2SLGBTQQIA+ people is essential.
All Canadians have a role to play in thistransformational change, it is everyone’s responsibility.

5Table of Contents

Note to Reader

2

Dedication

5

Envisioning a Transformed Canada

9

Decades of Advocacy

11

National Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls

12

Métis Perspectives of Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women, Girls and LGBTQ2S+ People

14

National Action Plan: Steps to Create Change

15

Vision and Guiding Principles

17

Goals and Common Short-Term Priorities

19

Immediate Next Steps

22

Much Remains to be Done

26

Methodology

29

6

Findings: Overview of Actions to Date

31

Steps Towards Achieving the Goals

32

Work on the Common Short-Term Priorities

33

Goal 1: Transformative Changes in Attitudes, Behaviours, and Knowledge within the Broader Society

33

Goal 2: Families and Survivors at Centre of the Process38

Goal 3: Delivery of Programs/Services by Indigenous Organizations

43

Goal 4: Address Broader Root Causes of Violence

47

Goal 5: National Indigenous Human Rights Accountability Mechanism

57

Goal 6: Transformational Change in Laws, Policies, and Systems

59

Goal 7: Culturally Appropriate Indigenous Data Infrastructure

65

Gaps in Achieving the Goals of the National Action Plan

75

National Family and Survivors Circle

77

Assembly of First Nations

80

Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami

83

Pauktuutit Inuit Women of Canada

86

Urban Working Group88

2SLGBTQQIA+

90

Congress of Aboriginal Peoples

92

Government of Canada

95

7

Provinces and Territories

98

Government of Newfoundland and Labrador

98

Government of Prince Edward Island

101

Government of Nova Scotia

103

Government of New Brunswick

106

Government of Québec

109

Government of Ontario

112

Government of Manitoba

115

Government of Saskatchewan

118

Government of Alberta

121

Government of British Columbia

124

Government of Yukon

127

Government of the Northwest Territories

129

Government of Nunavut

132

The Path Forward

134

Appendix A: Acronyms

141

Appendix B: Key Terms

144

Appendix C: Guiding Principles

147

Appendix D: Goals and Short-Term Priorities

151

Appendix E: List of Contributors to 2022 Progress Report1558

Envisioning a Transformed Canada

A year ago, on June 3, 2021, the 2021 Missing and
Murdered Indigenous Women, Girls, and 2SLGBTQQIA+
People National Action Plan: Ending Violence Against
Indigenous Women, Girls, and 2SLGBTQQIA+ People
was released. Families and survivors, Indigenous womenand 2SLGBTQQIA+ leaders, and government partners
came together to create the National Action Plan toaddress the Calls for Justice from the National Inquiry
into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women andGirls (MMIWG or “National Inquiry”) and the Calls for
Miskotahȃ (Michif word for change) from Les FemmesMichif Otipemisiwak (LFMO) Report Métis Perspectivesof Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women, Girls andLGBTQ2S+ People.

9

Guided by the lived experience, insight, and perspectives ofsurvivors and family members, the strength of Indigenous womenand 2SLGBTQQIA+ leaders, the guiding principles, and looking
towards a safe future for Indigenous girls and 2SLGBTQQIA+ youth,
the vision of the National Action Plan is:“We envision a transformed Canada where Indigenous women,
girls, and 2SLGBTQQIA+ people, wherever they are,4 live free fromviolence, and are celebrated, honoured, respected, valued, treatedequitably, safe, and secure”
This Progress Report identifies the actions undertaken over thelast year since the release of the National Action Plan, providing
insight on what has been achieved and what next steps are needed.
It describes actions, initiatives, and commitments undertaken by
governments (federal, provincial/territorial, municipal, Indigenous),
Indigenous representative organizations, Indigenous service
organizations, and other partners. We recognize that municipal
governments were not provided the opportunity to participate todate, however they will be included moving forward.
The report starts with a brief description of the National Inquiry
and LFMO report, the National Action Plan, and the current crisis
regarding missing and murdered Indigenous women, girls, and2SLGBTQQIA+ women in Canada. It also describes how information
for this Progress Report was gathered. It then provides an overview
of initiatives, activities, and programs put in place since the releaseof the National Action Plan, specifically focusing on the common
short-term priorities and immediate next steps identified in the
National Action Plan, and the gaps in achieving the goals of the
National Action Plan. In addition, the National Family and Survivors
Circle, contributing partners, the federal government and provinces/
territories have included a description of work they have undertakenover the year. Finally, the Progress Report identifies the next steps
to continue the urgent work needed on the National Action Plan.
Appendix A provides a list of acronyms and Appendix B defines key
terms used throughout the Plan.

4 The term “wherever they are” is meant to be inclusive of wherever Indigenous women,
girls, and 2SLGBTQQIA+ people may live, reside, or may be.

10Decades of Advocacy

The 2021 Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women,
Girls, and 2SLGBTQQIA+ People National Action Plan:
Ending Violence Against Indigenous Women, Girls, and2SLGBTQQIA+ People was released as a national-level
response to the National Inquiry’s Calls for Justiceand the LFMO’s Calls for Miskotahȃ. A national-level
response is important because the National Inquiry
identifies Calls for Justice for all governments (federal,provincial/territorial, municipal, Indigenous), industry,
institutions, services, Partnerships, and all Canadians.

After decades of advocacy from families, survivorsof violence, and grassroots organizations, including
numerous calls for a national inquiry into the alarming
number of disappearances and murders of Indigenous
women, girls, and 2SLGBTQQIA+ people in Canada,5the National Inquiry into Missing and Murdered
Indigenous Women and Girls was launched in 2016.
The National Inquiry’s final report, Reclaiming Powerand Place, was released in 2019 and, in the samemonth, LFMO released their report entitled Métis
Perspectives of Missing and Murdered Indigenous
Women, Girls and LGBTQ2S+ People.

The Highway of Tears has become asymbol for unchecked violence against
Indigenous women and girls in Canada

5 For example, the Truth and Reconciliation Commission and the Sisters in Spirit campaign.

11

National Inquiry into Missing and Murdered
Indigenous Women and Girls
In 2016 the federal government and the 13 provincial
and territorial governments launched the National
Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Womenand Girls. The National Inquiry’s mandate was to
examine the systemic causes of all forms of violenceagainst Indigenous women, girls, and 2SLGBTQQIA+
people in Canada, including the underlying root causesof violence and particular vulnerabilities. The National
Inquiry broadened the term “all forms of violence” toinclude issues such as family violence, institutional racismin health care, child welfare, policing and the justicesystem, and other forms of violence that stem from thesame structures of colonization, such as those who diedfrom negligence, accidents, or suicide, or those whose
cause of death is unknown or disputed. The Inquiry also
examined institutional policies and practices in place torespond to violence against Indigenous women, girls, and2SLGBTQQIA+ people.6

The steps to end and redress thisgenocide must be no less monumental
than the combination of systems andactions that has worked to maintaincolonial violence for generations.
A permanent commitment to ending
the genocide requires addressing thefour pathways explored within thisreport, namely:•

historical, multigenerational, andintergenerational trauma;•social and economic
marginalization;•

maintaining the status quo andinstitutional lack of will; and•ignoring the agency and expertiseof Indigenous women, girls, and2SLGBTQQIA people.

(MMIWG Inquiry, Volume B)

6 National Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls (2019).
Reclaiming power and place. Volume 1a. Available at: https://www.mmiwg-ffada.ca/
wp-content/uploads/2019/06/Final_Report_Vol_1a-1.pdf.

12

For over two years, the National Inquiry gathered evidence
including testimonies and truth from families and survivors ofviolence, Indigenous leaders, knowledge keepers, communities,
experts, and institutions. On June 3, 2019, the Final Report of the
National Inquiry, entitled “Reclaiming Power and Place”, was released.
Based on the results of the Truth-Gathering Process, the National
Inquiry concluded that violence experienced by Indigenous women,
girls, and 2SLGBTQQIA+ people amounts to genocide.7 The National
Inquiry identified 231 Calls for Justice under the following themes:
culture, health and wellness, human security, and justice; as well
as some Calls for Justice under the area of “human and Indigenous
rights and governmental obligations”. The report also includes
specific Calls for Justice directed at confronting violence against
Métis, Inuit and 2SLGBTQQIA+ peoples, and a supplementary
report with 21 additional Calls for Justice focusing on specific issues
facing Indigenous women and girls in Québec.
Call for Justice 1.1 of the National Inquiry calls upon federal,provincial, territorial, municipal, and Indigenous governments, inpartnership with Indigenous people, to develop and implementa National Action Plan to address violence against Indigenous
women, girls, and 2SLGBTQQIA+ people. Further, the Inquiry said
that reports of ongoing actions and developments should be madeavailable annually.8

7 National Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls (2019). A
legal analysis of Genocide. Supplementary Report. Available at: https://www.mmiwgffada.ca/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/Supplementary-Report_Genocide.pdf.
8 National Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls (2019).
Reclaiming power and place: Executive summary of the national inquiry into missing
and murdered Indigenous women and girls. Available at: https://www.mmiwg-ffada.
ca/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/Executive_Summary.pdf.

13

The Calls for Justice weredirected at all levels ofgovernment, including
federal, provincial/territorial, municipal,
Indigenous; institutions;service providers, such as
health care, child welfare,education, justice services,transportation; industries,
such as hospitality,
resource extraction anddevelopment; the media;
and all Canadians.

Métis Perspectives of Missing and Murdered
Indigenous Women, Girls and LGBTQ2S+ People
In 2019, Les Femmes Michif Otipemisiwak (LFMO) prepared areport entitled Métis Perspectives of Missing and Murdered
Indigenous Women, Girls and LGBTQ2S+ People specificallyfocusing on the issues facing Métis women, girls and gender diverse
people and reflecting their unique histories and realities. The report
identified 62 Calls for Miskotahȃ (the Michif word for change)
which focus on the lack of data specific to Métis women and girls,
intergovernmental affairs, engagement, services, child welfare,jurisdiction, criminal justice, health, prevention, and awareness.
LFMO Call for Miskotahȃ 46 speaks to the need to develop an
implementation committee to review the Calls for Miskotahȃ, as wellas the Métis Calls for Justice from the National Inquiry and Calls for
Action by the Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC).99 LFMO (2019). Métis perspectives of missing and murdered Indigenous women,
girls and LGBTQ2S+ people. Available at: https://metiswomen.org/wp-content/
uploads/2021/06/LFMO-MMIWG-Report.pdf.

14

National Action Plan: Steps to Create Change

Photo Credit: Adam Scotti (Prime Minister’s Office)At the closing ceremony of the National Inquiry into Missing and
Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls on June 3, 2019, the Prime
Minister was presented and entrusted with a sacred bundle andcommitted to developing a National Action Plan to address violenceagainst Indigenous women, girls, and 2SLGBTQQIA+ people
and turning the National Inquiry’s Calls for Justice into real andmeaningful Indigenous-led action. Provincial/territorial and Indigenous
governments, as well as Indigenous organizations and leaders,
responded to the findings from the National Inquiry’s report, highlighting
the importance of including Indigenous organizations, survivors ofviolence, and family members in the response to the Calls for Justice.

15

To respond to Call for Justice 1.1(i) and thecommitment from the Prime Minister to develop a
National Action Plan, a Core Working Group, which
included the National Family and Survivors Circle,
Contributing Partners (First Nations, Inuit, the Métis
Nation, Congress of Aboriginal Peoples, Urban,
2SLGBTQQIA+, data group, federal government), andprovincial/territorial representatives, was created
to respond to the 231 Calls for Justice from the
National Inquiry and the 62 Calls to Miskotahȃ from
the Métis Perspectives report. The Core Working
Group created a National Action Plan, which wasmeant to be an overarching plan to address violenceagainst Indigenous women, girls, and 2SLGBTQQIA+
people. To ensure Indigenous families, survivorsof violence, women, girls, and 2SLGBTQQIA+
people’s voices, perspectives, worldviews, and lived
experiences were at the centre of this work, over
100 Indigenous women, 2SLGBTQQIA+ people,
and others contributed to the development of the2021 Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women,
Girls, and 2SLGBTQQIA+ People National Action Plan:
Ending Violence Against Indigenous Women, Girls, and2SLGBTQQIA+ People.

The National Action Plan also includes a set of distinct
plans or strategies from each of the National Family
and Survivors Circle, Contributing Partners, thefederal government and provinces and territories.
The National Action Plan responds to decades ofadvocacy from families, survivors of violence, andgrassroots organizations, including numerous calls
for a national inquiry into the alarming number ofdisappearances and murders of Indigenous women,
girls, and 2SLGBTQQIA+ people in Canada. It is meant
to honour and respect Indigenous and 2SLGBTQQIA+
peoples’ values, philosophies, and knowledge systems
through the prioritization of Indigenous-led solutions
and services, developed in partnership and sustained
through the adequate resourcing of this work. The
National Action Plan is not meant to be frozen intime; it is evergreen, recognizing the urgency for
immediate action, but also the importance of creatingtransformative change.

Rooted in the unique needs, experiences, and culturalcontexts of Indigenous and 2SLGBTQQIA+ peoples,the overarching National Action Plan identifies thecommon short-term priorities and immediate next
steps that must be taken by governments (federal,provincial/territorial, municipal, Indigenous),organizations, industries, institutions, andcommunities across the country to address violenceagainst Indigenous women, girls, and 2SLGBTQQIA+
people. The National Action Plan also indicates that acomprehensive and complementary implementation
plan will be developed with expected outcomes,
activities, and timelines. While the provinces/
territories did not commit to the common short-term
priorities, in their Joint Statement they indicated thatthey may establish shared goals and priorities withthe federal government and clarify areas of sharedjurisdictional priority.

16

Vision and Guiding Principles
As noted earlier, the vision of the National Action Plan is: we envision a transformed
Canada where Indigenous women, girls, and 2SLGBTQQIA+ people, wherever they are,10
live free from violence, and are celebrated, honoured, respected, valued, treated equitably,
safe, and secure.
The Guiding Principles of the National Action Plan were developed by the core
working group and adapted from the Principles of Change in the Calls for Justice.
The Guiding Principles support the creation of meaningful, immediate, lasting, andsustainable transformative change in the lives and situations of Indigenous women,
girls, and 2SLGBTQQIA+ people. They take into account human rights instruments,
including the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples whichaffirms and upholds the inherent rights and responsibilities of Indigenous Peoples,the United Nations Convention on the Elimination of all Forms of Discrimination Against
Women, and the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child.

10 The term “wherever they are” is meant to be inclusive of wherever Indigenous women, girls, and2SLGBTQQIA+ people may live, reside, or may be.

17

The Guiding Principles were the foundation for the development of the National
Action Plan and will guide its implementation. They are as follows:
1. Honour the strength of Indigenous
women, girls, and 2SLGBTQQIA+ people
and support them in reclaiming theirsacred roles and responsibilities
2. Include families and survivors throughout theimplementation of the National Action Plan
3. Focus on substantive equality andIndigenous human rights that include
inherent, Treaty, and Constitutional rights,
and responsibilities of Indigenous Peoples
4. Support a distinctions-based approach toensure that the unique rights, interestsand circumstances of First Nations, Métis
and Inuit are acknowledged, affirmed, andimplemented

5. Respect intersectional and diverse
perspectives, and be inclusive of
all Indigenous women, girls, and2SLGBTQQIA+ people no matter where
they are
6. Base the National Action Plan on therecognition of Indigenous Peoples’ right toself-determination
7. Utilize a decolonizing approach, including
being culturally informed and culturally safe
8. Co-develop, co-implement, and co-manage
the National Action Plan
9. Build on evidence, and ensure the National
Action Plan is sustainable and evergreen

Appendix C provides descriptions of the guiding principles.

18

Goals and Common Short-Term Priorities
Contributing partners identified goals and common short-term
priorities to achieve the vision of the National Action Plan.
Some communities, regions, Indigenous organizations, and/or
governments may prioritize activities differently in their uniqueplans. These common short-term priorities were intended tobe, at a minimum, started within one to three years; however,it was recognized that some will take longer to fully implement.
Appendix D provides information on the linkages of the goals
and priorities to the Calls for Justice and Calls for Miskotahȃ.

Table 1: Goals and Common Short-Term Priorities
Goal

Short-Term Priority

1. Achieve transformative changes
in attitudes, behaviours, andknowledge within the broader
society to prevent and end theroot causes of systemic racism,
inequality, injustice, and violenceagainst Indigenous women,
girls, and 2SLGBTQQIA+ people
in Canadaa. Public education/awareness campaigns on the issues
Indigenous people experience and to challenge the acceptanceand normalization of violence

2. Keep families and survivors at thecentre of the process and provide
concrete support to survivors andfamilies of missing and murdered
Indigenous women, girls, and2SLGBTQQIA+ people

a. Continuous and accessible community-led healing programs
and support for children of missing and murdered Indigenous
women, girls, and 2SLGBTQQIA+ people and family members

b. Trauma-informed training for those who work with Indigenous
people on topics such as history, culture, issues, anti-racism,
anti-sexism, anti-homophobia, anti-transphobia,11 etc.

b. Comprehensive approach to support Indigenous victims andfamilies/friends of Indigenous murdered or missing persons,such as victim services, family information liaison units, legal
services, access to coroner/hospital reports, media, etc.
c. Nationwide emergency number

11 Although the term “anti-transgender” is used in the National Action Plan, a decision was made at all Partners meeting to change the term to“anti-transphobia”.

19

Goal

Short-Term Priority

3. Support the delivery of programs
and services by Indigenousorganizations, including at thegrassroots level, to address
all forms of gender- and racebased violencea. Indigenous-led prevention and healing programs, education, andawareness campaigns for Indigenous families and communities
related to violence prevention and lateral violence

4. Address the broader root
causes of violence against
Indigenous women, girls, and2SLGBTQQIA+ people

a. Implement initial steps to ensure stable and sustainablehousing and close the housing gap between Indigenous people
and non-Indigenous Canadiansb. Creation of shelters and second stage/transitional housing

b. Immediate action to implement infrastructure to ensure accessto high-speed Internetc. Guaranteed annual livable incomed. Support Indigenous-led initiatives for Indigenous individuals,
families, and communities to access cultural knowledge and
2SLGBTQQIA+ programs and services
e. 24-hour in-person support system for Indigenous women,
girls, and 2SLGBTQQIA+ people, such as wraparound mental
health services, trauma, addictions, etc.
f.

Governments recognize Indigenous self-determinationand inherent jurisdiction over child welfare, and support
enhancements for child and family services

20

Goal

Short-Term Priority

5. Develop a national Indigenous
human rights accountability
mechanism focused on
Indigenous human rights that
include inherent, Treaty, andConstitutional rights. Thismechanism will create sharedaccountability for upholding
the human rights of Indigenous
Peoples regarding genderbased violencea. Oversight bodies, such as Indigenous Ombudsperson, Human
Rights Tribunal, or civilian police oversight bodies to represent
the interests of families, survivors, and communities byinvestigating and addressing complaints of mal-administrationor violation of rights
b. National task force which reviews and re-investigates
unresolved files of missing and murdered Indigenous women,
girls, and 2SLGBTQQIA+ people; and police services to provide
unresolved cases of missing and murdered Indigenous women,
girls, and 2SLGBTQQIA+ people to the task force
c. Make the National Inquiry’s public record accessible andreport annually to Parliament on the Calls for Justice;
implement LFMO Calls for Miskotahȃ

6. Support a paradigm shift
in policies and systems
across Canada which definestransformative change injustice, health and wellness,
human security, culture, andIndigenous human rights that
include inherent, Treaty, andConstitutional rights

a. Justice Reform Committee to review legislation regarding
gender-based violence, including missing persons legislationb. Acknowledge, recognize, and protect the rights of Indigenous
Peoples to their cultures and languages as inherent rights
c. Implement Gladue principles that contribute to addressing
systemic barriers, increase the involvement of Indigenous
communities and organizations in rehabilitating offenders, andreduce the risk of future harmd. Create a Deputy Commissioner for Indigenous Corrections
and address issues for Indigenous women and 2SLGBTQQIA+
offenders, such as prohibiting transfer of women prisoners
to male treatment centres; and increased opportunities foreducation/training in prison

21

Goal

Short-Term Priority

7. Establish a culturally appropriate
Indigenous data infrastructurereflective of Indigenous and
2SLGBTQQIA+ people, based on
Indigenous data sovereignty andculturally rooted and distinctionsbased indicators

a. Address issues related to the accurate tracking of dataon missing and murdered Indigenous women, girls, and2SLGBTQQIA+ people
b. Collect disaggregated data (Inuit, Métis, and First Nations)
to report on violence against Indigenous women, girls, and2SLGBTQQIA+ people, and on progress and the effectivenessof laws, policies, and services
c. Collect distinctions-based and intersectional data about
Indigenous women, girls, and 2SLGBTQQIA+ people in thecriminal justice system

Immediate Next Steps
The following immediate next steps were identified for governments
and representative Indigenous organizations to focus on during thefirst year of implementation of the National Action Plan. Some ofthese directly reflect specific short-term priorities which needed
to be started within the first year, while others are instrumental inensuring the National Action Plan is implemented and continues tomove forward.

Table 2: Immediate Next Steps
Next Steps

Description

1. Immediate support services forsurvivors and family members•

Provide funding to establish accessible healing and support
services for survivors and family members of missing andmurdered Indigenous women, girls, and 2SLGBTQQIA+ people
wherever they are.

•Develop a comprehensive approach for providing support toIndigenous and 2SLGBTQQIA+ survivors and families/friendsof Indigenous missing or murdered Indigenous women, girls,
and 2SLGBTQQIA+ people

22

Next Steps

Description

2. Continued involvement ofsurvivors and family membersin the implementation of the
National Action Plan•

With adequate funding, the National Family and Survivors
Circle will develop and implement an engagement strategy
that provides further opportunity for families and survivors
to provide insight and input into the National Action Plan’s
next steps.

•

The Contributing Partners will continue to complete their
Action and Implementation Plans built upon their engagementwith survivors and family members.

3. Create an oversight body•Creation of an oversight body which represents the interestsof families, survivors, and Indigenous communities byinvestigating and addressing complaints of mal-administration
or a violation of right.

4. Public awareness and training•

Begin immediate work on the development of a public
education/awareness campaign on the issues Indigenous
people experience and to challenge the acceptance andnormalization of violence against Indigenous women, girls, and2SLGBTQQIA+ people.

•

Implement trauma-informed training for those who work with
Indigenous people, on topics such as history, culture, issues,anti-racism, anti-sexism, anti-homophobia, anti-transphobia, etc.

23

Next Steps

Description

5. Immediate development of an
implementation plan•

Develop an Implementation Plan for the National Action
Plan that includes the short-term priorities identified in
the National Action Plan, as well as medium- and long-term
priorities that will lead to real systemic change.

•

Each priority will include specific actions, expected outcomes,
timelines, and resources.

•

Determine mechanisms and processes for national
independent oversight and coordination of the National Action
Plan, that includes Contributing Partners and governmentswith financial support.

•

Continuance of Contributing Partners to continue to develop
their implementation plans.

•

Clearly define the roles and responsibilities of all governments(federal, provincial/territorial, municipal, Indigenous) andIndigenous organizations to implement the 231 Calls for
Justice and 62 Calls for Miskotah฀.

•Develop an accountability/results structure for the National
Action Plan.

•

An Indigenous and gender-based analysis plus (GBA Plus) lens
will be applied to the implementation plan.

•

Create a Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls
Federal-Provincial/Territorial Table to provide a specific forum
to consider and coordinate intergovernmental collaborationand discussion on various areas such as administrative
issues, policy, resourcing, resolution of interjurisdictional
responsibilities, and processes that emerge from theimplementation of the National Action Plan.

6. Missing and murdered Indigenous
women and girls federalprovincial/territorial table24

Next Steps

Description

7. Create accountability
mechanisms for the reporting on
the 231 Calls for Justice and the62 Calls for Miskotahȃ•Create broad accountability mechanisms rooted in Indigenous
data sovereignty focused on truth-telling to ensure the
National Inquiry’s 231 Calls for Justice and LFMO’s 62 Calls
for Miskotahȃ are implemented by all governments (federal,provincial/territorial, municipal, Indigenous) and organizations,and their outcomes are measured for effectiveness in creatingtransformative change and achieving decolonization. This
could be part of the responsibilities of the independent
committee or working group.

•

Create data accountability mechanisms rooted in Indigenous
Data Sovereignty.

•

Create an independent web portal to post annual reports
which track the progress on responding to the Calls for Justice
and Calls for Miskotahȃ.

•By June 2022, publish the first annual report on progress in
responding to the Calls for Justice and the Calls for Miskotahȃ

25

Much Remains to be Done

It has been three years since the release of
the National Inquiry’s and LFMO’s reports,
and a year since release of the National
Action Plan, and there are many outstanding
actions that need to be taken to end theviolence against Indigenous women, girls,
and 2SLGBTQQIA+ people. More action isneeded to address the colonial structures,
institutions, agencies, legislation, services,
policies, and programs, that continue to cause
harms and loss of life, such as institutional andstructural racism in health care, child welfare,policing, and the justice system.

According to a report published in 2022, Indigenous
women, girls, and 2SLGBTQQIA+ people are still
experiencing alarming rates of violence and areover-represented as victims of crime. More than six
in ten (63%) Indigenous women have experienced
physical or sexual violence in their lifetime (comparedto 45% of non-Indigenous women).12 The homicide
rate is over five times higher for Indigenous womenas compared to non-Indigenous women.13 Further,it has been found that Indigenous women, girls, and2SLGBTQQIA+ people are 12 times more likely to be
missing or murdered than non-Indigenous women,
although the exact number is unknown as thousandsof these deaths or disappearances have been
unreported or mis-reported.14

12 Heidinger, L. (2022). “Violent victimization and perceptions of safety: Experiences of First Nations, Métis and Inuit women in Canada.”
Juristat. Statistics Canada Catalogue no. 85-002-X. Available at https://www150.statcan.gc.ca/n1/pub/85-002-x/2022001/
article/00004-eng.htm.
13 Armstrong, A., & Jaffray, B. (2021). Homicide in Canada, 2020. Juristat. Statistics Canada. Available at: https://www150.statcan.gc.ca/n1/
en/pub/85-002-x/2021001/article/00017-eng.pdf?st=--uVWy1q.
14 National Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls (2019). Reclaiming power and place. Volume 1a. Available at:https://www.mmiwg-ffada.ca/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/Final_Report_Vol_1a-1.pdf.

26

A November 2021 United Nations report found that
violence against women and girls has intensified
since the outbreak of COVID-19 and referred tothis situation as a “shadow pandemic”. Although thisreport does not focus on Indigenous women, others
have noted that the COVID-19 pandemic stay-athome orders resulted in increased violence against
Indigenous women, girls, and 2SLGBTQQIA+ people,
and had a negative impact on the services available.15
In one study, Indigenous women reported more
violence during the time of sheltering in place, with
17% reporting that they had experienced physicalor psychological violence over a period of threemonths in 2020, compared to 10% reporting violencefrom their spouse over a five-year period prior to
the pandemic.16

Certain groups of Indigenous women and
2SLGBTQQIA+ people are at even higher risk ofvictimization. 2SLGBTQQIA+ people are often
additionally targeted because of gender identity and/or sexual orientation, referred to as a “triple jeopardy”
for various forms of interpersonal and institutional
violence.17 In one study, 2SLGBTQQIA+ people
reported higher rates of physical (73%) and sexualassaults (65%) than non-Indigenous LGBTQQIA+
people (45% and 37%, respectively).18 Another reportfound that Indigenous women and 2SLGBTQQIA+
people in the north experience higher rates ofvictimization than those in the south.19 Further,
Indigenous women, girls, and 2SLGBTQQIA+ people
with disabilities face significantly greater risks ofviolent victimization than non-Indigenous people. 20

15 Baxter, D. (2021). Violence against women a ‘shadow pandemic,’ MKO conference told. Available at: https://www.thompsoncitizen.net/localnews/violence-against-women-a-shadow-pandemic-mko-conference-told-4784045.
16 Native Women’s Association of Canada (NWAC) (2020). The Impact of COVID-19 on Indigenous peoples. Submission to the UN Special
Rapporteur on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples. Available at: https://www.ohchr.org/sites/default/files/Documents/Issues/IPeoples/SR/
COVID-19/IndigenousCSOs/Canada_Native_Women_Association_of_Canada.pdf.
17 National Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls (2019). Reclaiming power and place. Volume 1a.
18 Jaffray, B. (2020). Experiences of violent victimization and unwanted sexual behaviours among gay, lesbian, bisexual and other sexual
minority people, and the transgender population, in Canada, 2018. Juristat, Catalogue no. 85-002-X, ISSN 1209-6393. https://www150.
statcan.gc.ca/n1/en/pub/85-002-x/2020001/article/00009-eng.pdf?st=3OIJL5ck.
19 NWAC (2020). The Native Women’s Association fact sheet: Violence against Indigenous women, girls, and 2SLGBTQQIA people in Canada.
20 Cotter, A. (2018). Violent victimization of women with disabilities, 2014. Juristat, Catalogue no. 85-002-X, ISSN 1209-6393. Available at:https://www150.statcan.gc.ca/n1/en/pub/85-002-x/2018001/article/54910-eng.pdf?st=qDgD1TnY.

27

The root causes of violence against Indigenous women, girls, and2SLGBTQQIA+ people are complex and long-standing. These stemfrom the intergenerational trauma Indigenous people experience
due to the impacts of colonization (including Indian Residential
schools), marginalization, lack of institutional will, and failure torecognize the expertise and capacity of Indigenous women whichhave caused, and will continue to cause, violence. 21
Ending violence towards Indigenous women, girls, and 2SLGBTQQIA+
people requires transformative change, including efforts by all
governments, Indigenous representative organizations, and all
Canadians. Through the lived experience and critical insight,
perspectives, and solutions provided by families and survivors, theyremain at the heart of this change. Indigenous women, girls, and2SLGBTQQIA+ people need to be at the centre of the National Action
Plan, guided by their strength and focus to end all forms of violence.

21 National Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls (2019).
Reclaiming power and place. Volume 1a. Available at: https://www.mmiwg-ffada.ca/
wp-content/uploads/2019/06/Final_Report_Vol_1a-1.pdf.

28

Methodology

PurposeAs the first Progress Report on the National Action
Plan, the original intent of this report was to determine
what progress had been made on each of the goals of
the National Action Plan, by examining whether eachof the common short-term priorities and immediatenext steps have been implemented (or work has
started) since the release of the National Action Plan
in June 2021 and any impact these have had on thegoals. However, it soon became evident that it was notpossible to measure progress against the goals, nor the
impact of initiatives or activities, for a few reasons.

Finally, there was not a great deal of information and/or consistent data which could be used to measureprogress on the priorities or the impact they arehaving on ending violence against Indigenous women,
girls, and 2SLGBTQQIA+ people.
Due to the issues in measuring progress, the purposeof this Progress Report has been limited to providing
information on some of the commitments andinitiatives that have been put in place over the year,
rather than assessing the extent of progress or the
impacts that these have had. As will be discussed
later in the report, it will be critical for next year’s
report that an implementation plan be put in place
immediately with clear timelines and expected
outcomes, and an accountability mechanism tomeasure the impact funding and various initiatives
or programs are having on ending violence against
Indigenous women, girls, and 2SLGBTQQIA+ people.

First, an implementation plan (including short-, mediumand long-term priorities with specific actions, expected
outcomes, timelines, and resources) and accountability/
results structure was not prepared for the National
Action Plan . Without these in place, there were no
specific outcomes or timelines to measure progress.
Second, one year was a short amount of time to see
results for the identified common priority areas
because many of the initiatives take time to put inplace and see measurable change. For instance, it
was not possible to implement many programs or
initiatives because funding was not received until latein the year or had not yet been received. Further, ingeneral it is very difficult to measure the impact of aprogram over a period of a few months.
29

Approach
Documents identified through discussions weregathered and further research was conducted,
including an extensive online scan of departmental andorganizational websites and media announcements
to identify initiatives relating to the common shortterm priorities or immediate next steps in the National
Action Plan. Information gathered included funding
announcements, as well as initiatives, programs,
services, and activities that have been put in place,including those funded by government and thosethat organizations developed on their own. When
information was included in the report, it was validated
by the entity responsible for it.

Since there is no implementation plan in place, nora mechanism to coordinate and monitor actions to
implement the National Action Plan, the National Family
and Survivors Circle, contributing partners, the federal
government and provinces/territories have focused on
developing and implementing their own strategies orplans. Therefore, it was necessary to gather informationfrom a variety of sources because there has been no
coordinated approach to addressing/reporting on thecommon short-term priorities and immediate next steps.
To see what initiatives have been put in place over thelast year to address the common priorities identified
in the National Action Plan, it was important tounderstand what various governments, Indigenousorganizations, and communities have been working
on. As a starting point, various government
announcements relating to missing and murdered
Indigenous women, girls, and 2SLGBTQQIA+ people
were reviewed, including those from the federal
government, provincial/territorial governments, andIndigenous governments.

Information from all sources was analyzed to ensure
the activities chosen for inclusion in the report weredirectly linked to the Calls for Justice and/or Calls for
Miskotahȃ associated with the common short-term
priorities or immediate next steps. The analysis also
identified where potential gaps exist.
A series of meetings were held with the National
Family and Survivors Circle, contributing partners,
the federal government and provinces/territories
to discuss the Progress Report and identify otherinitiatives or activities. In addition, each prepared adocument describing their progress over the last year.

In addition, discussions were held withrepresentatives from the National Family andSurvivors Circle, contributing partners, andprovinces/territories to hear about initiatives they
were working on and to identify relevant reports/
documents (see Appendix E for list). They werealso asked to provide contacts for Indigenous
community-level organizations for information
gathering. Although not meant to be all-inclusive,
about 300 Indigenous communities and communitylevel organizations across Canada were asked if theywanted to provide their input or stories of initiatives,
programs, or activities. Given the time constraints,
about 20% provided input, and further discussion
occurred with a number of these organizations formore in-depth information.

Although grassroots organizations and all governments
have been working for years to end violence against
Indigenous women, girls, and 2SLGBTQQIA+ people;
it was important that this Progress Report focus on
activities that commenced over the last 12 months.
However, reference is sometimes made to activities
or programs already in place to provide context or if
the initiative was enhanced over the year. Further, thisreport focused on the common short-term priorities
and the immediate next steps identified in the National
Action Plan and tried to make clear linkages to the Calls
for Justice and/or Calls for Miskotahȃ.
30

Findings: Overview of Actions to Date

This section provides an overview of initiatives
undertaken during the last year towards achieving
the goals identified in the National Action Plan. It also
identifies gaps, as well as barriers that are impedingon forward progress. However, since it has only been
one year since the release of the National Action
Plan, and because an implementation plan (withactivities and timelines) has not been developed,
it is challenging to measure progress. Therefore,
commitments, initiatives, projects, programs, and/or activities that align with the common short-term
priorities and immediate next steps are described.

Over the last year there have been numerous uniquechallenges that have impacted on the extent to which
the issue of missing and murdered Indigenous women,
girls, and 2SLGBTQQIA+ people has been able tostay in the forefront. This has included the need for
all governments and Indigenous communities tofocus on responding to the pandemic and ensuring
the health of their people. Further, various elections
throughout the year, including the federal election,
have impacted the ability of some governments tomaintain forward progress on the Calls for Justice
and Calls for Miskotahȃ. There are many continued
impacts of colonization on Indigenous peoples coming
to the forefront such as the identification of children’s
graves at Indian Residential Schools across Canada.
This has raised awareness amongst Canadians of
the devastating effects of colonialism on Indigenous
Peoples and the interconnection with ending violenceagainst Indigenous women, girls and 2SLGBTQQIA+
people. All of these tragedies are important andthere is a need to ensure that they remain a priority.
There is also a need to ensure that the matter ofmissing and murdered Indigenous women, girls, and2SLGBTQQIA+ people remains a priority.

Providing insight on commitments, initiatives,
programs, and activities undertaken by governments(federal, provincial/territorial, municipal, Indigenous),
Indigenous representative organizations and otherpartners highlights what has, and has not, beenaccomplished across the country in the last year on
the common short-term priorities and immediate next
steps in the National Action Plan. Although just the
beginning, this provides family and survivors with anindication that some work is underway to respond to
the Calls for Justice and the Calls for Miskotahȃ in the
National Action Plan.

Although these are realities and barriers that have
had to be faced over the year, strong support andadvocacy continues from families and survivors,
grassroots organizations, and Indigenous women and
2SLGBTQQIA+ leaders.
31Steps Towards Achieving the Goals
As illustrated with examples in the next sections, it is clear thatsome activities are underway to respond to the goals identified in
the National Action Plan. For instance, over the last year, there havebeen a number of funding commitments meant to directly support
initiatives to help survivors and families of missing and murdered
Indigenous women, girls, and 2SLGBTQQIA+ people or to address
the root causes of race- and gender-based violence. These include
funding relating to shelters/transitional houses, violence prevention
programs, and direct support for survivors and families of missing
and murdered Indigenous women, girls, and 2SLGBTQQIA+ people,
and Indigenous victims of gender-based violence.
There have also been specific on-the-ground activities, such as publicawareness campaigns and commemorations, and some traumainformed training for individuals who work with Indigenous women,
girls, and 2SLGBTQQIA+ people. Some new and expanded healing
and support programs have recently been put in place for families
and survivors of missing and murdered Indigenous women, girls, and2SLGBTQQIA+ people. Further, some new and expanded Indigenousdesigned and led gender-based violence programs have been initiated.
Other initiatives focus on addressing the broader root causes ofviolence, such as access to adequate housing, improved child andfamily services for Indigenous children and youth, access to cultural
knowledge, and improved internet services in rural and remote
Indigenous communities. These are promising first steps.
The following sections describe some of the work that has been
done relating to the common short-term priorities and immediatenext steps identified in the National Action Plan over the last year.
This is not meant to be an exhaustive list. It is meant to depict somecommunity, regional, grassroots, provincial, territorial and national
level work towards ending violence against Indigenous women, girls
We encourage everyone to look within their own area at what ishappening and to become involved. 22

22 Note: the activities identified are based on the goals and common short-term
priorities identified in the National Action Plan, some of which are not necessarily
specific to missing and murdered Indigenous women, girls, and 2SLGBTQQIA+
people, but address broader root causes as per various Calls for Justice.

32“Finding Peace” Memorial in Yukon
to raise the ongoing issue of MMIWG
in Yukon and northern British
Columbia and honour the victims andtheir families(Photo Provided by Yukon Aboriginal
Women’s Council - Credit: Emilie Dory)Part of the work of the “Looking Out For Each Other”(LOFEO) project is to work with media professionals tocreate culturally competent training and guidelines forjournalists and media broadcasting outlets, as well as
curriculum for journalism students.
Wolastoq artist Susan Sacobie was commissioned to createa piece of art to represent the LOFEO project. She says
“This painting is for the missing and murdered Wolastoqiyik
and Mi’kmaq women that were almost forgotten. The five
women… represent knowledge, faith, wisdom, justice, andpeace.” See https://nbapc.org/lakehead-university-talk/ fora full description.

Work on the Common Short-Term Priorities
Goal 1: Transformative Changes in Attitudes, Behaviours, and Knowledge within the Broader Society
As first steps towards achieving transformativechanges in attitudes, behaviours, and knowledge
within the broader society to prevent and end theroot causes of systemic racism, inequality, injustice,and violence against Indigenous women, girls, and2SLGBTQQIA+ people in Canada, two short-term
priority areas were identified: public education andawareness; and trauma-informed training of those
who work with Indigenous people.

For many years public education and awarenesscampaigns have occurred with a focus on missing
and murdered Indigenous women, girls, and2SLGBTQQIA+ people. Over the last year, severalof these activities were held across the country
by Indigenous communities or organizations, orpartners. Specific events were organized to markthe June 3rd anniversary of the National Inquiry into
Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls,
the Day of Action on October 4th, 2021, the 31st
anniversary of the Stolen Sisters Memorial March on
February 14th, 2022, the Red Dress Day on May 5th,2022, and other activities throughout the year tohonour specific Indigenous women who are missingor have been murdered.

a. Public education/awareness campaigns on theissues Indigenous people experience and tochallenge the acceptance and normalizationof violence
A number of Calls for Justice and Calls for Miskotahȃ
focus on the need for public awareness and education
on missing and murdered Indigenous women, girls,
and 2SLGBTQQIA+ people, gender-based violence,and First Nations, Métis, and Inuit culture andhistorical trauma they have experienced.

33

Hundreds showed up, lighting candles anchanting to the beat of ancestral drums, at the
February 14, 2022 annual memorial march inhonour of the lives of missing and murdered
Indigenous women, girls, and 2SLGBTQQIA+
people organized by the Native Women’s
Shelter in partnership with the Quebec Native
Women and the Iskweu Project.

Examples include public service announcements,
posters, and grassroots documentaries which raise
public awareness about violence against Indigenous
women, girls, and 2SLGBTQQIA+ people. It also
includes gatherings, vigils, walks, and marches,
all with the goal of remembering, honouring, andstanding in solidarity with matriarchs, mothers,
grandmothers, sisters, daughters, aunties, and nieces.
Further, statues and other memorials were created
to commemorate missing and murdered Indigenous
women, girls, and 2SLGBTQQIA+ people.

Krista Fox (left) embraces Elder Lorna Standingready as her cross-Canada walk passes
through Saskatchewan. MMIWG family members, Diane Morin and Lindsey Bishop(right), are walking across Canada with Krista to help raise awareness.

Some activities focused on educating the younger generation (e.g.,
students at school), the public (e.g., public campaigns), or those
who work with Indigenous people. Some events were meant toraise awareness, but also focused on honouring loved ones who
are missing, have been murdered or who have survived all formsof violence (e.g., walks across the country). In February 2022, theManitoba government announced a partnership with Ma Mawi
Wi Chi Itata Centre to provide $130,000 in funding to support
the co-development of a provincial implementation plan to raiseawareness and end violence against Indigenous women, girls, and2SLGBTQQIA+ people in Manitoba.

A northern BC film “Journey 4 Justice”
profiles MMIWG activist Gladys Radek’s
walk across Canada for the cause.

34

Various statues, healing totems, murals, and pieces of art have been created to remind people about missing andmurdered Indigenous women, girls, and 2SLGBTQQIA+ people. These initiatives and events honour the livesof missing and murdered community members by utilizing Indigenous ways of healing and by sharing stories ofresilience, healing, compassion, togetherness, solidarity, and community care.

Released in December 2021, Everything is Connected is a documentaryby the Sixties Scoop Indigenous Society of Saskatchewan and IskwewukE-wichiwitochik. The project highlights how intergenerational trauma andthe separation of Indigenous children from their families are connected tothe issue of Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls.
Photo Credit: Doug Cuthand

Although there are numerous awareness and education activities,no information was found on activities which specifically focused on
raising awareness or visibility of 2SLGBTQQIA+ issues or on antihomophobia and anti-transphobia. Further, there is little information
as to whether these activities are reaching the intended audience,
nor if they are making a difference in knowledge, attitudes, andbehaviours within the broader society.

35

Saskatchewan Conference, hosted inpartnership between North Saskatchewan
Victim Services and the RCMP, tobring awareness to the prevalenceof human trafficking and sexual
exploitation in Canada and the overrepresentation of Indigenous persons and
2SLGBTQQIA+ people

Butterflies in Spirit, throughdance and song, raises
awareness of violenceagainst Indigenous womenand girls and the missing andmurdered Indigenous womenand girls across Canada.

a. Trauma-informed training for those who work with Indigenous people on topics such as history, culture,
issues, anti-racism, anti-sexism, anti-homophobia, anti-transphobia, etc.
The term “trauma-informed” is used throughout the National Inquiry and LFMO reports, as well as innumerous strategies and action plans developed by provinces/territories, the federal government andcontributing partners. Through Indigenous writing and storytelling by knowledge keepers in the community,
including Elders and those in healing roles, Indigenous-led trauma-informed training helps those who workwith Indigenous people understand the causes, evolution, and outcomes of historic trauma on Indigenous
Peoples, including the full impacts of colonialism, residential schools, and discrimination. It should also focus
on the unique experiences of victimization that Indigenous women, girls, and 2SLGBTQQIA+ people face.

Using a two-eyed seeing approach constructed around the Seven
Grandfather teachings, Caring Hearts is creating a toolkit to educate nonIndigenous agencies on how to effectively support Indigenous Peoples.
It includes topics such as support to Missing and Murdered Indigenous
Women and Girls and their families, colonization, and decolonization, andhow to apply two-eyed seeing in the workplace.

A trauma-informed approach, which incorporates knowledge of trauma into all policies, procedures, andpractices, is crucial for the implementation of the Calls for Justice and Calls for Miskotahȃ. Further, a traumainformed perspective ensures those who work with Indigenous people are knowledgeable of historic andintergenerational trauma and provide services in a way which minimizes the potential for harm and retraumatization, and enhances safety, control, and resilience for Indigenous Peoples.

Designed by Indigenous women, the Enwaaying Training Initiatives program began in 2022 withthe aim of creating systemic change and a shift in attitudes and beliefs of front-line government
employees, elected officials, and decision makers. Through federal funding, the Trent University
First Peoples House of Learning offers a series of workshops which focus on teaching valuable
truths about historical policies and practices. Elders help built relationships and resources to sustain
long-term commitment for governments in eliminating biases and implementing change.

36

There are Indigenous-led trauma-informed training
programs in place, such as the Master of Social
Work in Indigenous Trauma and Resiliency createdby the OFIFC, the Middelton-Moz Institute, andthe Factor-Inwentash Faculty of Social Work at the
University of Toronto. Similarly, the Nicola Valley
Institute of Technology and the Justice Institute ofBritish Columbia have courses on trauma-informed
practice towards Indigenous violence developed with
Indigenous experts.

The Government of PEI is providing
compulsory cultural training for theprovincial public service to enhance
education and understanding of
Indigenous history in Canada andthe impacts of colonialism andintergenerational trauma

A few initiatives were identified which focus on trauma-informed training. For
instance, Justice Canada has announced funding to expand support for the
Indigenous Justice Program, in part to help ensure that community justice workers
are trained to support victims of violence through a trauma-informed lens.
Similarly, the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) has identified funding for theIntercultural Learning Strategy to develop employee competencies toward diverse
populations. Further, some provincial/territorial representatives mentioned
training for staff who work with Indigenous people, and others have noted thatthey have identified training of public servants who work with Indigenous people
as a priority, including trauma-informed and cultural training. For instance,
launched in 2021, the “Living Well Together: Indigenous Cultural Awareness”, isa mandatory course for all Government of the Northwest Territories (GNWT)
employees and is available to the public at no cost.

The Government of Manitoba,
in collaboration with Red River
College, is incorporating crisis
shelter worker training andcultural safety training for staff

Although some cultural awareness training is being
undertaken, trauma-informed training for those
who work with Indigenous people is still in the earlystages, with a need for expanded training for frontline staff and throughout the public service. Some
noted that there is a need to identify what the training
should look like and who should provide the training.
Further, the training needs to be Indigenous designed
and led.

37

Goal 2: Families and Survivors at Centre of the Process
Three short-term priorities were identified to help ensure that survivors and families of missing andmurdered Indigenous women, girls, and 2SLGBTQQIA+ people wherever they may live are provided
with concrete support: community-led healing programs/support for children and family members of
missing and murdered Indigenous women, girls, and 2SLGBTQQIA+ people; comprehensive approaches
to support Indigenous survivors and family members; and a nationwide emergency number.
a. Continuous and accessible community-led healing programs and support for children of missing
and murdered Indigenous women, girls, and 2SLGBTQQIA+ people and family membersChildren and families of missing and murdered
Indigenous women, girls, and 2SLGBTQQIA+
people need access to healing and supports thatare community-led. It is also important that these
programs ensure that, when providing services to“family”, this does not just mean the nuclear family,
but is inclusive of all forms of familial kinship, suchas biological families, chosen families, and familiesof the heart.

Through Ka Ni Kanichihk, Medicine
Bear Counselling, Support and ElderServices provide families of murdered andmissing Indigenous women, girls, and 2S
community the opportunity to heal fromcomplicated grief and trauma within aculturally safe and supported environment

Various community-led healing programs have beendeveloped and led by First Nations, Inuit, and Métis
communities, and Indigenous urban and grassroots
organizations over the last year. These programs
are holistic and provide cultural-based supports tochildren and family members of missing and murdered
Indigenous women, girls, and 2SLGTBQQIA+
people on their healing journeys. Some programs
are provided in the community or on the land andare holistic, supporting physical, emotional, mental,
and spiritual needs of children and family members.
These programs often provide support throughcultural teachings, using traditional medicines andceremonies, bringing people together to share,
support, and heal.

Across communities this past year, Indigenous women haveprioritized their healing, and have taken action to create spaces
where they have come together, supporting one and another,building on their strengths, and reclaiming power and place.
Healing gatherings have also been organized, bringing families
and survivors together, creating a culturally safe environment toshare and support each other. Communities have also brought
people together to grieve the loss of loved ones, and to start toheal through sharing and ceremony.
38

The All Nations Hope project in Fort
Qu’Appelle, Saskatchewan, the Healing
and Strengthening Indigenous Sisters and2 Spirits Program, funded through Budget
2021, will provide group healing circles led
by counsellors, Indigenous Healers, andknowledge weavers, along with one-to-one
counselling services.

In the fall of 2021, Crown-Indigenous Relations and Northern
Affairs Canada (CIRNAC) launched the “Support for the Wellbeingof Families and Survivors of Missing and Murdered Indigenous
Women, Girls and 2SLGBTQQIA+ people” contribution funding
program. In April 2022, it was announced that $2.5 million had
been invested to support 20 projects across Canada in each of2021-22 and 2022-23. While not a large number, these projects
will deliver various initiatives and services, including culturally
relevant and trauma informed services that support healing
journeys of families and survivors, assistance in navigating
systems and resources to access supports, hold memorial feasts,
and healing gatherings.

Tungasuvvingat Inuit’s Najakulugiit (Beautiful Sisters) project aims to
improve the healing and well-being of families and friends of missing
and murdered Inuit women, girls, and 2LGBTQQIA+ living in Ontario.
It will provide increased access to peer and social support; reduced
sense of isolation and loneliness; increased access to culturally basedhealing activities; and increased ability to navigate and access theresources and services available to them.

Even with some services in place, grassroots organizations andcommunities who deliver services are saying they are still fallingthrough the cracks and are unable to access sufficient funds to startor continue services for families. Various community-level services
are not being engaged in the development of programs and initiatives
and it has been noted that rural and remote communities have little
services or programs for Indigenous women and girls. There are evenfewer programs and services for 2SLGBTQQIA+ people. The need forongoing funding is essential as programs that are supporting families
and children need the capacity to continue the support for morethan a year at a time. There continues to be an urgency to ensurechildren and family members of missing and murdered Indigenous
women, girls, and 2SLGBTQQIA+ people can access community-led
support services and that these programs continue to be provided in
the community and by community, on the land, or led by Indigenousorganizations in urban, rural, and remote areas.

39

Métis Nation Ontario’s
Healing Journey Programis a new program thatwill provide specialized
supports, including traumainformed health providers
with specializations working
with Métis families andvictims of violence, including
Indigenous women, girls, and2SLGBTQQIA+ people.

b. Comprehensive approach to support Indigenous victims and families/friends of
Indigenous murdered or missing persons, such as victim services, family information
liaison units, legal services, access to coroner/hospital reports, media, etc.
There are numerous Calls for Justice and Calls for Miskotahâ for a comprehensive approachto support victims of crime and families/friends of Indigenous murdered or missing persons.
With the launch of the National Inquiry, provinces and territories received funding to establish
Family Information Liaison Units (FILUs) until March 31, 2023. Provinces and territories havethe option to set up FILUs according to their own needs. For instance, PEI’s FILU provides acentralized, coordinated mechanism for family members of missing and murdered Indigenous
women and girls to access requested information related to the loss of their loved one.

The Saskatchewan FILU raised awareness about
Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women andGirls. These women, who are members of the FILU
team, want people to understand the important andemotional work they do with families of MMIWG2S+.

Some services are being led by Indigenous governments andorganizations, such as the New Brunswick Aboriginal Peoples Council“Looking Out For Each Other” (LOFEO) project, which develops
Indigenous-led supports and services for families and communities
when an Indigenous person goes missing, including working with legal
clinics and law firms to provide services to people who are seeking
legal supports, police services to ensure that risk assessment protocols
and tools are responsive to the needs of Indigenous missing persons
and their loved ones, and with media professionals to develop bestpractices and principles for improved reporting on missing Indigenous
persons, as well as establishing provincial helplines in partnership with
Indigenous organizations across Eastern Canada.

40

Métis Nation-Saskatchewan (MN-S) has Métis-specific services for families of
missing and/or murdered Métis women, girls, and 2SLGBTQQIA+ people. MN-S
supports individuals and families in their efforts to access information regarding
their loved one from government agencies such as police, victim services and otheragencies to seek justice for their loved one. “Working through a healing process that
addresses all past traumas our Métis MMIWG families have endured.”At the municipal level, the Winnipeg Police
Service has created a support and resource
advocate to helping families of missing andmurdered Indigenous women and girls navigate
the legal process. In 2021, through the Indigenous
Justice Program, Justice Canada provided $6.7
million over three years to expand the Indigenous
Courtworker Program which helps Indigenous
families navigate the justice system.

The Winnipeg Police Service hired a
Family Support and Resource Advocate
to work directly with families of Missingor Murdered Indigenous Women andGirls, Two-Spirit and gender-diverse(MMIWG2S+) people to answer questions
about the investigation and/or the court
process, connect them with appropriate
agencies and services, and ensure they
are supported with culturally-safe andtrauma-informed resources in theircommunities

Connecting survivors and families/friends to agencies and resources, these
programs offer a variety of supports services. Some are focusing on supporting
community safety planning that is Indigenous led, while others offer services andsupport in the areas of resource/service referrals, navigating the various systems
and getting information from hospitals, coroners’ offices, and police forces, etc.
Although some progress has been made on the provision of comprehensive
support services, these services are not readily or consistently available to all,and a number of these services are not distinctions-based. Also, funding for the
FILU programs is only available until 2023; therefore, it remains to be seen if theservices will be sustainable.

41

c. Nationwide emergency number
Call for Justice 9.5vii calls for a nationwide emergency number to be put in place, tohelp ensure police services across provinces and territories have consistent protocols
and policies in place. These would help ensure there are thorough investigations of allcases of missing and murdered Indigenous women, girls, and 2SLGBTQQIA+ people.

The “Looking Out For Each Other” project led by the
New Brunswick Aboriginal People’s Council, launched a
24/7 provincial helpline pilot project in New Brunswick(1-833-MMI-FIND) that assists families that have a loved
one who is missing by providing information, navigation andreferrals for a variety of services

Although not nation-wide, there are several initiatives that provide 24/7
access to crisis and/or support services through phone, video call, and on-line
live chat options. Some existing services have been updated to include newer
technology, and some services are offered in Indigenous languages. An example
is the updated crisis line in Manitoba that will include a live chat feature.
One year after the release of the National Action Plan there is no nationwide
emergency number in place.

42

Goal 3: Delivery of Programs/Services by Indigenous Organizations
Two short-term priorities were identified to move towards the goalof supporting the delivery of programs and services by Indigenousorganizations, including at the grassroots level, to address all forms ofgender- and race-based violence: the use of Indigenous-led violenceprevention programs and services; and the creation of shelters and second
stage/transitional housing.
a. Indigenous-led prevention and healing programs, education, andawareness campaigns for Indigenous families and communities related
to violence prevention and lateral violence
The National Inquiry highlighted the underlying systemic causes of ongoingviolence against Indigenous women, girls, and 2SLGBTQQIA+ people
and identified the need for Indigenous-led violence prevention programs,
education, and awareness campaigns. The COVID-19 pandemic has createdunprecedented challenges for victims seeking help and the frontline
organizations that support them.

In 2021, the Provincial Association of Transition Houses
and Services of Saskatchewan (PATHS) received funding
from WAGE to develop a public awareness campaign todebunk myths about domestic violence and let survivors
know that help was available. The messages aired on radio
stations across Saskatchewan in Cree, Dene, and Michif.

Over the last year, additional funding for gender-based violence prevention programs was identified fromfederal and provincial/territorial governments. This includes $55 million announced in Budget 2021, and acall for proposals launched in January 2022 by Women and Gender Equality (WAGE) to bolster the capacityof Indigenous women and 2SLGBTQQIA+ organizations to provide gender-based violence prevention
programming aimed at addressing the root causes of violence against Indigenous women, girls, and2SLGBTQQIA+ people. The Pathways to Safe Indigenous Communities Initiative announced $103.8 million
over five years to assist First Nations, Inuit and Métis communities and partners, both on and off-reserve, toimplement Indigenous-designed projects to improve community safety and well-being, including needs relating
to the safety and well-being of Indigenous women, girls, and 2SLGBTQQIA+ people.

43

In July 2021, Willow Place received a$50,000 stabilization grant throughthe Winnipeg Foundation. These funds
are helping with earlier intervention
strategies and expanded support fordiverse family violence prevention
needs in the community.

A number of provincial/territorial representatives
also indicated funding for Indigenous organizations
to implement initiatives to address violence anddiscrimination against Indigenous women and girls(e.g., Prince Edward Island, Nova Scotia, Ontario,
Manitoba, Saskatchewan, British Columbia).

Beginning in 2022-23, funding is being provided to a Saskatchewan Missing and
Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls Community Response Fund to support
community initiatives that address the Calls for Justice. The province will codevelop the criteria, application process and evaluations tools for the fund with
community representatives from the northern, central, and southern regions of theprovince. This approach aligns with CFJ 15.6 and will enable applicants to generate
self-determined solutions and increase safety within their communities.

A few Indigenous-led community-based violence
prevention programs were identified, including sexualassault counselling and enhanced family violenceservices. For instance, in April 2022, the constructionof the Ka Ni Kanichihk Cultural and Wellness Centre
was announced supported by investments from
Indigenous Services Canada (ISC), the Province ofManitoba, the City of Winnipeg, and private donors.
The expansion will double the number of people who
can access services and will create unique spaces andopportunities for Indigenous people to heal, learn,
and train for jobs, all centred in culture. This includes
the Heart Medicine Lodge program, which provides
culturally based support and advocacy services
for Indigenous women and those who identify as
women who have experienced sexual assault andsexual violence.

Ka Ni Kanichihk (those who lead in Ininew-Cree) is an
Indigenous-led organization in downtown Winnipeg
that provides prevention and intervention programs
that help children, youth, women, men, and families
heal, succeed, and become leaders. Ka Ni Kanichihk
provides cultural and social leadership development
for Indigenous girls and Two-Spirit youth, job-skills
training, and support for women and families. We walkwith people on their path of recovery from trauma.

44Through federal funding, the Native
Courtworker and Counselling Associationof British Columbia is developing andimplementing an Indigenous-led approach inpreventing and eradicating human trafficking
in Indigenous communities in British Columbia.
The project will focus on solutions that arerooted in community, whereby members
become empowered, engaged and deeply
connected to their culture and community,
increasing their protective factors to beresilient against human trafficking.

A joint initiative between the British Columbia
Association of Aboriginal Friendship Centres(BCAAFC) and TELUS, focuses on improving
safety by providing cell phones to Indigenous
women at risk of violence or living in highrisk human trafficking areas. Further, in
December 2021, through support from theGovernment of Canada and British Columbia’s
Connecting British Columbia program, Rogers
Communications began work on the first of
16 cellular towers along the Highway of Tears
in British Columbia. Continuous coveragealong Highway 16 and surrounding areas will
help create a safer environment for travel andpassage to the North.

Construction on the first of 16 cellular
towers Rogers Communications will bebuilding to help create a safe corridor
on Highway 16. This responds to oneof the 33 recommendations from the2006 Highway of Tears Symposium
report.
Photo: Rogers Communications

One program through Ka Ni Kanichihk is UMatter, which is an Indigenous embedded skill-basedlearning curriculum aimed at preventing teen/youth dating violence within high-risk Indigenous
youth populations, including 2SLGBTQQIA+ youth aged 12–24 years old.
Over the last year, both federal and provincial/territorial funding has been announced for healing
programs for Indigenous families and communities related to violence prevention, education, andawareness. Further, some new programs and services are beginning. However, recipients are juststarting to receive the funding and there is still a clear need for additional resources and services
in this area. It is not yet possible to determine the impact that these programs are having on
ending violence against Indigenous women, girls, and 2SLGBTQQIA+ people.
45

b. Creation of shelters and second stage/transitional housing
The National Inquiry found that First Nations, Métis, and Inuit women and
2SLGBTQQIA+ people leaving violence face a significant disadvantage in access to
Indigenous-specific transitional houses and shelters, which often forces them tolive in unsafe conditions. This situation is even worse for those living in northern
and remote areas.

With funding from the Ontario government aimed attraining women in carpentry and other trades, four
Mohawk women built two new tiny homes for Red
Cedars Shelter, which will be used as transitional housing
for women after leaving the safe house on Tyendinaga
Mohawk Territory

In June of 2021, Canadian Mortgage and Housing
Corporation (CMHC) and ISC announced funding
support for the construction and operation of 12 new
Indigenous-led shelters across Canada. Following
this, the Indigenous Shelter and Transitional Housing
Initiative was launched in November 2021, as partof $724.1 million in funding that included expanding
shelter and transitional housing supports for
Indigenous women, children, and 2SLGBTQQIA+
people experiencing gender-based violence including
on reserve, in the North, and in urban areas.
Pauktuutit Inuit Women of Canada announced aprocess to build a minimum of five Inuit-specificshelters, one in each of the four regions of Inuit
Nunangat and one in Ottawa.

Further, the CMHC’s National Housing CoInvestment Fund is providing funding through 202223 for the construction and repair of transitional
housing units and shelters for women and theirchildren experiencing gender-based violence.
Although not Indigenous-specific funding, eligibility
includes Indigenous governments and organizations.
A number of provinces/territories (e.g. Manitoba,
Ontario) have announced funding to increase orenhance family violence shelters. Often the funding ispart of broader gender-based violence initiatives, butwith some funding targeted for Indigenous Peoples.

46

The Government of Ontario announced
over $2 million to stabilize funding for
the Aboriginal Shelters of Ontario andsupport expanded healing lodges thatprovide holistic services using Indigenous
healing and western therapeutictechniques. These programs will help
reduce the impacts of trauma arisingfrom sexual assault, physical, mental andemotional abuse, and family violenceOver the last year, there have been some positive
first steps, including funding announcements
to support the creation of shelters/transitional
houses for Indigenous women and 2SLGBTQQIA+
people, some housing strategies have begun to
be implemented, and some new shelters andtransitional housing have been created. However,there is a long way to go to ensure Indigenous
women, girls, and 2SLGBTQQIA+ people escaping
violence have a safe place to stay.

Goal 4: Address Broader Root Causes of Violence
The goal of addressing the broader root causes of violence against Indigenous women, girls, and2SLGBTQQIA+ people recognizes that addressing violence must take into account the long-term, multifaceted ways that Indigenous women and 2SLGBTQQIA+ people are denied security throughout their lives.
Six short-term priorities were identified to address the goal, focusing on improvements to housing, highspeed internet access; income; cultural knowledge and 2SLGBTQQIA+ programs and services; support
systems; and, child and family services.

a. Implement initial steps to ensure stable and sustainable housing and close
the housing gap between Indigenous people and non-Indigenous Canadians
The social and economic conditions of Indigenous women, girls, and2SLGBTQQIA+ people can impact on their safety. More specifically, the lack ofstable and affordable housing, and other conditions such as food insecurity, can bea contributing factor to their lack of security. Housing insecurity is one of the mostpressing issues impacting Indigenous women, girls, and 2SLGBTQQIA+ people, andfinding ways to provide access to safe, secure, and affordable housing is essential.

47

In the Delivering for Canadians Now announcement in March 2022,
the Government of Canada made a commitment to work with First
Nations, Inuit, and Métis communities to determine how housing
investments would be designed and delivered. In the 2022 Federal
Budget, the Government of Canada announced that it would build
upon the $2.7 billion already committed since 2015 by adding $4
billion over 7 years starting in 2022-23 to accelerate work in closing
the Indigenous housing gaps. This funding is targeted towards
housing on First Nations reserves; in First Nations Self-Governing
and Modern Treaty Holders communities; in Inuit communities;
and in Métis communities. In addition, the Government of Canada
announced $300 million over five years to co-develop and launch an
Urban, Rural, and Northern Indigenous Housing Strategy. Further,$2 billion of funding provided for long-term reform of the First
Nations Child and Family Services program was allocated to meetthe needs of First Nations children.
Funding from the 2021 Federal Budget allocated for the National
Housing Strategy through CMHC began to flow during 2021. For
instance, during 2021-22, Phase 2 of the Rapid Housing Initiative
committed funding for over 2,400 units for Indigenous Peoples.
Further, the National Housing Co-Investment Fund provides fundingfor construction, repair and support of affordable housing units;
the Canada Housing Benefit provides financial assistance throughprovinces and territories for people in low-income situations to help
with rent payments delivered; and the Federal Community Housing
Initiative supports community housing providers that deliver longterm housing to many of the most vulnerable. Although, the National
Housing Strategy is designed for all Canadians, one of the priorities
is Indigenous projects.
Some provinces and territories and Indigenous organizations areprioritizing housing, such as funding earmarked in PEI specificallyfor Indigenous housing under the Affordable Housing Development
Program. Further, building on funding through CMHC Rapid Housing
Initiative, the Government of Yukon is investing $1 million from its
Housing Initiatives Fund to refresh and renovate the High Country Inn
in Whitehorse. This will create 55 new supportive housing units, 50%
of which will be allocated to women and 75% to Indigenous people.

48

The PEI Affordable Housing
Development Program
is committed to adding
new affordable units tothe housing market. A
percentage of the funds
have been earmarked for
Indigenous housing.

In July 2021, under the Reaching Home Program,
Pauktuutit Inuit Women of Canada began ahomelessness needs assessment research projectin urban centres outside of Inuit Nunangat. A
final report with recommendations, including
how to support the unique needs of Inuit womenexperiencing homelessness, will be published in the
Spring of 2022.

b. Immediate action to implement infrastructure toensure access to high-speed Internet
Access to the internet and social media is essential
for Indigenous women, girls, and 2SLGBTQQIA+
people who are victims of violence, as well as families
and friends of those who are missing or have beenmurdered. It allows access to important informationand investigation tools and can provide needed support
systems. Challenges exist in Northern and remote
Indigenous communities when access to high-speed
internet is not reliable or potentially not even available.

The Northern Pathways to Housing Program provides
funding to community organizations and Indigenous
governments in the Northwest Territories. The
funding supports emergency housing for residents
who are unable to access social housing programs or
where there is limited availability of suitable housing.

By 2023, the Connect to Innovate program, a $585
million dollar investment through Innovation, Scienceand Economic Development (ISED) Canada, aims to
improve connectivity in 975 rural or remote areas,
including 190 Indigenous communities. Public Safety
Canada committed $108 million in 2021 through theFirst Nations and Inuit Policing Facilities Program,
aimed at working with First Nations and Inuit police
facilities by providing financial assistance to plan,
repair, construct and/or acquire new police facilities.
Working with provinces and territories, First Nations/
Inuit policing organizations (e.g., First Nations
Chiefs of Police Association, First Nations and Inuit
Policing Program Stakeholder Panel, RCMP), selected
infrastructure projects will be implemented over the
next five years.

There has been money invested or committed todate for Indigenous housing, and the need to further
co-develop strategies with First Nations, Inuit andMétis communities and Indigenous organizations has
been noted. However, it has been mentioned by somecommunity organizations that there is a lack of housing
and funding for urban, rural and remote communities.
Also, at this time more information is needed tomeasure how many houses have been built and theextent to which the funding is having an impact on
closing the housing gap between Indigenous and nonIndigenous Canadians. It is likely too early to determine
whether these initiatives are having a measurable
impact and what changes housing programs have madetowards ending violence.

In April 2022, the Government of British Columbia
announced access to high-speed internet services
to more than 1,200 homes in seven First Nations
communities along Highway 3 in the Similkameen.
The $5.8 million project was funded through theConnecting British Columbia program and throughTelus Communications Inc. As part of its investments(since 2019) to bring high-speed internet to First
Nations communities across the province, in April 2022
Ontario and the federal government jointly announced
funding for three additional First Nations communities.

49

In November 2021, theManitoba government
signed a deal with Xplornet
Communications Inc. to provide
reliable internet services tonearly 30 First Nations

Governments have announced some funding and some work
is underway to improve access to high-speed internet in
Indigenous communities. However, this work is still in theearly stages, and it is too soon to determine what impact, if
any, this will have on reducing violence against Indigenous
women, girls, and 2SLGBTQQIA+ people.

c. Guaranteed annual livable income
A guaranteed annual livable income is direct income support which is accessible
unconditionally to those with incomes below a certain level as a means ofaddressing the root causes of violence against Indigenous women, girls, and2SLGBTQQIA+ people. According to a quote from Qajaq Robinson, a former
Commissioners of the National Inquiry “We have to recognize that the creation ofpoverty... is part of the state violence. It’s not accidental.”
Shortly after the release of the National Action Plan, at the June 8, 2021 sitting of
the Senate of Canada, Senator Kim Pate asked what was being done to implementa guaranteed annual livable income, and what collaboration was happening with
provinces and territories on this initiative. At that time, it was noted that work wasunder way in various jurisdictions, and the Government of Canada was open tolistening to requests and to discussions on this matter.
Most recently at the Standing Senate Committee on Aboriginal Peoples when
asked about this priority, Marion Buller, Former Chief Commissioner indicatedthat a paradigm shift was needed and to “accept the fact that we have to move
Indigenous women, girls and two-spirit people out of the margins of society andinto mainstream Canadian society… Guaranteed annual income that’s livable, that’s
geographically specific and that makes sense”. 23

23 The Standing Senate Committee on Aboriginal Peoples (44th Parliament, 1st Session) (April, 4 2022).
Evidence. Available at: https://sencanada.ca/en/Content/Sen/Committee/441/APPA/55451-E.

50

Budget 2021 announced $108.8 million over
two years for the Cultural Spaces in Indigenous
Communities Program. Launched in 2021, thisprogram supports Indigenous communities in reestablishing and revitalizing cultural spaces andoffers opportunities for Indigenous women, girls,
and 2SLGBTQQIA+ individuals to access culture
and language, and strengthen identities. Amongst
the early investments, three projects have beenannounced so far:d. Support Indigenous-led initiatives for Indigenous
individuals, families, and communities to access
cultural knowledge and 2SLGBTQQIA+ programs
and services
Indigenous knowledge reflects the unique culture,
languages, traditional governance systems, andhistories of First Nations, Inuit, and Métis people.
Knowledge Keepers and Elders are the connection to
the past, they care for the knowledge that has beentaught to them by other Knowledge Keepers andElders and are taught when to teach others about
this knowledge. Prior to colonialization, Indigenous
women and 2SLGBTQQIA+ people were Knowledge
Keepers and Elders. Indigenous women, girls, and2SLGBTQQIA+ people have experienced historical,
multi-generational and intergenerational trauma, andcolonial systems and actions continue to add to thistrauma. Indigenous women and 2SLGBTQQIA+ people,
through resiliency and agency, are reclaiming their roleas Knowledge Keepers, and guiding and supporting
Indigenous girls and 2SLGBTQQIA+ youth.

•

Northern Secwepemc Cultural Society (British
Columbia): to create a cultural centre and museumthat will serve the four Northern Secwepemc te
Qelmucw Nations and the Esk’etemc First Nation.
This will create a safe space where community cancome together to share traditions and culture andpartake in programs that will be offered, including
a Secwepemc language revitalization program.

•

Skeetchestn Indian Band (British Columbia):
to build a traditional pit home and museum
facility with celebration and teachings about the
Skeetchestn Indian Band traditions and cultures,and the role of women, girls, and 2SLGBTQQIA+
people in the community.

•

Mohawk Council of Kahnawà:ke: new cultural
centre which will serve as a safe space forcommunity members to share traditional
knowledge and culture through a variety of
programs, including language revitalization,
where Mohawk language speakers will mentor
new learners.

With funding from the Cultural Spaces in Indigenous Communities Program, Tungasuvvingat Inuit
has been able to expand their cultural education programs which bring the urban Inuit community
together through Elders teas, community feasts, seasonal outings, and annual gatherings. Inuktitut
language classes and workshops on traditional skills such as sewing and drum making are also held.
51

During 2021-22, through the Canadian Heritage Indigenous Languages
Component, more than 410 projects from First Nations, Inuit, andMétis communities, as well as organizations serving urban and multiple
Indigenous populations, were funded. The Indigenous Languages
Component supports the reclamation, revitalization, maintenanceand strengthening of Indigenous languages. This includes a broad
range of activities, such as language nests, immersion, mentorapprentice programs, cultural and language instruction and camps, theproduction of recordings on Indigenous activities, books on storytelling,
digitalization, and traditional cookbooks. The Canada-Congress ofAboriginal Peoples Accord Indigenous Language Table supports andinforms this initiative, amongst other areas such as policy and programs.

Implemented in 2021 Mamàhtawisiwin: The Wonder We Are Born With is an Indigenous
education policy framework which outlines guiding principles, strategies, and actions forachieving the intended learning outcomes for First Nations, Métis, and Inuit students, andfor all students in Manitoba.

A few initiatives have been identified which focus
specifically on 2SLGBTQQIA+ people. For instance,
the Promoting Safety and Success for Indigenous
2SLGBTQQIA+ Youth initiative in Ontario provides
support in the areas of mentorship, leadership, andeducation. It also provides competency training
and resources for parents, caregivers and foster
parents regarding 2SLGBTQQIA+ identities with aparticular focus on the barriers to safety for these
Indigenous youth. In December 2021, the AFN passed
a resolution which will establish a 2SLGBTQ Council
with a role similar to Elder’s, women’s and youth
councils in the organization’s governance structure.

In consultation with Elders, four new cultural lodges
have been built within correctional facilities in
Saskatchewan since 2021. These new sacred spaces
were created to provide an opportunity for healing ina culturally appropriate environment.

The building of cultural lodges within Saskatchewan
correctional facilities will enable opportunities for yearround sweat lodge ceremonies to clients and space tofacilitate other cultural programming

52

CAP hosted the first “Gender Symposium Mobilizing
Indigenous Two-Spirit History”, an interdisciplinary
discussion to foster partnerships, community engagement,
and networking opportunities. The symposium aimed tomobilize knowledge sharing on the history of Two-Spirit
and non-binary individuals to increase awareness andunderstanding of 2SLGBTQQIA+ history and enhance
public awareness about Two-Spirit identity and how crucial
Two-Spirit and Indigiqueer leaders are to the movementsof change.

There have been recent funding announcements
for cultural and language programming, which isresulting in the creation of some programs andactivities. Further, there are a few initiatives for
2SLGBTQQIA+ people, although this does not begin
to address the needs of these individuals. Althoughsome funding is available, most is through a proposal
process where barriers often exist for grassroots
organizations to access for on-the ground programs.
In addition, it has been noted that there is often an
absence of meaningful engagement with communityand grassroots organizations on how these funds
could be used to support Indigenous women, girls,
and 2SLGBTQQIA+ people.

e. 24-hour in-person support system for Indigenous
women, girls, and 2SLGBTQQIA+ people, suchas wraparound mental health services, trauma,
addictions, etc.
Wraparound services provide individuals with thesupport and care they require from a diverse teamof professionals that work together to provide
cross-sector services such as mental health services,primary health care, trauma-informed care,
addictions, substance use, Elder supports, etc.
Throughout the last year, the OFIFC Urban
Indigenous Homeward Bound (UIHB) Program has
provided extensive wraparound supports to over 100
mothers and 200 children. Educational upgrading,post-secondary education, housing supports,
Indigenous-led childcare, mental health services,and employment readiness continued to be provided
throughout the COVID-19 pandemic and without
dedicated or sustained funding from any level ofgovernment. The UIHB program continues to see
success and has supported a number of mothers who
have graduated from post-secondary this year andentered careers within the social services, healthcare
and early childcare education sectors.

In April 2022, the Ontario Federation of Indigenous
Friendship Centres (OFIFC) held a 2SLGBTQQIA+
gathering for local, regional, provincial, and national
2SLGBTQQIA+ groups on legislation, policy, programs,
and funding opportunities.

53

f.

The OFIFC Urban Indigenous
Homeward Bound (UIHB) Program isan employment and training programthat provides extensive wraparoundsupports to mothers and children.

No information was found on the implementationof a 24-hour in-person support system for First
Nations, Inuit and Métis families, women, girls, and2SLGBTQQIA+ people over the last year.

Governments recognize Indigenous selfdetermination and inherent jurisdiction overchild welfare, and support enhancements forchild and family services

In line with traditional ways, in 2020, An Act
Respecting First Nations, Inuit and Métis Children, Youthand Families came into force as a way of addressing
disparities in the child and family services system.
This Act affirms the jurisdiction of Indigenous Peoples
over child and family services, including principles
such as the best interests of the child, culturalcontinuity and substantive equality. Under this Act,in 2021 the Cowessess First Nation in Saskatchewan
became the first community to sign a Coordination
Agreement, that sees them reclaiming jurisdiction
over their child welfare/healing system and the rightto make decisions about what is best for their children
and families. In Budget 2022, $340.8 million wasannounced over ten years to continue to support the
Wabaseemoong Independent Nations’ Coordination
Agreement and their communities to exercise
jurisdiction for their children and families.

Child welfare systems and services across Canada
have caused detrimental harm to Indigenous children
for centuries. These systems are where First Nations,
Inuit, and Métis children and youth are taken awayfrom their families, removed from communities,
and denied their culture and identity. They havesuffered, and continue to suffer, from the trauma andintergenerational trauma and abuse in these colonial
systems. Through resiliency and strength, Knowledge
Keepers and Elders continue to teach traditional
practices of nurturing, connecting to culture andlanguage, songs and stories, oral histories, and skills
to surviving on the land.

Chief Red Bear Children’s Lodge was launched in 2021 aspart of the enactment of the Miyo Pimatisowin Act. No
children have come into care of Cowessess First Nation
reserve lands since that time.

54

Budget 2022 also identified $87.3 million to support and enable Indigenous
communities to develop and implement Indigenous child welfare laws, throughcollaborative work with federal, provincial, and territorial governments. In April
2022, the Simpcw First Nation signed the first co-created child welfare agreementin British Columbia history, which integrates its unique practices, customs, laws,
language, and traditions into the agreement. The agreement recognizes elementsof the federal Act respecting First Nations, Inuit and Métis children, youth andfamilies, and outlines how the Simpcw and the ministry will work together on
assessments, investigations, plans of independence and plans of care, including
placement decisions, to support the well-being of Simpcw families.

Simpcw First Nation Child Welfare Agreement“This interim measure marks a significant milestone on our pathway toward
implementing our inherent jurisdiction. I am especially pleased that our laws,
customs and traditions are enshrined in this legally binding agreement throughthe meaningful inclusion of our Secwepemctsín (Shuswap language).” Kúkpi7(Chief) Shelly Loring.

Recently, many provinces and territories havetaken important steps to begin reforming theirown child and family services systems to alignwith the intent and the objectives of the federalAct. In March 2022, Fewer Fees, Better Services
Act in Ontario was passed, which includes
amendments to the Child, Youth and Family
Services Act, 2017. These amendments provide
a framework to distinguish customary carefrom residential care in specified circumstances,
implement holistic and wraparound supports forFirst Nations, Inuit and Métis children, youth,and families in the form of circles of supportive
persons, and define the role of preventionfocused Indigenous service providers within
Ontario’s child and family services system.

In July 2021, Prince Edward Island
released a Child Protection Act Review
to enhance the delivery of child andfamily services to align with the National
Inquiry. Recommendations included
providing culturally appropriate services,training for workers on Indigenous
concepts/protocols and historical cultural
trauma, implementing an off-reserve
Indigenous services team and enhancing
the on-reserve Indigenous services team,and conducting the work jointly with
the Abegweit First Nation and Lennox
Island First Nation, as well as otherservices that work with the off-reserve
Indigenous population.

55

Yukon’s Act to Amend the Child and Family Services
received Royal Assent in March 2022. The Act,was created through a committee co-chairedby the Council of Yukon First Nations and withrepresentation from Yukon First Nations, helps
improve outcomes for children, youth and families
involved with the child welfare system andaddress the over-representation of Indigenous
children and youth in care.

The Act to Amend the Child and Family
Services was tabled by the Yukon
Government in March 2022. The Act was
based on work by a Steering Committee
which focused on the over-representationof Yukon First Nations children in careand ways to better support the safety
and wellbeing of Yukon First Nations andIndigenous children and families.

Over the next six years, as announced in Budget 2022, $4 billion will go towards meeting the needs of First
Nations children by honouring Jordan’s Principle and ensuring that they receive the support they need. This isin addition to the Inuit Child First Initiative and the ISC mandate letter commitment to continue working with
Métis Nation to fund the unique needs of Métis children.

Jordan’s Principle is a legal requirement resulting from the Orders of the Canadian Human Rights
Tribunal. It is a child-first principle that aims to eliminate service inequities and delays for First
Nations children. Jordan’s Principle is named in honour of Jordan River Anderson, a young First
Nations boy from Norway House Cree Nation in northern Manitoba, who spent his entire life in
hospital while caught in a jurisdictional dispute between the governments of Canada and Manitoba.

Although there has been a significant amount offunding allocated for legislative reform, only some
progress has been made in achieving jurisdiction overchild welfare. This lack of progress could be due tolimitations under the current An Act Respecting First
Nations, Inuit, and Métis Children, Youth and Families,
such as jurisdictional challenges. In addition, there arestill significant gaps in child welfare services provided
to Indigenous children and youth. For those services
that do exist, it has been noted that there are few
services for youth who age out of the system. They do
not have accommodations, access to support, somelose connections to community and their families,
and some end up homeless. This gap could makeIndigenous youth and, in particular 2SLGBTQQIA+
youth, more vulnerable to harm and violence.

In April 2022, the Manitoba Government announced
an annual subsidy of almost $600,000 for Makoon
Transition Inc. and S.A.M. (Properties) Holding Inc.
to create 32 transitional housing units, eight of which
will be designated for additional tenant supports
for families who have been impacted by Child andFamily Services. Makoon Transition Inc. was createdto address the holistic needs of First Nations children
and their families who have experienced the impactsof being involved in the child welfare system.

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Goal 5: National Indigenous Human Rights Accountability Mechanism
To begin to achieve the goal of developing a national Indigenous human rights accountability
mechanism focused on Indigenous human rights that include inherent, Treaty, and Constitutionalrights, three short-term priorities were identified: creation of an oversight body; a national
task force to review and re-investigate unresolved files of missing and murdered Indigenous
women, girls, and 2SLGBTQQIA+ people; and ensuring the National Inquiry’s public record isaccessible and an annual report to Parliament on the Calls for Justice, and that the LFMO Calls
for Miskotahȃ are implemented.

The concept of an independent national Indigenousand human rights ombudsperson, national Indigenousand human rights tribunal, or civilian police oroversight bodies has been discussed. For instance,in the Standing Senate Committee on Aboriginal
Peoples, presenters were asked about the need forthis type of accountability. It was noted that thismodel could be used as a mechanism whereby a bodywith specialized expertise and buy-in from Indigenous
Peoples could monitor the implementation of thecalls for justice. Further, the ITK noted the need fora mechanism such as an arms-length ombudspersonthat could ensure that families are being heard.

a. Oversight bodies, such as Indigenous
Ombudsperson, Human Rights Tribunal, or
civilian police oversight bodies to represent theinterests of families, survivors, and communities
by investigating and addressing complaints ofmal-administration or violation of rights
Call for Justice 1.7 calls for the establishment of an
independent National Indigenous and Human Rights
Ombudsperson and a National Indigenous and Human
Rights Tribunal. It was noted that the Ombudsperson
and Indigenous Human Rights Tribunal should havethe authority to receive complaints from Indigenous
individuals and communities in relation to Indigenousand human rights violations, and to conduct thoroughand independent evaluations of government services
for First Nations, Inuit, and Métis people andcommunities to determine compliance with humanand Indigenous rights laws.

Some information was found which relates to an
oversight body or ombudsperson, but not at anational level. The First Voice Urban Indigenous
Coalition announced the creation of a community-led
working group aimed at developing a framework tostrengthen civilian-led oversight of police services
in Newfoundland and Labrador. At this point in
time, the provincial government has not yet made acommitment to implement this framework.

Bringing together Indigenous and women’s organizations, community groups,
academics, lawyers, and individuals with lived experience, this working groupwill develop a framework to strengthen civilian-led oversight of police services
in Newfoundland and Labrador.
57

Also, in April 2022, the City of Edmonton announced that an Indigenous
ombudsperson office will be created, to represent the interests of Indigenous
families, survivors, and communities by investigating and addressing complaints ofracism, discrimination, maladministration or violation of rights.
The creation of an independent national Indigenous oversight body was
identified as an important immediate next step in the National Action Plan. The
oversight body would represent the interests of families, survivors of violence,and Indigenous communities by investigating and addressing complaints of maladministration or a violation of a right. At this point in time, no action has beentaken on the creation of an independent national Indigenous oversight body.

b. National task force which reviews and re-investigates
unresolved files of missing and murdered Indigenous
women, girls, and 2SLGBTQQIA+ people; and police
services to provide unresolved cases of missing andmurdered Indigenous women, girls, and 2SLGBTQQIA+
people to the task force
Call for Justice 9.9 calls for the establishment of a national
task force, comprised of an independent, highly qualified, andspecialized team of investigators, to review and, if required,reinvestigate each case of all unresolved files of missing andmurdered Indigenous women, girls, and 2SLGBTQQIA people
from across Canada. Call for Justice 9.10 calls upon all police
services to voluntarily produce all unresolved cases of missing or
murdered Indigenous women, girls, and 2SLGBTQQIA+ people tothe national task force.
The only initiative found which focused on unsolved cases of
missing Indigenous women, girls, and 2SLGBTQQIA+ persons overthe last year was a social media campaign by the RCMP whichhighlighted a 11 unsolved cases and asked for the public’s help insolving the cases. The campaign was held in October to coincidewith the Sisters of Spirit Vigil each October 4th.

58

In October 2021, the
RCMP highlighted 11 casesof missing Indigenous
women and girls over a
period of 11 weeks onsocial media to seek thehelp of the public in solving
these outstanding cases.

No information was found on work relating to the creation of a national task force to examineunresolved cases of missing and murdered Indigenous women, girls, and 2SLGBTQQIA+ people.
c. Make the National Inquiry’s public record accessible and report annually to Parliament on theCalls for Justice; implement LFMO Calls for Miskotahȃ
The National Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous women and Girls report andmaterials is on a website currently maintained by the Government of Canada. Further, thewebsite for the National Action Plan also contains a link to the National Inquiry website.
Although this progress report on the National Action Plan was prepared with partners in an ad
hoc way, no independent mechanism to report on the implementation of the National Inquiry’s
Calls for Justice and Calls to Miskotahâ has been put in place to date.

a. Justice Reform Committee to review legislation
regarding gender-based violence, including
missing persons legislation

Goal 6: Transformational Change in Laws,
Policies, and Systems
To begin to achieve the goal of supportingtransformational change in laws, policies, and systems
across Canada in justice, health and wellness, humansecurity, culture, and Indigenous human rights that
include inherent, Treaty, and Constitutional rights,
four short-term priorities were identified: creationof a justice reform committee to review legislation
regarding gender-based violence; acknowledgement,
recognition, and protection of the rights of Indigenous
Peoples to their cultures and languages as inherent
rights; implementation of Gladue principles; andcreation of a Deputy Commissioner for Indigenous
Corrections and addressing issues for Indigenous
women and 2SLGBTQQIA+ offenders.

To support transformational change in the justicesystem, a review by a committee using an Indigenous
GBA plus lens needs to be applied to legislation
to understand the systemic barriers and racism,discrimination, and structural issues in the current
system that impact Indigenous women, girls, and2SLGBTQQIA+ people. A formal Justice Reform
Committee has not been established to date;however, there have been some reviews of federal,provincial, and territorial legislation and various partsof the justice system as it relates to gender-based
violence, including missing persons legislation.

59

Through discussions with various partners, it wasnoted that some work has commenced to review
missing persons legislation. As the Congress ofAboriginal Peoples stated at the April 2022 Standing
Senate Committee on Aboriginal Peoples, missing
persons legislation across most Canadian jurisdictions
focuses on estates, with no set standards for police
or investigators to follow when searching for missing
persons or ensure that Indigenous women, girls, and2SLGBTQQIA+ people who have gone missing arelooked for and supported. For instance, Lakehead
University in Ontario is partnering with the Universityof New Brunswick, Congress of Aboriginal Peoples,and New Brunswick Aboriginal Peoples Council tolead a project that examines ways to amend missing
persons legislation to include components that focus
on finding missing Indigenous women. This includes
work with the RCMP, provincial justice and public
safety departments and municipal policing agencies to
examine the issues faced in finding missing Indigenous
women, girls, and 2SLGBTQQIA+ people (e.g., lack of
Indigenous identifiers in police reports, discretionary
practices in determining if the person is Indigenous,
homelessness, etc.), and determining if there areopportunities to revise the legislation to address
the issues and establish standards for investigating
missing persons.

A number of provinces/territories are enacting
legislation to protect individuals from domestic
violence (Clare’s law). For instance, Alberta passed
the Disclosure to Protect Against Domestic Violence
Act (Clare’s Law) in 2021, which gives people who
feel at risk of domestic violence a way to obtain
information about their partners so they can makeinformed choices about their safety. Manitoba is
examining protocols to put in place to address theconcerns with the law in order to develop a made-inManitoba kind approach.

Saskatchewan was the first province inCanada to enact Clare’s Law in June 2020,and other jurisdictions are developing similar
legislation.

60

Ontario’s Anti-Human Trafficking Strategy Act, which received assent in June 2021, requires
the province to maintain an Anti-Human Trafficking Strategy. The Act recognizes thatIndigenous women and girls experience increased vulnerability of being targeted by traffickers
and comprise a disproportionate number of persons trafficked for the purpose of sexual
exploitation.24 The Act requires that the Strategy be reviewed and updated every five years
in consultation with groups adversely impacted by human trafficking, including Indigenous
communities and organizations. To guide the five-year review, the Act also sets out specificprinciples, including cultural responsiveness and recognition of Indigenous traditional
knowledge as a form of evidence, critical to informing Ontario’s response to human trafficking.
Although there are various reviews, amendments, and new legislation about domestic
violence and missing persons, this does not amount to a coordinated review by a committee
on gender-based violence or missing persons legislation. It is also not clear if an Indigenous
GBA plus lens has been applied to this work. Therefore, much more remains to be done.
b. Acknowledge, recognize, and protect the rights of Indigenous Peoples to their culturesand languages as inherent rights
Indigenous Peoples have their own identities and cultures that are unique and distinct.
Culture cannot be seen or defined as a set of traditions or activities. Culture is the wholeof these things, it is identity. Languages are more than just spoken words - they are woven
with traditional knowledge and are shared through stories and teachings. Languages are afoundational part of culture, and to identity. By honouring the strength of Indigenous women,
girls, and 2SLGBTQQIA+ people, and recognizing their inherent rights to their culture andlanguages, Indigenous women and 2SLGBTQQIA+ people are the leaders of today, reclaiming
place and power, and mentoring and guiding the future leaders - Indigenous girls and
2SLGBTQQIA+ youth.
Saskatchewan road signs feature a welcome in the Indigenous languages of each Treaty area. Aligns
with province’s efforts to recognize, acknowledge, and revitalize Indigenous languages.

24 Government of Ontario (2022). Ontario’s 2021-22 pathways to safety progress report. Available at: https://files.
ontario.ca/mccss-ontarios-2021-22-pathways-to-safety-progress-report-march-2022-en-2022-03-31.pdf.

61

On June 21, 2021, the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Act came into
force in Canada. This Act provides a framework to uphold Indigenous rights, both now and in the
future, and emphasizes the urgent need to respect and promote the inherent rights of Indigenous
Peoples including those originated from cultures, traditions, and histories. In December 2021,
Justice Canada launched a call for proposals from Indigenous Peoples, governments, andorganizations to lead consultations on an action plan and measures and share views and priorities
for the implementation of the Act for federal laws. As a part of this process, engagement with
Indigenous women, youth, and 2SLGBTQQIA+ people, as well as urban and other Indigenousorganizations and groups will be included.
Following the Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Act passed by the Government ofBritish Columbia in 2019 which established the United Nations Declaration as the Province’s
framework for reconciliation, the government prepared the 2022–2027 Declaration on the Rights
of Indigenous Peoples Act Action Plan. The action plan provides a province-wide, whole-ofgovernment approach to achieve the objectives of the United Nations Declaration over time andincludes four themes: self-determination and inherent right of self-government; title and rights ofIndigenous Peoples; ending Indigenous-specific racism and discrimination; and social, cultural andeconomic well-being.

The British Columbia Declaration Act Action
Plan was developed through two years ofintensive engagement to ensure it alignedwith the priorities of Indigenous Peoples in
BC. It includes goals, outcomes, and tangible
actions needed for meaningful progress inreconciliation.

Some provinces and territories are also working with
Indigenous partners on language initiatives. As an
example, the Mi’kmaw Language Act received Royal
Assent on April 22, 2022 and recognizes Mi’kmaq as
Nova Scotia’s first language.

The Mi’kmaw Language Act aligns with the
National Inquiry’s Calls for Justice by ensuring
meaningful access to language, culture, andidentity as a foundation for resilience andsafety. The legislation was developed side
by side with the Mi’kmaw and commits theprovince to work in partnership to create alanguage revitalization strategy.

On June 14, 2021, under the Indigenous Language Act,the first appointees were announced for the Office of
the Commissioner of Indigenous Languages (OCIL).
These appointees are representative of First Nations,
Inuit, and Métis peoples, and were selected for theirknowledge and expertise. The OCIL is an independent
entity from the Government of Canada and will
support Indigenous Peoples in self-determination
efforts to maintain and strengthen, reclaim, andrevitalize Indigenous languages, an inherent right. They
will also undertake research on funding provisions,will review complaints and provide alternate dispute
resolutions that are culturally appropriate.

Although a number of Acts and initiatives have been
put in place, there still remain many challenges,
gaps, and barriers to achieving the inherent rights ofIndigenous Peoples to their cultures and languages.

62

c. Implement Gladue principles that contribute to addressing systemic barriers, increase theinvolvement of Indigenous communities and organizations in rehabilitating offenders, andreduce the risk of future harm
There are several Calls for Justice and Calls for Miskotahȃ that speak to the need to implement
Gladue Principles in all areas of the justice system, including at bail, sentencing, and parole hearings.

In the 1999 Gladue case, the Supreme Court of Canada said that colonialism creates
challenges for many Indigenous people, and they are more likely to be sent to jail.
The criminal justice system failed Indigenous people. Gladue principles try to addressthese failures and make sure judges don’t repeat the same mistakes that add todiscrimination.
Judges must consider Gladue factors when they make decisions and must consider
options other than jail to help address the challenges Indigenous people face.
Aboriginal Legal Aid in BC
In June 2021, the Government of Canada confirmed $10 million in funding to support
implementation of Gladue principles in the criminal justice system through Justice Canada’s
Indigenous Justice Program. These Indigenous-led projects use Gladue principles as a lens toaddress systemic issues in policies, practices, processes, and institutions. Projects may also focus
on training criminal justice system officials on the importance, and use, of Gladue factors indecision-making.
As a part of the Canadian Institute for the Administration of Justice, the 90-minute webinar, Why
Are Gladue Reports so Important? was made available in 2021 for judges, court employees, andlawyers and provided information on why Gladue reports are used and how they are used. The
Aboriginal Legal Services of Toronto was a partner in delivering this training.
Indigenous organizations are also providing workshops and training on Gladue report writing.
As an example, in April 2022, the Newfoundland Aboriginal Women’s Network (NAWN) brought
together 10 people from across Newfoundland and Labrador for a training session on Gladue
report writing. Also, Grand Council Treaty #3 Kaakewasseya Justice Services, that provides
Gladue Report Writers and Gladue Aftercare Services, received funding through the Indigenous
Justice Program and Legal Aid Ontario. Enhanced services over the next several years include
making recommendations for alternative sentencing such as restorative justice, healing circles,
culturally- appropriate treatment options, as well as assisting community members to follow
through with Gladue Report recommendations. Communities will also benefit from Gladue
Aftercare’s assistance in implementing recommendations for alternative sentencing outlined in
Gladue reports.

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As a way of increasing the involvement of Indigenous communities and organizations in rehabilitating offenders,the Correctional Service Canada (CSC) EXCOM Sub-Committee on Indigenous Corrections is currently
reviewing the Section 84 release planning process to streamline and increase the numbers of Indigenous
offenders being released with a Section 84 release plan. This is important because Indigenous communities andorganizations can help create culturally appropriate rehabilitation plans with offenders which supports safer
communities and success for Indigenous offenders being supervised in the community.

A Section 84 release plan ensures that Indigenous communities and organizations are actively
involved in supporting an offender in the community, providing services and interventions theyneed to be successful upon release.
Some recent funding for implementation of Gladue principles within the criminal justice system has been provided
and services, such as Gladue Report writing, continue to be provided by organizations and in communities. Also,
although a review of section 84 release planning has started, it is not clear what impact this will have on the
involvement of Indigenous communities and organizations in the rehabilitation of offenders.

dramatically over the years. While Indigenous womenaccount for approximately 3.4% of the overall adultfemale population of Canada, 25 as of May 2022, forthe first time, they accounted for one-half of thewomen offender population in federal prisons in
Canada. 26 This is a dramatic increase from what itwas 10 years ago (34%), 27 and illustrates the criticalneed for action to address the underlying causes ofincarceration of Indigenous women.

d. Create a Deputy Commissioner for Indigenous
Corrections and address issues for Indigenous
women and 2SLGBTQQIA+ offenders, such as
prohibiting transfer of women prisoners to maletreatment centres; and increased opportunities
for education/training in prison
The National Inquiry included numerous Calls for
Justice relating to the federal correctional system,
including calls for the federal government to fully
implement recommendations from various reports,
inquiries, and commissions that have been made overthe last 25 years, such as more Indigenous-run andculturally appropriate rehabilitation programs.

Although the current structure includes a Director
General of the Indigenous Initiatives Directorate whoreports to the Senior Deputy Commissioner, on May 27,
2022, the Correctional Service of Canada announced
its commitment, through the mandate letter of theCommissioner of CSC, to create a new position of
Deputy Commissioner for Indigenous Corrections.

The over-representation of Indigenous women
within the federal correctional system has increased

25 Statistics Canada (2016). 2016 Census of population. Custom Tabulation.
26 White, P. (2022). Shocking and shameful: For the first time, Indigenous women make up half the female population in Canada’sfederal prisons. Available at: https://www.theglobeandmail.com/canada/article-half-of-all-women-inmates-are-indigenous/?utm_
source=Shared+Article+Sent+to+User&utm_medium=E-mail:+Newsletters+/+E-Blasts+/+etc.&utm_campaign=Shared+Web+Article+Links.
27 Office of the Correctional Investigator (2021). Proportion of Indigenous women in federal custody nears 50%: Correctional Investigatorissues statement. Available at: https://www.oci-bec.gc.ca/cnt/comm/press/press20211217-eng.aspx.

64

CSC does not have a policy that prohibits the transfer of federally incarcerated women inneed of mental health care to all-male treatment centres. CSC’s Regional Psychiatric Centre
in Saskatoon has a separate dedicated unit for women offenders who have intermediate
and acute mental health needs. CSC can also access a 15-bed intensive mental healthunit for women via a partnership with l’Institut Philippe-Pinel de Montréal. Current CSC
guidelines state that the placement of women in men’s Regional Treatment Centres is only for
emergency circumstances and for short-term stabilization. 28
CSC provides education and correctional programming for Indigenous women offenders.
This includes adult basic education programming (i.e., grades 1 to 12 or its equivalent) for
all offenders whose grade level is below grade 12. CSC offers separate Indigenous Women
Offender Correctional Programs (IWOCP) to respond to Indigenous women’s unique,culturally-related needs and provide a balance between a healing and a skills-based approach.
In 2021-22, a collaboration between a non-profit organization and CORCAN adapted their
Indigenous Entrepreneurship course for delivery to individuals under CSC supervision. This
course is being offered in 2022-23 at Saskatchewan and Alberta CSC sites, including the two
women offender sites in that region. 29

Goal 7: Culturally Appropriate Indigenous Data Infrastructure
To achieve the goal of establishing a culturally appropriate Indigenous data infrastructurereflective of Indigenous and 2SLGBTQQIA+ people, based on Indigenous data sovereignty
and distinctions-based indicators, three short-term priorities were identified: accurate
tracking of data on missing and murdered Indigenous women, girls, and 2SLGBTQQIA+
people; collection of disaggregated data to report on violence against Indigenous women,
girls, and 2SLGBTQQIA+ people, and laws, policies and services; and distinctions-based andintersectional data about Indigenous women, girls, and 2SLGBTQQIA+ people in the criminal
justice system.
There are longstanding gaps in data relating to Indigenous people in general, and more
specifically relating to police-reported data, and data on missing and murdered Indigenous
women, girls, and 2SLGBTQQIA+ people.30 Working with families and survivors, there
is a critical need to build a culturally appropriate data infrastructure to support better
information, Indigenous data sovereignty, and Indigenous data governance principles, such as
the principles of OCAP® (ownership, control, access, possession).

28 CSC (2020). Integrated mental health guidelines. Document provided by CSC.
29 CSC (2022). Information provided by CSC on the Indigenous Entrepreneurship course. Provided May 10, 2022.
30 Department of Justice (2021). Understanding Indigenous women and girls’ experiences with victimization andviolence. State of the Criminal Justice System Dashboard. Available at: https://www.justice.gc.ca/socjs-esjp/en/
women-femmes/wgv-ffv?msclkid=f2812794c2b911ec8c4da4c0864a2b1f.

65

The federal government, through Statistics Canada and other federal departments and agencies, are working
to improve data on Indigenous Peoples in general. Further, the First Nations Information Governance Centre(FNIGC) is working on implementation of the First Nations Data Governance Strategy which is a collective
vision for the future as articulated by First Nations leadership, rights holders, and data sovereignty experts.
It reflects priorities specific to establishing a network of fully functioning, interconnected data and statisticalservice centres, or Regional Information Governance Centres, and all of the capacities needed to best serve
the data and statistical needs of First Nations. Similarly, provinces and territories have been looking to improvedata and performance measurement on Indigenous Peoples. For instance, the Government of Ontario, with
Indigenous partners, is commencing work on performance measurement and data under the Pathways to Safety
Strategy. The Yukon Advisory Committee on MMIWG2S+ recently held an Accountability Forum to sharepromising practices, foster relationship, and build momentum for the implementation of Changing the Story to
Upholding Dignity and Justice: Yukon’s MMIWG2S+ Strategy.

Various initiatives are being funded through Budget
2021 and 2022. As part of CIRNAC’s Indigenousled Data Research Projects Program, organizations
can submit proposals for funding for innovative andIndigenous-centred methodologies until 2026-27. The
intent is to support data projects designed to develop
distinctions-based or identity-specific indicators
or methodologies to increase knowledge around
missing and murdered Indigenous women, girls,
and 2SLGBTQQIA+ people. For instance, throughthis funding, LFMO is developing partnerships with
Statistics Canada and the RCMP to seek clarity on
the data and gather counts to better document the
number of missing and murdered Métis women andgirls. There are challenges to getting the full picture
as information is not always gathered which identifies
whether the person is Métis.

a. Address issues related to the accurate trackingof data on missing and murdered Indigenous
women, girls, and 2SLGBTQQIA+ people
Throughout the past year, there has been somework to get accurate data on missing and murdered
Indigenous women, girls, and 2SLGBTQQIA+ people.
For instance, Statistics Canada is engaging with
Indigenous partners and the Canadian Association ofChiefs of Police (CACP) to develop consistent reporting
mechanisms of information on missing Indigenous
women, girls, and 2SLGBTQQIA+ people. This will help
ensure consistency of the data and the ability to track
it over time. Further, the MMIWG Secretariat has donesome initial planning to create a National Indigenous
Data Advisory Group on missing and murdered
Indigenous women, girls, and 2SLGBTQQIA+ people,
including reaching out to various Indigenous partners,
families, survivors, data specialists, provincial andterritorial representatives, and Government of Canada
departments over the past year.

During the winter of 2021-22, 19 innovative
data research projects, led by Indigenous
people, were approved as part of the
Indigenous-led Data Research Projects
Program. These projects aim to support
innovative Indigenous-led approaches toimproving data methodologies specific tomissing and murdered Indigenous women,
girls and 2SLGBTQQIA+ people.
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b. Collect disaggregated data (Inuit, Métis, and First Nations) to report on violence against
Indigenous women, girls, and 2SLGBTQQIA+ people, and on progress and the effectivenessof laws, policies, and services
CIRNAC’s Indigenous-led Data Research Projects Program, in addition to supporting data
projects focusing on missing and murdered Indigenous women, girls, and 2SLGBTQQIA+ people,
also supports data projects focusing on safety for Indigenous women, girls, and 2SLGBTQQIA+
people.
In addition, Statistics Canada and the CACP are working together with other partners andcommunities to better understand and advance the collection of data on Indigenous identityof victims and accused through national police-reported crime statistics.31 This will support
researchers, policy makers, service providers, and others as they work to develop informed
responses to violence against Indigenous women, girls, and 2SLGBTQQIA+ people and related
issues, including over-representation as victims and accused persons.
Under the federal Gender-based Violence Strategy, WAGE and Statistics Canada havecollaborated to conduct research, collect data, and produce a number of analytical reports ongender-based violence, including experiences of Indigenous Peoples. Statistics Canada andWAGE have also developed a project plan for the second cycle of the Survey of Safety in Publicand Private Spaces, which is a key means of collecting data on gender-based violence in Canada
and will further increase the availability of disaggregated and intersectional data on violence
experienced by Indigenous women, girls, and 2SLGBTQQIA+ people.
Finally, in 2021, the FNIGC released a report entitled Social and Economic Well-Being: A First
Nations Gender-Balanced Analysis. The report employs a First Nations Gender-Balanced Analysis(FNGBA) to better understand the conditions and experiences among First Nations male, female,and Two-Spirit populations living on reserves and in Northern communities across Canada asa step towards restoring the traditional gender balance. The report includes some analysis oncommunity safety and violence.

31 Statistics Canada (2020). Collection of data on Indigenous and ethnocultural groups in Canada’s official policereported crime statistics. Available at: https://www150.statcan.gc.ca/n1/en/daily-quotidien/200715/dq200715g-eng.
pdf?st=05CrmzqT.

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c. Collect distinctions-based and intersectional data about Indigenous women, girls, and 2SLGBTQQIA+
people in the criminal justice system
As a part of the efforts to collect distinctions-based and intersectional data, the Justice Data Modernization
Initiative announced in Budget 2021 committed $6.7 million over 5 years, and $1.4 million of ongoing funding
to Statistics Canada and Justice Canada to improve the collection and use of disaggregated data. The intent of
this initiative is to ultimately reduce the over-representation of Indigenous and racialized people in the criminal
justice system by providing data for informed decision-making about policies and programs. The Statistics
Canada portion of the justice data modernization budget announcement will be invested in work to produce
ongoing indicators of overrepresentation of Indigenous people with the criminal justice system, includinginteractions with police, criminal courts and correctional services, as well as measuring re-contact with thecriminal justice system. Statistics Canada is also coordinating the establishment of a national framework on
National Indicators of Overrepresentation in the Criminal Justice System. With the other half of the funding,policy makers at Justice Canada will look at the changes to policy and programs, as well as legislation, and thepotential impacts these changes make on the over-representation of Indigenous and racialized groups. Research
will leverage existing survey and program data, and Statistics Canada’s component of the initiative and otherdisaggregated data initiatives.

68

Status of Actions to Have Been Implemented by June 2022
The National Action Plan identified seven immediate next steps that governments
and representative Indigenous organizations would focus on over the first 12
months. Some were identified as critical for implementation of the National
Action Plan, and others were felt to be important early steps in responding to theneeds and rights of survivors, family members, and Indigenous women, girls, and2SLGBTQQIA+ people.
Tracey Dunnigan prepares a smudge during the national Sisters in Spirit Vigil that takes
place annually across Canada. Regina, Saskatchewan October 4, 2021.

Three of the seven immediate next steps were also common short-term priorities
that urgently required work in the first 12 months following release of the National
Action Plan. These included:•

The need for public awareness and training•

The provision of immediate support services for survivors and family membersof missing and murdered Indigenous women, girls, and 2SLGBTQQIA+ people•

The creation of an oversight body

The progress on these three priorities has been discussed under the section oncommon short-term priorities. The remaining four immediate next steps follow.

69Immediate Development of an Implementation Plan
The National Inquiry Call for Justice 1.1(i) called for all governments
to “Table and implement a National Action Plan that is flexible anddistinctions-based, and that includes regionally specific plans with
devoted funding and timetables for implementation that are rooted
in the local cultures and communities of diverse Indigenous identities,
with measurable goals and necessary resources dedicated to capacity
building, sustainability, and long-term solutions.” Call for Justice 1.1(ii)called for all governments to “make publicly available on an annual
basis reports of ongoing actions and developments in measurable
goals related to the National Action Plan.”
Based on the Call for Justice, the National Action Plan called for:•Development of an Implementation Plan that includes theshort-term priorities identified in the National Action Plan, as
well as medium- and long-term priorities that will lead to realsystemic change.

•

Each priority will include specific actions, expected outcomes,
timelines, and resources.

•

Determining mechanisms and processes for national
independent oversight and coordination of the National Action
Plan, that includes Contributing Partners and governments withfinancial support.

•

Continuance of Contributing Partners to continue developing
their implementation plans.

•

Clearly defining the roles and responsibilities of all governments(federal, provincial/territorial, municipal, Indigenous) andIndigenous organizations to implement the 231 Calls for Justiceand 62 Calls for Miskotahȃ.

•Develop an accountability/results structure for the National
Action Plan.

•

An Indigenous and gender-based analysis plus (GBA Plus) lens
will be applied to the implementation plan.

70

It was anticipated, as a high priority, that a full implementation plan would be immediately
developed after the release of the National Action Plan, including who would be responsible
for achieving each action. Further, as an evergreen document, it is recognized that the
National Action Plan will continue to grow and change as priorities shift or change, or as newpriorities are identified.
There has not been any progress over the last year on development of an implementation
plan, nor an accountability/results structure, for the National Action Plan. During discussions,
the National Family and Survivors Circle, Contributing Partners, the federal government andProvinces/Territories indicated that they have been working on their own strategies or actionplans. This work includes analyzing the Calls for Justice and Calls for Miskotahâ, identifying
those that fall within their responsibility and roles, and priority setting exercises. Furthermore,some resources were identified in the 2021 and 2022 Budgets to fund various activities andinitiatives. However, an overall implementation plan for the National Action Plan with specificactions, outcomes, and timelines, has not been prepared.
Budget 2021 provided funding to make the MMIWG Secretariat within the federal departmentof CIRNAC permanent, effective August 2021. The role of the Secretariat is to coordinate andmonitor the work in response to the National Inquiry to ensure progress continues. This includes
the development of and annual reporting on the National Action Plan and the Federal Pathway.
The Federal Pathway outlines initiatives across federal government focused on addressing theissues identified in the Calls for Justice. Additionally, the MMIWG Secretariat is responsible
for bringing together partners, including families and survivors of missing and murdered
Indigenous women, girls, and 2SLGBTQQIA+ people’s organizations, national and regional
Indigenous organizations, municipalities, provinces and territories for work on the Federal
Pathway and National Action Plan, and to support related implementation work on the issues.
Due to outside factors (e.g. Core Working Group ending its work, elections), this convening role
was challenging. In addition, within the past year, there have been some challenges on moving
forward on implementation of the National Action Plan. A mechanism or process has not been
determined for national independent oversight and coordination of the National Action Plan.
It must be noted that the MMIWG Secretariat, is not, nor is it meant to be this independent
oversight mechanism.
Given that work on the implementation plan for the National Action Plan did not start, an
Indigenous and gender-based analysis plus (GBA Plus) lens could not be applied to it. Some
contributing partners have applied an Indigenous and GBA Plus lens to work they have been
doing. As an example, a Pauktuutit Inuit Women of Canada committee has applied an Inuitspecific GBA plus framework to the work they have been doing on MMIWG2S+ people. Further,at the February 2022 Pauktuutit Inuit Women of Canada Annual General Meeting, it was
decided that the Inuit-specific GBA plus framework would be applied for all of their actions.

71

Continued Involvement of Families and Survivors in the Implementation of the National Action Plan
Another immediate next step was to ensure that survivors and families are involved in the implementation of
the National Action Plan. This included ensuring:•With adequate funding, the National Family and Survivors Circle would develop and implement an
engagement strategy that provides further opportunity for families and survivors to provide insight andinput into the National Action Plan’s next steps.

•

The Contributing Partners continuing to complete their Action and Implementation Plans built upon their
engagement with families and survivors.

In September 2021, the National Family and Survivors Circle completed a work plan to advise on implementationof the Calls for Justice. The work plan includes four pillars: inclusion, interconnectedness, accountability, andimpact, which provide guidance on how to work with families and survivors ethically and how to respect theirexpertise, lived experience, and agency.
Most of the contributing partners and provinces/territories have completed some work relating to the Calls for
Justice and/or the Calls for Miskotahȃ. This includes: consultation with Indigenous organizations; creation ofIndigenous advisory committees to discuss next steps, analysis on activities underway and where gaps exist;
creation of a strategy on missing and murdered Indigenous women, girls, and 2SLGBTQQIA+ people; and/or
development of action plans. Contributing partners have been engaging with families and survivors as the plans
are being developed.

72

Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls Federal-Provincial/
Territorial Table
To achieve transformative change, it is important to look at existing systems,
policies, and processes, the impact that these are having, and the systemicchanges that need to take place for long-lasting meaningful change. The creationof a Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls Federal-Provincial/
Territorial Table was identified as an immediate next step to emphasize the needfor a coordinated way to move forward on the National Action Plan, and to provide
space for discussion and action across governments in the areas of administrative
issues, policy, resourcing, resolution of interjurisdictional responsibilities, andprocesses that emerge from the implementation of the National Action Plan.
Since before the National Inquiry was set up, Federal-Provincial-Territorial (FPT)
working-level representatives have been meeting in an FPT Working Group on
Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women, Girls, and 2SLGBTQQIA+ people.
These meetings have continued since June 3, 2021 on a monthly basis. At thesemeetings, each participant has been able to share an overview of the priorities that
their government has been, are, or will be, focusing on as it relates to missing andmurdered Indigenous women, girls, and 2SLGBTQQIA+ people.
On March 22, 2022, the creation of a standing Federal-Provincial-Territorial tableon Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women, Girls, and 2SLGBTQQIA+ People
was announced as a part of the Delivering for Canadians Now. This Deputy/
Ministerial level FPT table has not officially convened as of the release of thisreport, and it was announced that it would facilitate and coordinate the work on
missing and murdered Indigenous women, girls, and 2SLGBTQQIA+ people.
It is crucial that the senior official FPT table be created, and a mechanism foundto involve Indigenous governments and representative Indigenous organizations,in order to move forward on the National Action Plan. Coupled with theopportunities for discussion on their distinct actions plans, strategies and/or
approaches to responding to the Calls for Justice and the Calls for Miskotahâ, allgovernments and Indigenous representative organizations can work together to
identify areas of co-implementation and co-management of these commitments.

73

Create Accountability Mechanisms for the Reporting on the 231 Calls for Justice and the 62 Calls for
Miskotahȃ
The final immediate next step identified in the National Action Plan was to create accountability mechanisms.
This included:•

Creation of broad accountability mechanisms rooted in Indigenous data sovereignty focused on truth-tellingto ensure the National Inquiry’s 231 Calls for Justice and LFMO’s 62 Calls for Miskotahȃ are implemented
by all governments (federal, provincial/territorial, municipal, Indigenous) and organizations, and theiroutcomes are measured for effectiveness in creating transformative change and achieving decolonization.
This could be part of the responsibilities of the independent National Action Plan Committee.

•

Creation of data accountability mechanisms rooted in Indigenous Data Sovereignty.

•

Creation of an independent web portal to post annual reports which track the progress on responding to theCalls for Justice and Calls for Miskotahȃ.

•By June 2022, publish the first annual report on progress in responding to the Calls for Justice and the Calls
for Miskotahȃ.

Although some provinces/territories and contributing partners have said they are beginning to develop
accountability mechanisms relating to the Calls for Justice and/or the Calls for Miskotahȃ, no work has been
undertaken to create broad overall accountability mechanisms rooted in Indigenous data sovereignty for
implementation by all governments and organizations. Further, no data accountabilities rooted in Indigenous
Data Sovereignty have been created.
Although not necessarily independent, because it is managed through the federal government, the National
Inquiry’s website is still active and accessible. Further, a website has been created for the National Action Plan,
where this first progress report will be made accessible to the public. Some provinces and territories are also
creating websites for the Calls for Justice. For instance, the GNWT has launched a MMIWG webpage which
provides an overview of the GNWT’s participation in, and response to, the National Inquiry.

74

There are numerous issues relating to funding.
For instance, although a number of funding
commitments were announced over the past year,
some announcements include funding from previous
years. Further, this year many funding processes
were launched late, making it nearly impossible tosee any impact of these funded initiatives. Access tocontribution funding is also complex and burdensome,which means there are barriers for grassroots
organizations to receive funding because they may be
unaware of potential funding opportunities, unable toapply because they do not have the capacity to prepare
proposals (i.e., time or resources), and because funding
criteria is often narrow in scope. Further, funding may
not meet the needs of organizations because it is onetime funding when there is a need for a long-termsustainable approach to funding for continued support
for Indigenous women, girls, and 2SLGBTQQIA+ people.

Gaps in Achieving the Goals of the
National Action Plan
As demonstrated in the sections above on thecommon short-term priorities and actions to havebeen implemented by June 2022, it is evident that
there are some major gaps towards achieving thegoals of the National Action Plan. However, it isimportant to note that the common short-term
priorities were meant to be started within one tothree years, so it should not be expected that all ofthem would be implemented in the first year. Further,even though it may seem that no activities haveoccurred over the last year, it does not mean that
there are no existing services or programs in place.
This report focused on new or expanded initiatives orprograms since June 2021.
One major gap is that a mechanism to ensurethat the priorities of the National Action Planare implemented was not put in place. A crucial
immediate next step was supposed to be the creationof an independent national committee, made up ofcontributing partners and government, that could
ensure coordination and progress on the National
Action Plan. Also, an implementation plan was to becreated immediately after release of the National
Action Plan, including short-, medium- and longterm priorities, as well as specific actions, timelines,
responsibilities, expected outcomes, and resources.
Neither an independent national committee nor
implementation plan have been created to date.
Therefore, over the year, there has been a lack of
coordination and information-sharing on the National
Action Plan among governments, representative
Indigenous organizations, and other partners; families
and survivors have not had an opportunity to be
involved in work on the National Action Plan; and,
there has not been a structured approach to move
forward on the priorities identified. Further, without
an implementation plan, it is difficult to measureconcrete progress on the National Action Plan.

Another noticeable gap relates to support services
for survivors and families of missing and murdered
Indigenous women, girls, and 2SLGBTQQIA+ people.
Although a few additional support services have been
put in place with resources to help families navigate thevarious systems, it is not clear that a comprehensive
approach to support Indigenous victims of crime andfamilies/friends of Indigenous murdered or missing
persons is readily or consistently available to all who
need the support, and the services are often not
specifically designed by and for Indigenous people.
Importantly, there are little to no services specificallydesigned for 2SLGBTQQIA+ people. Further, anationwide emergency number has not been put
in place. The other major gap is that a national task
force to review and re-investigate unresolved files of
missing and murdered Indigenous women, girls, and2SLGBTQQIA+ people has not been created.
Although many programs indicate that the services
include 2SLGBTQQIA+ people, other than a few
new initiatives, there is little concrete action todemonstrate how 2SLGBTQQIA+ people arereceiving services or programs that meet their needs.

75

The creation of an independent national Indigenous oversight bodyor Independent National Indigenous Human Rights Ombudsperson
and/or Tribunal was identified as an important immediate next stepin the National Action Plan. The oversight body would represent
the interests of families, survivors, and Indigenous communities
by investigating and addressing complaints of mal-administration
or a violation of a right. There has been no advancement on thisoversight body.
In relation to the broader root causes of violence against Indigenous
women, girls, and 2SLGBTQQIA+ people, although there has beensome work to develop 24-hour in-person support systems or
wraparound services specifically for Indigenous women, girls, and2SLGBTQQIA+ people, this is still a major need for these services
across Canada. Further, although some reviews have been conducted
and some provinces/territories have enacted legislation regarding
gender-based violence, a Justice Reform Committee to review genderbased violence legislation has not been formed, nor has substantial
work been done on missing persons legislation. Also, the call for aguaranteed annual livable income has not been implemented.
Finally, as noted earlier, although the federal governmentand some provinces/territories and contributing partners are
beginning to develop accountability mechanisms relating to theCalls for Justice and/or the Calls for Miskotah฀, no work has been
undertaken to create broad overall accountability mechanisms
rooted in Indigenous data sovereignty for implementation by all
governments and organizations. Furthermore, a major gap is thelack of data relating to Indigenous people in general, and specificallydisaggregated data including distinctions-based information.
In addition, there is a need for data specifically on missing andmurdered Indigenous women, girls, and 2SLGBTQQIA+ people, as
well as more comprehensive data on Indigenous people involved in
the criminal justice system including victims and offenders.
While it is clear that some action has been taken over the past
year, this report also identifies the vast amount of work stillneeded to end the violence against Indigenous women, girls, and2SLGBTQQIA+ people, and the importance of all governments,
Indigenous representative organizations, and other partners
working towards a common goal.

76

National Family and Survivors Circle
Key Highlights
In April 2021, the NFSC issued a news release recognizing the significance of theinvestment of the $2.2 Billion towards the National Action Plan. Since the Budget
was released, the NFSC advocated to ensure that federal funding be aimed at thecontinual race- and gender-based violence experienced by Indigenous women, girls,
and 2SLGBTQQIA+ people and addressing the 231 Calls for Justice from the National
Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls.
The NFSC advocated for other governments and institutions to implement the Calls
for Justice to end race- and gender-based violence.
NFSC members have worked to create pathways for MMIWG2S+ families andsurvivors of gender-based violence through regional initiatives and outreach including:•Constant advocacy for families and survivors to
be at tables•

Participating in regional planning committees,
municipal roundtables, and other forums(provincial and national) to address the 231 Calls
for Justice – including promoting best practices toengaging families and survivors

•

•

•

Collaborating with families, survivors, andpartners on commemoration events and activities(e.g., vigils, rallies, marches, monuments, etc.) andother dates of significance (e.g., Take Back theNight, Women’s Memorial March, etc.)
Communication – with families, grassroots,
organizations, governments, and various partners
Establishing and maintaining positive relationships
with services providers and leadership
77•

Sharing of regional initiatives – e.g., Yukon
Accountability Forum 2022, Iskwewuk
E-wichiwitochik, City of Saskatoon “Coming Home”
Implementation and consultations on development
and implementation of the Office of the Matriarch•

Presentations to education on the 231 Calls
for Justice – including encouraging youth tobecome involved•

Media interviews•

Conducting training on victim-centred
approaches•

Self-education•

Providing frontline services, e.g., Food
Sovereignty Program, providing updates to
MMIWG2S+ families who are homeless•Promoted the NFSC Pillar of Interconnectedness bybuilding the foundation for partnerships with Federal/
Provincial/Territorial/Indigenous (FPTI) tables andfederal government departments, and throughmeetings with the new Minister of Crown-Indigenous
Relations. The NFSC identified the need for longterm investments to be linked to specific Calls for
Justice and clearly identified the requirement forreporting on the benefits, successes, and impacts.
The NFSC advocated that all funding for initiatives
be clearly identified as existing, realigned, enhanced,
new, and distinctions-based, remaining withinfederal departments, outgoing to communities andpartners, on-reserve/off-reserve, etc. The NFSC
provided consistent messaging on the importanceof transformative change where impact is felt on the
ground by developing a strategy and implementationof the National Action Plan and the Federal Pathway.

Attending and presenting at various conferences –including advocating for the inclusion of families
and survivors

NFSC worked on high level and strategic internal
documents and processes on its interim operations
and governance. Based on the NFSC guiding principle
of “Nothing About Us, Without Us”, the NFSC isseeking resources to support a national virtual
engagement and survey process for the inclusion offamilies of Missing and Murdered Indigenous women,
girls, and 2SLGBTQQIA+ people (MMIWG2S+) andsurvivors of gender-based violence across Canada
to be included in the development of a National
Family and Survivors Circle independent, legallyincorporated, and non-profit entity.

Progress/Successes

In an April 8, 2022, news release, the NFSC
highlighted the missed opportunities in Budget
2022 to specifically reference how affectedfamilies, communities and survivors of genderbased violence would benefit. For example, Budget
2022’s commitment to help Indigenous communities
mitigate the on-going impacts of COVID-10 could
have referenced the “shadow pandemic” of increased
gender-based violence during the pandemic.

Developed a 2021-2022 NFSC Work Plan guided
by the NFSC Vision and Mission and Four Pillars –Inclusion, Interconnectedness, Accountability, andImpact.
Promoted the NFSC Pillar of Inclusion by providingcollective advice to federal government departments
on various common short-term priority items within
the Federal Pathway to promote best practices forengaging MMIWG families and survivors of genderbased violence in barrier-free processes that are
funded and include supports (e.g., trauma-informed,
wrap-around, etc.).

Promoted the NFSC Pillars of Accountability andImpact through consistent messaging and advocacythat the MMIWG2S+ issue remain at the forefrontof investments and actions; for all governments andcontributing partners to clearly identify investments,
actions with clear timelines, sharing of results andimpacts on the ground, and demonstrating MMIWG
families, survivors of gender-based violence, andIndigenous women, girls, and 2SLGBTQQIA+ people
are involved; and for the immediate implementationof Call for Justice 1.7 establishment of a National
Indigenous and Human Rights Ombudsperson and a
National Indigenous and Human Rights Tribunal.

Adopted motions to establish an independent,
legally incorporated, and non-profit National Family
and Survivors Circle entity and to direct the NFSC
Technical Team to undertake actions to implement
the motion including retaining professional services.
Legal reservation of the “National Family andSurvivors Circle, Inc.” name with the Manitoba
Companies Branch, Province of Manitoba.

78

On March 19, 2022, the NFSC issued a news releasecalling on all governments, including Indigenous
governments, agencies, institutions, and all Canadians
to urgently act on implementing the 231 Calls for
Justice as legal imperatives. NFSC Chair, Hilda
Anderson-Pryz, stated, “The ultimate goal must be to
end all forms of gender-based violence.”

Next Steps/Priorities
The NFSC is working towards establishing an
independent, legally incorporated, and non-profit
National Family and Survivors Circle entity through:•In a March 24, 2022 news release, the NFSC calledon all governments, organizations, agencies, andinstitutions to collectively take action, speak out,
and stand together against all forms of genderbased violence against Indigenous women, girls, and2SLGBTQQIA+ people regardless of residency, toinclude the following immediate actions: independent
mechanisms for disclosures; establishing and funding
victim-centred and self-determined crisis and healing
supports; safe spaces for programs and services;
creating and implementing rights-based policies
for prevention and safety; and all core and projectfunding agreements must demonstrate prevention
and protection against gender-based violence interms and conditions.

Immediately seeking resources to conduct
an independent national virtual engagement
and survey with families of MMIWG and
2SLGBTQQIA+ People and survivors of genderbased violence.

The NFSC is developing a 2022-2023 NFSC
Workplan to:•

Secure sustainable core funding for the
independent NFSC entity – operations,management, and infrastructure.Continue
engagement of MMIWG families and survivors ofgender-based violence.

•Continue promotion of the NFSC Four Pillars andcontribution to the NAP.

•

Continue advocacy and strengthening
relationships with all governments andcontributing partners.

Reports/Publications
NFSC Contribution to the 2022 NAP: https://familysurvivorscircle.ca/2021/06/02/napcontribution
NFSC website: https://familysurvivorscircle.ca
NFSC Facebook: @familysurvivorscircle
NFSC Twitter: @nfscircle
NFSC Instagram: @familysurvivorscircle

79

Assembly of First Nations
In 2021, the National Chief of the Assembly of First
Nations released The Healing Path Forward, 2021
Federal Priorities for Strengthening and Rebuilding First
Nations. The Healing Path calls for Canada to fully
implement all 231 Calls for Justice from the National
Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Womenand Girls, and to ensure implementation is undertakenin the spirit of reconciliation.

Background on Regional Engagement
and the First Nations Action Plan
In 2021-2020 the AFN carried out a Regional
Engagement Strategy to incorporate perspectives
from survivors and families into the report Breathing
Life into the Calls for Justice: An action plan to end
violence against First Nations women, girls, and2SLGBTQQIA+ people. The AFN Women’s Council
worked with the regions to host 85 virtual sessions
across Canada, with 1,144 participants through either
virtual meetings, surveys, written submissions, andvideo submissions. In addition to the First Nations
Action Plan report, the Regional Engagement
Strategy produced regional reports that capture theuniqueness of each region while the First Nations
Action Plan reflects the themes that can be addressed
at a national level.

Background of the Assembly ofFirst Nations
The Assembly of First Nations (AFN) is a national
advocacy organization that works to advance thecollective aspirations of First Nations individuals andcommunities across Canada on matters of national orinternational nature and concern. The AFN hosts two
Assemblies a year where mandates and directives forthe organization are established through resolutions
directed and supported by the First Nations in
Assembly (elected Chiefs or proxies from member
First Nations).

The First Nations Action Plan report includes three(3) frameworks to guide the implementation work.

In addition to the direction provided by Chiefs ofeach member First Nation, the AFN is guided by
an Executive Committee consisting of an elected
National Chief and Regional Chiefs from eachprovince and territory. Representatives from fivenational councils (Knowledge Keepers, Youth,
Veterans, 2SLGBTQQIA+, and Women) support andguide the decisions of the Executive Committee.

80Framework for Supporting Survivors and Families
The framework for supporting survivors and families guides the development
and implementation of strategies that should be developed by all levels ofgovernment to support First Nations survivors and families when they need it
the most. The three primary pillars to support survivors and families includes anational strategy to provide “wrap-around” services for survivors and families sothere is consistency between jurisdictions, the creation and funding of a national
investigative taskforce to review or reopen cold case investigations involving First
Nations women, girls, and 2SLGBTQQIA+ people, and establishing a National
Indigenous Human Rights Ombudsperson and National Indigenous Human Rights
Tribunal.

Framework for Prevention Services
The framework for prevention recognizes that First Nations women, girls, and2SLGBTQQIA+ people have the right to live free of violence and all forms of
discrimination. A national First Nations MMIWG2S+ Prevention Strategy is neededto address the underlying factors that contribute to the disproportionate rate ofviolence experienced by First Nations women, girls, and 2SLGBTQQIA+ people.
While there are a number of existing programs and services being offered, there
is no comprehensive and coordinated national response for a First Nations led
violence and prevention strategy.

Framework for Healing Ourselves and Our Nations
The framework for healing ourselves and our nations recognizes that overcoming
violence against First Nations women, girls, and 2SLGBTQQIA+ people is an
ongoing process that requires continual support and resources both at theindividual and First Nation level. Four areas must be considered in this healing
process, including immediate funding for First Nations healing centres, shelters,
and safe spaces. There also needs to be additional resources provided for cultural
practices and land-based activities to be incorporated into programs and services.
An area that has been highlighted as a gap in the work around addressing violenceagainst First Nations women, girls, and 2SLGBTQQIA+ people is the role of First
Nations men and boys who also need to have access to mental and emotional
health supports to address intergenerational trauma and abuse. At a First Nations
level, there needs to be an increase in efforts to support self-determination andrevitalizing First Nations laws to exercise their jurisdiction to ensure the safety andsecurity of their own people.

81Little Progress on Implementation of the
NAP and First Nations Action Plan
Urgent action is needed to fully implement the National
Action Plan to End Violence Against Indigenous Women,
Girls and 2SLGBTQQIA+ people (NAP) and Breathing Life into
the Calls for Justice (First Nations Action Plan). Budget 2021
provided for $2.2 billion over 5 years and $160.9 million peryear on-going to respond to the National Inquiry into Missingand Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls Calls for Justice.
However, despite this historic investment, little progress has
been made with respect to implementation of the NAP and
the First Nations Action Plan.
The AFN is calling on the federal government to provide
greater transparency with respect investments targeted
for implementation of the NAP and for the immediate
implementation of the frameworks outlined in the First
Nations Action Plan. Gender based violence continues
to disproportionately effect First Nations women, girls
and 2SLGBTQQIA+ people at increasing rates. The AFN
believes that immediate action is needed for real changes
to occur and be felt “on the ground” and within our nations.

82

Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami
Education: ITK undertook work to complete abusiness case for establishing an Inuit Nunangat
university and continued our partnership with the
MasterCard Foundation to support this work. In
addition, ITK completed an environmental scan of
Inuit education at the K-12 level, which includes
an in-depth analysis of the legal and legislative
responsibilities of all jurisdictions involved in K-12
Inuit education.

ITK’s work is strategically linked to implementing theactions in the National Inuit Action Plan on Missingand Murdered Inuit Women, Girls and 2SLGBTQQIA+
People. The following are key highlights in advancing
the National Inuit Action Plan. This work is achieved
through various national-level working groups
led by ITK with members from Inuit land claims
organizations, Pauktuutit Inuit Women of Canada,
Inuit Circumpolar Council Canada and the National
Inuit Youth Council.

Economic Security: In July 2021, ITK released the Inuit
Nunangat Food Security Strategy, which advances
Inuit-driven solutions to improve food insecurity andsustainable food systems. ITK is working towards
capturing the true depth of poverty for Inuit in Inuit
Nunangat. This work involves research on developing
poverty metrics to capture relevant, up-to-date dataon the cost of living in Inuit Nunangat.

Shelters and Housing: In 2019, ITK released theInuit Nunangat Housing Strategy to bring housing
outcomes in Inuit Nunangat in line with housing
outcomes in the rest of Canada. Our work contributed
to the federal budget 2022 announcement of anadditional $845 million over seven years for housing
across Inuit Nunangat.
Infrastructure: In August 2021, ITK released a
research brief that provides an overview of the realityof internet access in Inuit Nunangat. In addition, it
evaluates the infrastructure required to bridge thedigital divide between Inuit Nunangat and the restof Canada.

Health and Wellness: ITK and Inuit land claims
organizations engaged in the proposed federal
distinctions-based Indigenous health legislation to
inform key priority areas for the co-development
process. In regards to suicide prevention, ITK is
working at improving knowledge on trauma-informedcare, working with the Mental Health Commission of
Canada and the Kids Help Phone on shared priorities,
and sharing information on preventing child sexual
abuse through webinars.

83Justice and Policing: A sub-working group was
created to track the implementation of the United
Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous
Peoples (UNDRIP) and identify Inuit priorities for
an UNDRIP Action Plan. ITK also created an ad-hoc
Justice Working Group to provide direction towards
an Indigenous Justice Strategy. In addition, ITK has
a shared work plan with the RCMP to improve therelationship between Inuit communities and the RCMP.

Anti-Racism and Reconciliation: The Inuit Crown
Partnership Committee Reconciliation Measuresand MMIWG Working Group has been establishedas the table to review and provide oversight for
implementing the National Inuit Action Plan. The
National Inuit Committee on Health has been
involved in discussions and decisions related toaddressing anti-Indigenous racism in the healthcare
system, including distributing federal funding to Inuit
rights holders.

Children and Youth: ITK completed an evaluation of
the interim Inuit Child First Initiative and is working on
a long-term Inuit-specific policy and legal equivalent
options to Jordan’s Principle. This work ensures that
the Government of Canada maintains its commitment
to substantive equality for Inuit children. ITK also
supports Inuit land claims organizations in protecting
children and asserting and exercising their jurisdiction
over Inuit children and youth in care through theimplementation of An Act respecting First Nations,
Inuit & Métis children, youth and families. In November
2021, the Inuvialuit Regional Corporation passed
a new law, Inuvialuit Qitunrariit Inuuniarnikkun
Maligaksat (Inuvialuit Family Way of Living Law).
The legislation will ensure that Inuvialuit children,
youth, and families are cared for in a way aligned with
Inuvialuit priorities. In addition, based on a decision of
the ITK Board of Directors, ITK has been working with
Ontario’s Ministry of Children, Community and Social
Services to add each Inuit land claim organization asa Listed Community under the Ontario Child Youthand Family Services Act in order to ensure that Inuitspecific supportive services are provided to Inuitin Ontario who come in contact with Children’s Aid
Societies. ITK is currently listed in the act and has
designated Tungasuvvingat Inuit as its representative.

Governance: ITK and the federal government co-led
the development of a federal Inuit Nunangat Policythat Inuit-Crown Partnership Committee Leaders
endorsed in April 2022. The policy applies to all
federal departments and agencies, guiding them inthe design, development and delivery of all new orrenewed federal policies, programs, services, andinitiatives that apply in Inuit Nunangat and/or benefit
Inuit, including those within many of the other themesof the National Inuit Action Plan. Further, ITK is active
in collaborative workshops on a proposed Modern
Treaties Implementation Review Commission. The
workshops have fostered a better understanding of
the context of modern treaties, their character, theirscope of application and their legal status in Canada.

84

Inuktut: ITK completed an environmental scan of
Inuit education at the K-12 level, which includes
an in-depth analysis of the legal and legislative
responsibilities of all jurisdictions involved in K-12
Inuit education. In addition, ITK and the Atausiq
Inuktut Titirausiq Development Team continued towork on establishing Inuktut spelling and grammar
rules and standards. Work has continued to advancean Inuktut costing analysis and funding model for
Inuit Nunangat, which will inform the implementationof the federal Indigenous Languages Act and action
on each region’s language priorities.

Family Violence: ITK actively considers the root
causes of violence and applies a GBA+ lens in ourwork when implementing policies that work towards
ending violence in Inuit communities, including
work on early learning and child care, suicide
prevention and other social and wellness initiatives.
Inuit leadership has continued to speak out about,advocate for, and lead the implementation of
measures within their respective areas of jurisdictionthat help end violence against Inuit women, children
and 2SLGBTQQIA+ people.

Data and Research: ITK has continued to advancework on the Qanuippitaa? National Inuit Health
Survey. In January 2022, data collection began in
the Inuvialuit Settlement Region. ITK developed aproposal to secure $4 million in the 2021 federal
budget to create an Inuit Data Strategy. ITK also
launched a series of research briefs to inform federal
policy and support greater knowledge about issues ofimportance to Inuit. In addition, critical partnerships
for the National Inuit Strategy on Research werebrokered, including with the Canadian Institutes of
Health Research and Polar Knowledge Canada.

Next Steps
ITK will work with the Reconciliation Measures and
MMIWG Working Group to finalize an implementation
plan that will provide information on how to move
forward with the actions indicated in the National Inuit
Action Plan. We will also continue to advocate for Inuitspecific funds to support the implementation of the
National Inuit Action Plan.

Urban Inuit: ITK established an Urban Inuit Task Force,with a mandate which includes targeted research on
statistics and needs relating to Inuit outside of Inuit
Nunangat. This group has been meeting monthly onthematic issues important to urban Inuit.
Men and Boys: ITK has established an ad-hoc
Justice Working Group to provide input toward an
Indigenous Justice Strategy. This work will be guided
by the actions of the National Inuit Action Plan. The
Nunatsiavut Government has hired a Sexual ViolencePrevention and Outreach Counsellor who will develop
a weeklong program delivered at the Labrador
Correction Centre. In addition, they will provide
counselling to men in Happy-Valley Goose Bay, Nainand Hopedale and have weekly meetings with inmatesto do traditional activities.

85

Pauktuutit Inuit Women of Canada
Key Highlights•

Education – ongoing advocacy.

Identification of 2022-23 immediate priority•

Economic Security – continued advocacy.

areas for Pauktuutit’s implementation for•

Health and Wellness –Continued advocacy
for the return of midwifery to communities tosupport Inuit women and birthing in community.

•

Justice and Policing – Continued advocacy
in addressing policing measures. Continued
advocacy and engagement on the implementationof UNDRIP legislation as well as engagement on
the Indigenous Justice Strategy.

•

Anti-Racism and Reconciliation – Continued
advocacy through our ongoing relationshipdevelopment and equitable participation withthe federal government of Canada through ourMemorandum of understanding in areas of poverty
reduction, violence and abuse prevention, healthand wellness all under an overarching principle ofPauktuutit’s Inuit specific Gender Based Analysis
Plus framework.

•

Governance – Continued advocacy and work toprovide resources and supports for Inuit womenand gender diverse leaders, and the developmentof leadership of Inuit women and gender diverse
individuals.

•

Inuktut – Continued advocacy of language rights.

•

Urban – Continued advocacy for the inclusion of
Inuit women and gender diverse individuals in all
initiatives no matter their residency.

federally led actions from the Inuit action plan.
This is the first step of implementation to address the
14 key themes. This identification process of immediatepriorities areas was determined by completing across analysis of our immediate priorities identified
by resolutions and our mandate. This included
implementation actions for each of the priority areas.

GBA+
Pauktuutit has finalized and holds the copyrights
to an Inuit-specific GBA+ Framework. Pauktuutit’s
Inuit-specific GBA+ Framework centers the voices ofInuit women and gender diverse Inuit in the actions
and implementation of MMIWG and highlights how
the systematic application of a culturally appropriate
GBA+ lens can lead to more responsive and inclusive
policies, programs, and initiatives.
Continued advocacy in the areas of:••

Shelters and Housing – continued advocacy andraising awareness of need to support Inuit womenwhere they are.
Infrastructure – continued advocacy and raisingawareness of need to support Inuit women where
they are.

86•Men and Boys – Continued advocacy for awholistic approach in addressing violence.

•

Family Violence – Continued advocacy withparticipation on the IPV Standing Committee,
advocating for the implementation of communitybased gendered-violence prevention.

•

Children and Youth – Continued advocacy,
promoting the rights of Inuit women and gender
diverse peoples and their rights and rights ofchildren regardless of beneficiary/location focusing on early interventions, preventions andreunification programming and supports, and datacollection strategy C-92.

Progress/Successes
Overview of progress, including measuring
success/impact•

Shelters and Housing - Pauktuutit was successful
in securing five shelters (One per Inuit Nunangat
and urban-Ottawa) under MMIWG.

•

Health and Wellness – Conducted three
engagements in support of distinctions-based
health legislation. Completed a series of
educational videos on Inuit midwifery.

•

Justice and Policing – Working with the RCMP toaddress the recommendations highlighted in the2020 policing report through a Memorandum of
Agreement, this work is supported with funding
from Public Safety•

Urban –Provided COVID 19 – food security tofamilies living out of Inuit Nunangat. Continued
advocacy with StatsCan for the inclusion andfocus on prioritizing urban Inuit organizations
to develop accurate and up-to date urban Inuit
population data and information.

•

Men and Boys – Recent funding for thecontinuation of the EMB focusing on men, youth
and young boys along in healing journey throughmultiple violence and abuse prevention andrehabilitation projects.

•

Family Violence –participation on the IPVStanding Committee, advocating for the
implementation of community-based genderedviolence prevention•

Commemoration – Red Amautiit Project (5),
Pauktuutit is honouring the lives and legacies of
missing and murdered Inuit women and girls andLGBTQQIA+ individuals with our commemoration
project – The Red Amauti. We now have four,
regionally distinct, amautiit and one heritage
amauti. The four regional amautiit include
elements from each of the four Inuit Nunangat
regions. All of the amautiit are sewn by Inuit
seamstresses, to honour those we have lost.

Next Steps/Priorities
Pauktuutit’s next steps include:
Continue to work collaboratively with each of theInuit Nunangat regions to implement actions in eachof the 14 priority areas with a gendered lens, using
Pauktuutit’s GBA+ framework to embed the voiceof Inuit women in all actions. Continue to support
and advocate for this work to be implemented acrossCanada for Inuit women regardless of where they live.

87

Urban Working GroupWho we are: We are survivors, family members,
front line service providers and experts with lived
experience in the urban reality and violence against*Indigenous women, girls and 2SLGBTQQIA+ people.

•

Urban Reality: A majority of Indigenous people livein urban areas, and these voices are largely ignored,
erased, undermined or silenced. Respect for and fullinclusion of the dynamic, resilient and strong urban*Indigenous communities and voices would lead tohuman rights advancement, culturally appropriate
programs and services and significantly improvedsocio-economic conditions.

Urban Path to Reclaiming Power andPlace, Regardless of Residency: Urban
Implementation Plan
We are proposing three themes as part of a holistic
model to implement the urban approach to end
violence. This model is intended to be a starting
point for a national discussion, to ensure that urbanorganizations and communities have what they needto elevate their work to end violence, based on theirown priorities.

Key Highlights•

Launched our MMIWG2S+ Urban Working
Group National Action Plan entitled: Urban Path
to Reclaiming Power and Place, Regardless of
Residency that identified eight (8) Urban Pathways
to End Violence.

•

Held a National On-line Conference to reportback to Urban MMIWG2S+ Families andSurvivors, Urban Service Providers, Government
Partners and other Key Stakeholders.

•

Advocate to all Governments on prioritizing
funding to Indigenous-led service providers
and support development of Indigenous-led
organizations where they don’t exist.

Further developed our Co-Development resource
document to inspire a new approach to shareddecision-making. It means that the right people
are at the table as equal partners when decisions
are being made. In other words “nothing about us
without us.”88•

Urban Reality: is to ensure Urban Indigenous
voices and place in leading solutions. As mosturban service delivery organizations are led andaccessed by women, ignoring urban is also about
ignoring urban *Indigenous women.

•

Responsibilities and Accountabilities: this is
the Urban Indigenous responsibility to ending
violence through measured goals and monitoring
impacts while ensuring accountability for all
governments.

•Co-development, coordination and collaboration: thisemphasizes “nothing about us without us” and builds on thefact that we are stronger when we work together.

Next Steps/Priorities•

Complete the MMIWG2S+ Urban Implementation Planin collaboration with MMIWG2S+ Families and Survivors,
Urban service providers, all governments and other key
stakeholders.

•

Host several National Gatherings to consider establishinga National Coalition of Indigenous Urban Service Provider
Organizations and Urban Indigenous Strategy.

•

Complete and promote our Co-Development
approach document.

•

Promote the Urban Reality, adopt the definition of
Urban and amplify the voice and engagement of Urban
Indigenous service providers on ending violence.

Reports/Publications
MMIWG2S+ National Action Plan: Urban Path toReclaiming Power And Place, Regardless of Residency:
https://mmiwg2splus-nationalactionplan.ca/contributingpartners#Urban
Contact us:
MMIWG2S-UrbanWorkingGroup@outlook.com

89

2SLGBTQQIA+The Government of Canada committed to working together
with Indigenous, provincial and territorial partners on
the development of the National Action Plan to maketransformative change and to end systemic racism andviolence against Indigenous women, girls, Two-Spirit and2SLGBTQQIA+ people. The vision was to increase visibility
and focus attention on 2SLGBTQQIA+ issues. An important
outcome of the National Inquiry was to articulate needs andissues specific to 2SLGBTQQIA+ people.
In the past year, support has come from Crown Indigenous
Relations and Northern Affairs (CIRNA) in making
presentations, reviewing their plans and priorities andbeginning a national 2SLGBTQQIA+ Committee process
to address ending violence affecting 2SLGBTQQIA+
people. Initial work focussed on promoting supportive
policies, programs, and resources which would establish
infrastructure for 2SLGBTQQIA+ groups at the local,
regional, provincial, territorial and national levels.
Support was also provided to the 2SLGBTQQIA+
Committee to undertake further research identifying
population demographics and needs and beginning tobuild a 2SLGBTQQIA+ specific database. The Committee
process facilitated several federal departments to makepresentations on their proposed approaches to actively
engage 2SLGBTQQIA+ people. The Committee also worked
with the Urban Sub-Working Group, given the population
distribution of 2SLGBTQQIA+ people, to address joint
approaches. The National Committee also reached out tocommunity grassroots organizations, regions, provinces,
territories and nationally to attend a 2SLGBTQQIA+
sponsored gathering to provide input into identifying
further priorities.

90

Women and Gender Equity (WAGE)
have heard the need to provide ongoingsupports for local, regional, provincial andterritorial and national 2SLGBTQQIA+
specific groups. WAGE has begun to look at
ensuring that 2LGBTQQIA+ people work in
the LGBTQ Secretariat.

CIRNA is an active participant and has
engaged the 2SLGBTQQIA+ groups as well
as facilitated direct federal department
engagement as required.

Indigenous Services Canada (ISC) andCanada Mortgage and Housing Corporation(CMHC) has identified 88 new shelters andtransitional housing as priorities. Notional
allocations for 2SLGBTQQIA+ specificapproaches have been identified.

In moving the implementation of the MMIWG
2SLGBTQQIA+ NAP forward, we will need to continue tosupport capacity-building and infrastructure development
in order to address the need for culturally relevant, safe
and supportive 2SLGBTQQIA+ facilities and programs
throughout the country. We will need to expand the National
Committee process to engage more community, regional,
provincial, territorial and national realities. We will need toencourage other Indigenous national partners to do morethan use the 2SLGBTQQIA+ acronym and ensure that direct
engagement and systems change occurs.
There are many priority areas identified in the NAP thathave not been addressed. Amongst them, housing, justice,disability, health and mental health are priority areas fordevelopment. In light of the National Action Plan and thePrime Minister’s apology to the 2SLGBTQQIA+ community, it
is important to ensure that federal, provincial and territorial
processes begin to implement the matters raised in the
National Action Plan. We note the provinces and territories
are significantly behind and lacking positive progress withrespect to the 2SLGBTQQIA+ population.

91

Congress of Aboriginal Peoples
Key Highlights
In the past year, the Congress of Aboriginal Peoples (CAP) created a MMIWG
Senior Advisor and Project Coordinator position to engage with community
members, federal and provincial governments, and Indigenous partners. CAP
undertook a National Engagement Initiative, hosting MMIWG events with eachof the affiliated Provincial and Territorial Organizations (PTOs). These sessions
focussed on gathering critical feedback on the 2021 National Action Plan andgaining a better understanding of the diverse unique community needs andapproaches to ending violence against Indigenous women, girls, and 2SLGBTQQIA+
people. The accumulation of voices from these sessions has led to the creation of
CAPs MMIWG2S+ National Action Plan, released June 3, 2022.
CAP established a policy table with the federal government to advance priorities identified through the nationwide engagement strategy with PTOs. Overarching priorities incorporate a rights-based approach including
the application of the Daniels lens to all MMIWG2S+ action and implementation plans. Immediate and longterm priority areas align with the CAP MMIWG2S+ National Action Plan. They include: equitable access tolong-term sustainable funding for local resources and supports for victims and survivors; addressing systemic
discrimination and anti-discriminatory approaches in the delivery of justice including policing; identificationof opportunities for resolutions of jurisdictional barriers; developing inclusive accountability measures;
establishing diverse and cross-jurisdictional partnerships toward CAP’s inclusion at policy tables; andconducting research toward developing a plan to address missing and murdered Indigenous men and boys.
Keeping all work family and survivor focussed through group meetings, sharing circles, counselling, vigils, andcreating safe spaces for families and women to share their stories are all promising practices adopted by CAP
affiliated PTOs. The combination of interdisciplinary, multistakeholder, and community-based approaches toaddress the crisis of MMIWG2S+ continues to be a success.
In partnership with CAP affiliate New Brunswick Aboriginal Peoples Council (NBAPC), CAP and NBAPC released
the Guidelines for Journalists Reporting on Missing Indigenous People, a culmination of the efforts from consultations
with Indigenous community members, partnerships with Indigenous and non-Indigenous media professionals, andschools of journalism.

92

CAP partnered with affiliate NBAPC to host the
3rd Looking Out For Each Other (LOFEO) project
symposium entitled MMIWG2S+ Supporting Better
Outcomes. This online event included presentations,workshops, and discussions from the LOFEO
project network and others doing work in thesame MMIWG2S+ field. This platform provided an
opportunity to raise awareness of collective work
to develop and support the creation of Indigenousled responses that will lead to better outcomes for
Indigenous women, girls and 2SLGBTQQIA+ people.

The development and creation of CAP’s National
Action Plan is foundational to advancing therights of urban, rural Indigenous women, girls, and2SLGBTQQIA+ people. Through the CAP national
engagement with the PTOs and as illustrated in
CAPs National Action Plan, the safety and security
for all Indigenous women, girls, and 2SLGBTQQIA+
people, regardless of status or location, is a priority.
To support moving forward with this priority, CAP
obtained funding to develop wellbeing indicators andcreate evidence-based methodologies to measure thesafety of Indigenous people who live off-reserve. This
work will be foundational to measuring the success of
implementing CAP’s National Action Plan.

CAP hosted the first Gender Symposium Mobilizing
Indigenous Two-Spirit History. It was an interdisciplinary
discussion that aimed to foster partnerships,
community engagement, and networking
opportunities. The symposium aimed to mobilize
knowledge sharing on the history of Two-Spirit andnon-binary individuals to increase awareness andunderstanding of 2SLGBTQQIA+ history and enhance
public awareness about Two-Spirit identity and how
crucial Two-Spirit and Indigiqueer leaders are to the
movements of change.

A key success has been the collaborative work at the
Canada-CAP policy table. The table continues to pushforward substantial and transformative change with afocus on systemic issues, policy, capacity building, andpartnership development.
As CAP collaborates with the Government of Canada
to advance shared policy priorities through our Political
Accord Tables, there have been successes in partnershipwith the PTOs which advance the safety and securityof Indigenous women, girls, and 2SGLBTQQIA+ people.
The NBAPC LOFEO project has accomplished groundbreaking work in working with Canadian institutions
on policing standards and procedural protocols formissing persons investigations, focussed efforts around
missing person’s legislation, guidelines for journalists
reporting on missing Indigenous Peoples, a helpline forcrisis support, navigation and resource guide, and staff
training. Indigenous Peoples Alliance of Manitoba hosted
a cultural healing and gathering with Elders, teaching
their culture, having healing circles, making space forone-on-one conversations, and having an evening feast
in memory of MMIWG2S+. Spaces for healing andwellness have been created through yearly gatherings,
celebration of life, and Indigenous youth fun day. These
on-the ground initiatives are all part of progressing
safety, security, healing, and wellness for urban, rural
Indigenous women, girls, and 2SLGBTQQIA+ people.

Throughout 2021, CAP was involved in numerous
presentations including: before the Standing Senate
Committee on Aboriginal Peoples as part of the
Review of the Final Report of the National Inquiry;
the Federal Provincial Territorial (FPT) Senior
Officials Committee Responsible for Human Rights
on the Convention on the Rights of the Child; andWomen and Gender Equality FPT meetings.

Progress/Successes
Keeping to the vision that families and survivors arecentral, the work of CAP and affiliated PTOs focussed
on created safe spaces for individuals to share
their stories.

93

Next Steps/Priorities
Our focus moving forward is the implementation of CAPs National Action Plan. A key component of
implementation includes capacity building for CAP and PTOs. Through the Canada-CAP Political Accord
MMIWG2S+ Policy Table, CAP is focussed on establishing permanent, no-barrier, equitable, and sustainablefunding to move forward on implementation. Applying the Daniels lens is foundational, ensuring all Indigenous
Peoples have equitable access to programs and services, and organizations have the capacity to meet theircommunities’ unique and diverse needs. NBAPC will continue to focus on policing reform, developing media
guidelines for families, and continuing their work on shelters and helpline expansions. This priority will support
PTO capacity to progress on their work and enhance their initiatives through the development of their own
MMIWG2S+ action and implementation plans.
CAP is working with the Government of Canada through the MMIWG2S+ Policy Table to identify policy gaps,
barriers, and opportunities to support the implementation of CAPs National Action Plan. The immediate policy
priority areas include health and wellness, as well as justice and accountability. Indigenous Peoples Allianceof Manitoba hopes to host a multi-day gathering where people can gather as a community, where women canwork with their hands to support their healing process, and where talking circles and crafting activities areavailable. The advocating of healing and wellness on a policy level will be key in supporting such initiatives.
As CAP continues their partnership with NBAPC, moving forward on influencing missing person’s legislation
creation and amendments will be a priority for the Canada-CAP Political Accord MMIWG2S+ Policy Table. In
collaboration with the Government of Canada and the PTOs, CAP will continue to provide informed, effective,
and relevant policy analyses and recommendations to support the implementation of CAPs National Action
Plan and the development and implementation of PTO action plans.

Law – missing person’s legislation, curriculum forlaw students at UNB, https://nbapc.org/wp-content/
uploads/2021/11/LOFEO-legislation-and-standardsdraft-report-July-2021-FINAL.pdf

Reports/Publications
CAP partnering PTO NBAPC reports regarding
community needs, identifying policy gaps andbarriers, and provision of mainstream services:
https://nbapc.org/lofeo-research-reports/?preview_
nonce=0c53a93667&preview=true.

Media – guidelines for journalists reporting on
missing Indigenous people, curriculum for journalism
students at Canadian public institutions, https://
nbapc.org/programs-and-services/lofeo-media/

Newsletters, news and press releases as a mean
to disseminate information and keep families,
communities, partners, stakeholders informed of the
Looking Out For Each Other project: https://nbapc.
org/lofeo-news.

Helpline – development in NB, crisis support,
navigation and resource guide, staff training.
Expansion of helpline to other Eastern provinces,https://nbapc.org/lofeo-helpline

Policing – standards and procedural protocols formissing persons investigations, https://nbapc.org/
wp-content/uploads/2021/01/UQAM-LOFEO-Finalreport.pdf

94Government of Canada
Key Highlights

Progress/Successes

Between June 2021 and June 2022:

Engagement Progress

The Federal Pathway was published on June
3rd 2021. It contains the Federal Government’s
commitments to ending violence against Indigenous
women, girls and 2SLGBTQQIA+ peoples. Over 25
departments and agencies are actively implementing
the Federal Pathway. This has been done throughprograms and funding, new or renewed policies, andpassing of key legislation.

The Federal Government engaged with Indigenous
families, survivors, leadership, organizations andcommunities as well as with provinces and territories in
the implementation of the Federal Pathway initiatives.
The Government of Canada has also continued
to engage with partners on the Federal Pathway
implementation work through established governancecommittees such as the National Family and Survivors
Circle, Urban Committee, 2SLGBTQQIA+ Committee,
Inuit-Crown Partnership Committee working
group, and with Indigenous leadership and women’sorganizations and former Inquiry Commissioners.

More specifically, new programs have been launched,such as those for supports for families and survivors,
cultural spaces, health and wellness, languages,
shelters, housing, education and data.
The Federal Government has also created policies
supporting community safety initiatives, justice andpolicing, the Comprehensive Violence Prevention
Strategy, the National Strategy to Combat Human
Trafficking, and the Distinctions-Based Mental Healthand Wellness Strategy.
In addition, legislation, such as the United Nations
Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples(UNDRIP) Implementation Act, was passed andengagement and collaboration is underway to develop
the UNDRIP Action Plan by June 2023.
Details on the Government of Canada’s efforts can befound in the Federal Pathway Annual Progress Report.

95

Key legislation is being implemented, including the
Act respecting First Nations, Inuit and Métis Children,
Youth and Families which seeks to ensure thatIndigenous communities are supported in exercising
their jurisdiction over child and family services. In
support of the Act, capacity-building funding has
been made available to support Indigenous groups,
communities, peoples and Indigenous governing
bodies for exercising jurisdiction over child and family
services and supports. Through implementation of
the Indigenous Languages Act, 410 projects from First
Nation, Inuit, Métis organizations, and organizations
serving urban populations have been funded in 20212022.

Implementation Progress
Historic investments were made through Budget
2021. As a result, in 2021-22, over 50 initiatives
by over 25 federal departments and agencies
moved forward and are now in various stages of
implementation. These initiatives start to address
the root causes of violence in the four key themesof Culture, Health and Wellness, Human Safety andSecurity, and Justice, and help to build organizational
capacity and coordination. They align with priorities
identified by Indigenous families, survivors,
communities and partners, and start to address theCalls for Justice. It includes community programmingfor child and family services, health services,family violence prevention, shelters, housing,
infrastructure, cultural spaces, policing, education,
languages, and supports for mental wellness andhealing. Through a 2021-22 call for proposals,
20 Indigenous organizations across Canada andserving First Nations, Inuit and Métis, were funded
to support families and survivors in their healing
journeys. Supported projects include commemorative
events, healing gatherings, counselling services, andexpanded safe space access.

Budget 2022 builds on the investments of Budget
2021 and provides additional investments in the areasof education, housing, health, prevention, mental
wellness, and climate leadership that will contributeto ending the violence. In addition, Budget 2022
provides investments for the National Action Plan to
End Gender-Based Violence, the Federal LGBTQ2+
Action Plan and the Anti-Racism Plan, which respondto priorities identified by Indigenous partners.

Policies have been developed and are being
implemented such as the Distinctions-Based
Mental Health and Wellness Strategy, the National
Strategy to Combat Human Trafficking, the AntiRacism Strategy, and the Comprehensive ViolencePrevention Strategy, through which 38 new shelters
and at least 50 new transitional (second stage)
housing units across the country will be built. Also,in 2021 – 22, the Government of Canada worked on
the development of policies such as the Indigenous
Justice Strategy, the forthcoming National Action
Plan to End Gender-Based Violence, and Federal
LGBTQ2 Action Plan, the Disaggregated Data Action
Plan, and the UNDRIP Implementation Action Plan,
all of which will contribute to ending violence against
Indigenous women, girls and 2SLGBTQQIA+ people.

96

Next Steps/Priorities
The Government will accelerate the implementationof the Federal Government initiatives, legislationand programs and policies related to missing andmurdered Indigenous women and girls (MMIWG) and
2SLGBTQQIA+ people. The Government will continue
to identify, address and fill gaps brought forward by
families, survivors, partners, and organizations. To
support this, the government continues to provide
funding for the work of the National Families andSurvivors Circle and other Indigenous partners sothey can engage on key priority areas.
Continuing its critical role in addressing the root
causes of the violence towards MMIWG and
2SLGBTQQIA+ people, the Government has
committed to working with Indigenous families,
survivors and partners, and provinces and territories
to establish an oversight mechanism for the National
Action Plan to monitor, report on progress, and to
identify gaps and/or opportunities.

Reports/Publications
Federal Pathway
Federal Pathway Annual Progress Report97Government of Newfoundland and Labrador
Overview•

Since release of the National Inquiry’s final report,
the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador
has been working with our federal, provincial, andterritorial colleagues to address disproportionate
violence experienced by Indigenous women, girls,
and 2SLGBTQQIA+ individuals in our province
and country.

•

While our continued work with our colleagues
across the country is important, our priority
remains the safety and well-being of Indigenous
women, girls, and 2SLGBTQQIA+ individuals
in Newfoundland and Labrador (NL). Issues
discussed are deep-rooted, and the steps required
to appropriately address them are complex.

•

Prior to advancing work in the area of missing andmurdered Indigenous women, girls and gender
diverse individuals (MMIWG2S+), it is essentialthat the Government of Newfoundland andLabrador engage with Indigenous peoples in our
province to ensure actions taken are responsive
to the issues and needs of our province’s
Indigenous communities, families, and peoples.
To do otherwise would be disrespectful to thespirit of the National Inquiry’s final report and thetrauma that Indigenous people in our province
have experienced.

98•

To this end, the focus of the 2021-22 Provincial
Indigenous Women’s Gathering was to bring
together Indigenous women from across theprovince to discuss and prioritize Calls for Justiceoutlined in the National Inquiry’s final reportthat are relevant to Indigenous women, girls,
2SLGBTQQIA+ individuals, and communities inour province.

•

Approximately 25 Indigenous women were inattendance, along with Ministerial, Executive,
and staff representatives from the Provincial
Government’s Office of Women and Gender
Equality, Office of Indigenous Affairs andReconciliation, and Department of Justice andPublic Safety.

•

The Provincial Indigenous Women’s Steering
Committee is in the final stages of preparing
recommendations for the Government of
Newfoundland and Labrador on how to best
action provincially relevant Calls for Justiceoutlined in the National Inquiry’s final report.
Recommendations are expected to be formallypresented to the Provincial Government insummer 2022.

Highlights on Investments
Newfoundland and Labrador contributed to the National Action Plan in June 2021 and continues to be an active
member of the Federal, Provincial, and Territorial Working Group. The Province looks forward to participating
as the national focus shifts into implementation and continues to make changes that honour the Calls for
Justice from the Final Report into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls (MMIWG). Notable
Newfoundland and Labrador investments that support ongoing work include:•

The Department of Justice and Public Safety is working with the Department of Transportation andInfrastructure to increase capacity at the Labrador Correctional Centre in Happy Valley-Goose Bay. Thisrenovation will have the option to house both female and male inmates in Labrador, reducing the need fortransports to other facilities on the Island portion of the province. This addition to capacity will facilitate agreater number of inmates, many of whom are Indigenous, to stay closer to their home communities in Labrador.
In addition, the improved facility will allow for the delivery of more culturally appropriate programming to male
inmates with the hope of reducing recidivism and ultimately violence against Indigenous women and girls.

•

The Department of Children, Seniors and Social Development (CSSD) ended the child protection practiceof sending birth alerts to hospitals in Newfoundland and Labrador in June 2021. CSSD’s discontinuation ofbirth alerts honors the MMIWG Calls for Justice and Truth and Reconciliation (TRC) Calls to Action to end
this practice, which was known to disproportionately affect Indigenous and marginalized expectant parents.
Collaboration between the department, Indigenous governments and organizations, extended family, and healthand other service providers will continue to be the focus of the new direction when expectant parents voluntarily
seek support prior to the birth of their baby.

•

To honour survivors and raise awareness about the legacy of residential schools, the Government of
Newfoundland and Labrador observed the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation on September 30, 2021.

•

The Government of Newfoundland and Labrador announced the launch of the Inquiry into the Treatment,
Experiences and Outcomes of Innu in the Child Protection System on April 29, 2022.

•

In summer 2021, the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador established the Ministerial Committee on
Anti-Racism, which includes Ministers of Immigration, Population Growth and Skills; Justice and Public Safety;
Indigenous Affairs and Reconciliation; and Education. The Committee recognizes the systemic and persistentnature of racism and Ministers have been meeting with and seeking input from residents, community and culturalorganizations, employers, educators, and researchers, on their experiences, and to hear recommendations on
stopping all forms of racism including anti-Indigenous racism. Specific responsibilities include:• Seeking input from the public and various partners, including community groups, educational institutions,
Police and Emergency Services, public, private, and voluntary sectors, and all orders of government regarding
measures that could be taken to address racism and its impacts in Newfoundland and Labrador; and• Promoting respect and understanding for and appreciation of cultural diversity and the inclusion ofIndigenous and racialized communities into the social and cultural mosaic of the province.

99

•

•

Completed the Inquiry into Ground Searchand Rescue for Lost and Missing Persons in
Newfoundland and Labrador. The outcomes ofthis Inquiry are intended to enhance the safetyof people throughout the province, as effective
and responsive search and rescue support is vitalto the people who need it. The final report was
released December 1, 2021.
The Office of Women and Gender Equality has
supported numerous initiatives focused on thewell-being of Indigenous women and genderdiverse people, including funding for the Indigenous
Violence Prevention Grants Program and the annual
Provincial Indigenous Women’s Gathering, which
was held in Steady Brook from December 6-7,
2021. This year’s Gathering focused on identifying
provincially appropriate responses to the Calls for
Justice outlined in the National Inquiry’s final report.
Recommendations on how to best move forward
in responding to the Calls for Justice is currently indevelopment and expected to be formally presented
to the Provincial Government in summer 2022.

Advancing the work of the Inquiry into theTreatment, Experiences, and Outcomes of Innu in
the Child Protection System.

•

Planning for a new Heritage Centre near Beothuk
Lake to commemorate the Beothuk people.

•

Provision of grants aimed at preventing violenceagainst Indigenous women and girls.

•

Support for the Provincial Indigenous
Women’s Gathering.

•Funding for the Newfoundland and Labrador
Search and Rescue Association, which stems
from recommendations from the Search andRescue Inquiry.

Expansion of the Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner
Program.

•Ongoing engagement with the Premier’s
Roundtable on Gender Equity.

•

Continuing to advance infrastructure
improvements, notably continued investments in
the Labrador Correctional Centre, to ensure it canfacilitate more intimates staying in Labrador aswell as have capacity to offer enhanced services
and programming to better serve the community.

As outlined above, the Provincial Government iseagerly awaiting the submission of recommendations
from the Provincial Indigenous Women’s Steering
Committee on how best to implement the Calls for
Justice outlined in the National Inquiry’s final report.
The Committee’s final report is expected to bepresented in early summer 2022. It is the Governmentof Newfoundland and Labrador’s expectation thatthe contents of this report will provide a roadmap for
implementation of Calls for Justice that are specifically
relevant to Indigenous families and communities in
Newfoundland and Labrador.

Upcoming Investments••

Reports/Publications

100•

As mentioned above, recommendations on
how to best action Calls for Justice outlined in
the National Inquiry’s final report is currently
in process. The Government of Newfoundlandand Labrador expects to obtain this report fromthe Provincial Indigenous Women’s Steering
Committee in early summer 2022.

•

Public Inquiry Respecting Ground Search andRescue for Lost and Missing Persons (https://www.gov.nl.ca/releases/2021/jps/1201n05/)

Government of Prince Edward Island
Key Highlights

Progress/Successes

Recognizing thatIndigenous voices andperspectives must be
centered in the workof responding to the MMIWG Calls for Justice, theGovernment of PEI has prioritized developing aprocess that is Indigenous-led and informed. This
has included the creation of an Indigenous Working
Group with representatives from First Nations andIndigenous organizations across the Island. The
Indigenous Working Group meets regularly andprovides important feedback and guidance that
informs the priorities that the Government of PEI sets
to address the Calls for Justice.

Education/Training

The Province has also established an
Interdepartmental Working Group withrepresentatives from every government departmentthat work collaboratively to share informationand identify opportunities to respond to the Calls
for Justice through programs and policies in theirdepartments. This has resulted in a cross-government
approach that has supported the implementation of
new initiatives that advance the Calls for Justice.

The Indigenous Working Group advocated for an
Indigenous Health Navigator on PEI. Steps are now
being taken to establish this position within our
provincial health care system. This navigator will help
the Indigenous population in PEI to access the healthservices they need.

The province previously committed to making its
cultural training mandatory for all new and existing
public service employees. As part of this committee,
the Province held an Indigenous Speakers Series during
the month of October for public service employees
to commemorate Mi’kmaq History Month. This work
is ongoing and, with the guidance of the MMIWG
Indigenous Working Group, a new training program
will be fully implemented in Summer 2022.

HealthThe key successes highlighted below are not an
exhaustive representation of the significant work
being done to respond to the Calls for Justice in
PEI. They are reflective of the priorities identified
through meetings held with the Indigenous Working
Group over the past year and the efforts of theInterdepartmental Working Group to respond tothese priorities.

101Housing

Next Steps/Priorities

Safety and security are important to achieve better
outcomes for Indigenous women, girls, and two-spirit
people. They facilitate an environment of healing
and provide stability, leading to positive impacts inall aspects of life. Establishing a dedicated stream offunding available to support Indigenous housing in
PEI would ensure that extra supports are provided todevelop culturally appropriate housing services for
Indigenous people in PEI. The Government of PEI is
proud to announce a $500,000 fund specifically for
Indigenous housing initiatives. This funding will help
support projects that help address safety and security,
key themes in the MMIWG Calls for Justice.

The Government of PEI’s immediate focus is shifting
to new priorities established from dialogue with
Indigenous partners. The Province will continue towork with the Indigenous Working Group to identify
priorities and inform the actions that government istaking to advance the Calls for Justice.
The Government of PEI recognizes the commitmentthat participation in the Indigenous Working Grouptakes and the important work that the First Nations
and Indigenous organizations are doing to address
the Calls for Justice. We are committed to supporting
the Indigenous Working Group so its members cancontinue to provide guidance to the Province andpursue projects that help address violence against
Indigenous women, girls, and Two-Spirit (2S) people.
Through in-kind support and ongoing conversation
with members of the Working Group, to Province isopen to receiving feedback from the committee toadvance the work of the MMIWG file.

Support for MMIWG Work in Communities
The Government of PEI is pleased to have establishedan annual MMIWG fund of $250,000 to strengthen
the capacity of the Indigenous Working Group to
participate in the ongoing work related to MMIWG
and the Calls for Justice. This fund provides $50,000
to each First Nation and Indigenous organization
represented on the MMIWG Indigenous Working
Group (comprised of the Aboriginal Women’s
Association, Lennox Island First Nation, Abegweit First
Nation, Mi’kmaq Confederacy of PEI, and the Native
Council of PEI) to ensure that representatives cancontinue to engage meaningfully in their communities
and provide guidance to the Government of PEI.

The Government of PEI has committed to tabling
annual status reports on the progress being made to
implement the Calls for Justice across government. It
has thus far tabled two MMIWG status reports andis tabling the third such report before the end of theSpring 2022 Legislature session.

Reports/Publications
https://www.princeedwardisland.ca/sites/default/
files/publications/mmiwg-report2022.pdf

102Government of Nova Scotia“This work is important and urgent. Collaboration

Nova Scotia is pleased to reaffirm ourcommitment to ending violence against
Indigenous women, girls, and 2SLGBTQQIA+
people and provide a joint update on our progress.
We honour and acknowledge all survivors, family
members, those lost to violence, and everyone
affected by ongoing experiences of violence.
The Mi’kmaq and the Province have embraced
a collaborative approach to responding to theCalls for Justice. Families and survivors are at thecentre of our work. We are walking together inpartnership to address priorities identified by the
Mi’kmaq, in the Final Report, and in the National
Action Plan in a collaborative way.

is key to our success, and we continue to ensurethat all voices are heard and reflected in our holistic
approach to addressing the 231 Calls for Justice.”— Chief Annie Bernard-Daisley
Co-Chair, Assembly of Nova Scotia Mi’kmaw Chiefs“Nova Scotia Native Women’s Association brings
attention to important issues affecting our women,
our men, and our communities. Together with theProvince, we are taking action on things that matter.”— Bernadette Marshall
President, Nova Scotia Native Women’s Association

Key Highlights“We continue to centre Mi’kmaw women’s
leadership, as we work in partnership to strengthen

The principles that guided our approachthroughout the Inquiry – honouring relationships,
keeping families at the centre, and collaborationand partnership – continue to guide our work andactions taken to date to respond to the Calls for
Justice in Nova Scotia. Through a holistic approach,progress is being made on interconnected,
foundational areas such as health and wellness,
culture and language, child welfare, housing,gender-based violence, and economic security.
The safety of Indigenous women, girls, and2SLGBTQQIA+ people remains a critical priority on
our pathway to reconciliation.

safety and wellbeing of Indigenous women, girls,
and 2SLGBTQQIA+ people. The only way forward
is together.”— Hon. Karla MacFarlane
Minister Responsible for the Advisory Council
on the Status of Women, Minister of L’nu Affairs

103There have been significant shifts in women’s
leadership within Nova Scotia, most recently withthe election of Chief Annie Bernard-Daisley as
the first female co-chair of the Assembly of Nova
Scotia Mi’kmaw Chiefs, and the appointment of the
Honourable Karla MacFarlane as the first provincial
Minister to hold both the Status of Women and L’nu
Affairs portfolios and responsibilities. These areimportant signals on the role of women’s leadershipand the significance of the work ahead.

Progress/Successes
Nova Scotia continues to collaborate with Mi’kmaw
partners, through the leadership of the Nova
Scotia Native Women’s Association (NSNWA).
Through engagement with families, grassroots, andorganizations, NSNWA identified that a critical next
step would be to host their first Mawio’mi in September
2021 to provide a safe space to empower women, girls,
and two-spirited people to gather, share, engage, andsupport one another. This gathering represented adecolonized approach to Indigenous-led engagement togather knowledge, experience, and solutions to informfuture actions, through ceremony and healing. NSNWA
will host the next Mawio’mi in August 2022.

The Jane Paul Indigenous Women’s Resource Centre(JPC) continues to provide supports to Indigenous
women off-reserve in Sydney, many of whom live withcomplex and intersecting realities of homelessness,poverty, violence, addiction, and multiple systeminteractions. JPC has expanded access to mental healthsupports, supervised parenting visits, food and clothingbank, economic supports, and cultural activities.

The NSNWA was contracted by the Assembly of First
Nations (AFN) to conduct engagement in the Atlantic
region to contribute to AFN’s action plan on MMIWG.
In fall of 2021, a total of 665 individuals participated
and the resultant report includes Atlantic specificrecommendations, priorities, and next steps for action.

Tajikeimɨk, a collaboration of all 13 Mi’kmaw First
Nations, is leading health transformation on behalf of all
Mi’kmaw communities in Nova Scotia. In March 2022,
the Province provided funding to Tajikeimɨk to develop
a culturally responsive mental health and addictions
strategy. This work exemplifies the partnership
between the Mi’kmaq and the provincial health system
to address health disparities and improve access toculturally safe mental wellness care and support.

In November 2021, the Province ended the use of birthalerts, and enhanced supports for families through the
new Family Connections Program. Indigenous-led work
is underway to “decolonize birth” by engaging with
Mi’kmaw women about traditional birthing practices
and ceremonies and strengthening the continuum ofcare and supports, building capacity for Indigenous
midwifery and doulas.

104

In April 2022, the Mi’kmaw Language Act was passed.
The Act recognizes Mi’kmaw as Nova Scotia’s first
language and will support efforts to preserve andpromote it now and for future generations. This work
reinforces the Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s
Calls to Action and aligns with MMIWG Calls for
Justice, to ensure meaningful access to language,
culture, and identity as a foundation for resilience andsafety. The legislation will be proclaimed and will takeeffect on or after Treaty Day, on October 1, 2022.

Next Steps/Priorities
On our pathway to build a better future and write a
new story with Indigenous partners, we are actively
working to connect, align, and integrate our responses
and actions. Some specific next steps include:

Our collective work recognizes the interconnected
and intergenerational impacts of systemic
discrimination, racism, and sexism. In April 2022, theDismantling Racism and Hate Act was passed. This
new legislation is the first of its kind in Canada, andoutlines the government’s approach to addressing
systemic racism, hate, and inequity, and commits todeveloping a provincial strategy and a health equity
framework by July 2023.

105•

Developing and launching Standing Together,
the coordinated provincial approach to prevent
domestic violence, integrating knowledge from
Indigenous-led initiatives and projects;•

Building promising practices and culturally
responsive supports through Creating
Communities of Care Through a Customary Law
Approach, which is supporting urban Indigenous
and African Nova Scotian survivors of genderbased violence;•

Partnering with and supporting a multi-year
Mi’kmaw language revitalization strategy(stemming from the new legislation);•

Continuing to raise awareness on the context
and impacts of MMIWG, including a Mi’kmaw-led
media campaign on sexual exploitation and nonconsensual sharing of intimate images; and,•Supporting the development of the NS Indigenous
Human Trafficking Strategy, led by NSNWA.

Government of New Brunswick
Key Highlights
The Government of New Brunswick focused on developing its response to help improve outcomesfor Indigenous women and girls and 2SLGBTQQIA+ people. New Brunswick held engagement
sessions with the NB Advisory Committee on Violence against Indigenous Women and several
First Nation communities, Indigenous peoples, and Indigenous organizations. They identified as
critical needs: a focus on youth, the provision of culturally safe and appropriate supports, addressing
gender inequality, mental health and addictions, and increasing meaningful opportunities. They also
identified the uniqueness of each Indigenous community and the diverse realities of Indigenous
persons depending on whether they live in community or off, rural or urban. The Government of
New Brunswick’s response is currently being developed and will reflect the community engagement
sessions, and positive government actions underway, as part of the government’s commitment
to address violence against Indigenous women and girls and the Calls for Justice. The following
principles for change were articulated as part of the community engagement sessions and guided
government’s work, together with its partners:•

Indigenous Woman Centered•

Family Participation and Peer Support•

Valuing Culture•

Respect, Dignity & Compassion•

Working in Partnership•

Interdisciplinary Systemic Approach•

Building Trusting Relationships

106Progress/Successes
The following examples highlight some of the work
completed or underway:
•

•

•

•

The Indigenous Domestic Violence Outreach
Pilot Program, an Indigenous led and culturally
sensitive service, is making a difference insupporting women living in or leaving abusive
relationships in three First Nations communities
and off-community in the Miramichi region.
This program has been expanded to reach eight
additional First Nation communities in New
Brunswick.

• An Indigenous Elder has been acting as anindependent resource to the inquest team toprovide cultural context and advice.
• An eagle feather is made available as a choice
for swearing in witnesses.

Ongoing training sessions on intimate partner
violence, the Danger Assessment tool and theIt’s Your Business: A Domestic & Intimate Partner
Violence Workplace Toolkit with Indigenous
communities, organizations and service providers
working with Indigenous people.

• Cultural ceremonies such as smudging are
facilitated.
• Relationship building takes place during
the planning stages of the inquest with theIndigenous communities involved and/or arenear the location where the inquest will be held.

Awaking Cultural Identity and Spirituality (ACIS)– Is an activity and ongoing program within the
Crime Prevention Branch. This is a voluntary
program that links Traditional Elders with adultoffending individuals requesting culturally distinct
services for effective reintegration.

•

Courage to change Indigenous Journals – These
are to be implemented as evidence-based
programming in Community and Institutional
Corrections and have been edited by a New
Brunswick First Nations Committee to ensure thecultural content is accurate for New Brunswick.

•

Eagle Feather – Justice and Public Safety has
an option for offenders to be able to use Eagle
Feathers in oath taking processes in courts in
New Brunswick.

Coroner Inquest related to the death of a memberof an Indigenous community – Whenever possible
the inquests are held in a location where an
Indigenous community is included in the areafrom which the jury will be polled. The following
considerations have also been made in the inquest
planning process:107•

Improving the provision of community-based
mental health and addiction services to First
Nations communities, on and off-reserve.

•

Developing mobilization primary care units toserve First Nations communities and the offreserve population. Regional Health Authorities
focused on implementing a team-based model ofprimary health care, consisting of a doctor, nurse
practitioner, social worker and mid-wife working
in a mobilization unit to serve First Nations
communities and the off-reserve population.

••Regional Health Authorities and Department
of Health, in collaboration with First Nations,developing training tools and cultural safety/
awareness activities to enhance culturally
appropriate approaches for health care.

Next Steps/Priorities
The Government of New Brunswick is developing
its own response to the National Inquiry and willcontinue to move forward on the identified priority
areas: safety and security, health and well-being,
justice and policing, education and employment andculture and rights.

The provincial government, on October 29, 2021
announced the discontinuance of its birth alert
practice, with more emphasis being placed on
supporting expectant mothers. The eliminationof birth alerts is intended to support healing of
all families and communities; it is also importantto focus on prevention efforts and furthering
education about programs and services thatare available to parents and expectant mothers,
fathers and families.

New Brunswick’s path forward will respect the
principles for change identified in partnership with the
NB Advisory Committee on Violence against Indigenous
Women, build on the perspectives learned throughengagement and improve on current initiatives tocreate measurable change.
The Government of New Brunswick is taking aninterdisciplinary systemic approach to change.
New partners and priorities will be identified andadded as we move forward together. As progress isachieved, initiatives and actions will be measured
as to how they are achieving outcomes and help
identify future work. We also recognize the need fortransparency and accountability in this work. We
will work in partnership with Indigenous peoples,
Indigenous communities and the Advisory Committee
to make change happen and will measure and reporton progress on the implementation of these goals,
outcomes and actions.

108

Government of Québec
In the 2021 Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women, Girls and 2SLGBTQQIA+
People National Action Plan: Ending Violence Against Indigenous Women, Girls and
2SLGBTQQIA+ People, published on this date last year, the gouvernement duQuébec reiterated its commitment to combating violence against Indigenous
women and girls and, with Indigenous partners, to implementing its own actions in
its areas of jurisdiction.
It is in the same vein that the gouvernement du Québec is proud to present today
to its population and Indigenous partners an overview of the concrete steps taken
in 2021–2022 to improve living conditions for Indigenous peoples, and particularly
Indigenous women and girls in Québec. These actions are meant to address
the recommendations of the Public Inquiry Commission on relations between
Indigenous Peoples and certain public services in Québec (the Viens Commission)and of the National Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women andGirls (NIMMIWG), including the 21 recommendations laid out in the report specificto Québec.

109

In June 2021, in response to Call for Justice 20
in the NIMMIWG report specific to Québec, theParliament of Québec passed the Act to authorize thecommunication of personal information to the families ofIndigenous children who went missing or died after being
admitted to an institution. This Act, which came into
force September 1st, 2021, aims to support families
in their search for information on health and social
services institutions and religious congregations,particularly on the circumstances surrounding thedisappearance or death of their child after the child
was admitted to one of these institutions. The Act
overrides certain access to information regimes by
allowing specific personal information about a childto be communicated to their extended family or any
significant person. The Act is to be carried out by
several stakeholders: the special advisor for family
support, Ms. Anne Panasuk; the Direction de soutien
aux familles, created as part of the Secrétariat aux
affaires autochtones at the same time as this Act cameinto force; and the Association des familles Awacak.
The monitoring committee on the Act was created in
October 2021, as well, and has been holding working
meetings since then. During 2021, 17 femicides werecommitted in Québec, three of them against Nunavik
women. The premier ministre, François Legault,
responded to this terrible occurrence by mandating
the vice-première ministre and ministre de la Sécurité
publique, Ms. Geneviève Guilbault, to lead a committee
on stopping crimes against women. This committee
has worked on priority efforts relating to domestic
violence and the femicides. Four of these efforts wereannounced on June 3rd, 2021, and were specifically
aimed at First Nations and Inuit:••

Support culturally relevant local services that
help Indigenous women and men, as well as
their relatives, in the healing process after
domestic violence;•

Support the development of culturally relevant
and safe services for prevention and intervention
in domestic violence in Nunavik, in collaboration
with Inuit partners; and,•Add domestic violence personnel to theIndigenous police force to ensure that victims are
better cared for and perpetrators monitored moreclosely throughout all stages of the process.

Note that some of these priority efforts are in
addition to the 2020 budget’s announced investmentof $200 million over five years for implementing
the recommendations of the NIMMIWG and theViens Commission. Nine departments and agencies
have put forward 35 structural measures over thecourse of 2021–2022 to cover a range of issues andrecommendations, including:

Increase funding of emergency shelters in
Indigenous32 communities under agreement andurban centres for women and children facing
domestic violence;•

Incorporating cultural safety into the health andsocial services network;•

Access to justice and training for Indigenous
police force personnel;•

Funding consolidation for two student residencecomplexes with communal spaces and affordable
housing for Indigenous students in Sept-Îles
and Trois-Rivières, and beginning the process ofconstructing a third centre in Québec City; and,•Developing an implementation plan forincorporating Indigenous content into the Quebec
school curriculum, in collaboration with First
Nations and Inuit.

32 Under the James Bay and Northern Quebec Agreement and the Northeastern Quebec Agreement, the Cree, Inuit and Naskapi nations takeover numerous responsibilities in areas such as health and social services, education and income security, and were granted funding to that end.

110

As part of a collaborative process of working with
Indigenous organizations against domestic violence,
the gouvernement du Québec has allocated funding
for projects developed by and for Indigenous peoples,with a request for proposals from the Secrétariat à
la condition féminine and the ministère de la Justice.
Funding has also been granted to the Québec City
organization Maison communautaire Missinak,to create a transition house to shelter Indigenous
women and children who have been the victims ofdomestic violence and provide them with affordable
housing and psychosocial support services.

The gouvernement du Québec is more committed
than ever to supporting Indigenous women andchildren socially and economically, intensifying its
work against the diverse forms of violence they suffer
and continuing the search for information about
Indigenous children who went missing or died after
being admitted to an institution. The gouvernement
du Québec will strengthen its efforts to respondto the recommendations of the NIMMIWG and theViens Commission, in partnership with Indigenousorganizations of Québec. It also is committed totaking into account the needs expressed by the First
Nations and Inuit of Québec as part of its action plans
and anti-violence work currently underway. The
gouvernement du Québec considers the conditions
that Indigenous women and children live in to be offundamental importance, and, in collaboration with
Indigenous partners, will continue to pursue efforts toimprove those conditions.

Furthermore, in December 2021, the gouvernement
du Québec launched the Plan d’action gouvernemental
2021-2026 en réponse aux recommandations de laCommission spéciale sur l’exploitation sexuelle des mineurs[2021–2026 governmental action plan in responseto the recommendations of the Select Committee on
the Sexual Exploitation of Minors]. This includes 10
measures tailored to the Indigenous context and four
steps specifically for Indigenous peoples.
The gouvernement du Québec and Indigenousorganizations have also continued their efforts
through the work of the Comité femmes autochtones[Indigenous women committee]. Over the course of
2021–2022, the committee identified work priorities,
which will be studied over the next year in order toinspire new government efforts.
Lastly, the Government Action Plan for the Social andCultural Development of the First Nations and Inuit
2017–2022 came to an end during 2021–2022.
This action plan included more than 26 measures
aimed at Indigenous women and children. The
process of renewing the action plan is underway.
Many Indigenous organizations and elected leaders
have already been heard from, including those who
represent the interests of Indigenous women andchildren in Québec. The new action plan will comeout in 2022 and will strengthen the government’s
response to the inquiry commissions.

111Government of Ontario
For example, Ontario extended the mandate of the
Indigenous Women’s Advisory Council to March2025 to ensure the voices of Indigenous womenand 2SLGBTQQIA+ people continue to be centeredin all program and policy developments aimed atending violence. The Indigenous Women’s Advisory
Council provided critical input on the development of
Ontario’s Pathways to Safety strategy and continues
to guide its implementation, as well as providing
advice on priorities under the Associate Minister of
Women and Children’s Issues portfolio. Priorities
include child, youth and family well-being, anti-humantrafficking and broader violence prevention.

Key Highlights
On March 31st, 2022, Ontario issued the firstannual progress report on Pathways to Safety:
Ontario’s Strategy in Response to the Final Reportof the National Inquiry into Missing and Murdered
Indigenous Women and Girls, released in May 2021.
The progress report outlines advancements Ontario
has made to address critical gaps in supports for
Indigenous women and children, and the ways we areconfronting and eliminating the root causes of violence
faced by Indigenous women, children and Two-Spirit,
lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, questioning,intersex, asexual, plus (2SLGBTQQIA+) people.

Examples of other key actions and investments
Ontario has made to address commitments in
Pathways over the past year include:

The advances are a testament to the ongoingcollaboration with Indigenous partners andcommunities to address and help eliminate the root
causes of violence, with emphasis on increasing
accountability, building relationships with First
Nations, Inuit and Métis partners, and increasing
programming and new investments.

112•

Investing over $36 million in Indigenous
community-led mental health andaddictions supports•

Providing $20 million over three years to support
burial investigations by Indigenous communities
at former Indian Residential Schools in Ontario•

Strengthening mandatory, Indigenous-focused
content in Social Studies, Grades 1-3 through aco-development process with Indigenous partners
for implementation in September 2023. These
revisions will complement the mandatory learning
already present in Social Studies, Grades 4-6, andHistory, Grades 7, 8 and 10, introduced in 2018,
and complete the spectrum of learning acrossthis curriculum.

Over this past year, Ontario has also continued tobuild on its commitments by strengthening actions
and investing in new initiatives under Pathways to
Safety. Some successes over this last year include:

Progress/Successes
Between June 2021 and June 2022, Ontario’s
continued response to the Final Report of the
National Inquiry was driven by the province’s
commitment to transparent accountability andbuilding meaningful relationships. Together with theIndigenous Women’s Advisory Council, the province
has begun designing and implementing accountability
mechanisms to effectively monitor progress on thestrategy’s six Pathways. In early 2022, Ontario’s
Ministry of Indigenous Affairs also commenced workwith the 2-Spirited People of the 1st Nations andwith Anishinabek Nation to hold targeted, culturally
responsive, and community-led conversations on
the Calls for Justice of the National Inquiry, so their
input can be used to inform future progress underOntario’s strategy.
First Nation, Inuit, Métis and urban Indigenous
partners have told the province that addressing
violence against Indigenous women, children and
2SLGBTQQIA+ people requires the creation ofsystems that truly foster safety and security for
Indigenous communities, and clear measures andoutcomes to effectively track this progress. The
collaborative and transparent collection of data tomeaningfully measure the reduction of violenceagainst Indigenous peoples is a significant long-term
priority for Ontario, and while work is at a preliminary
stage, it is underway.

•

Ongoing work under the Child Welfare Redesign
with First Nations, Inuit and Métis peoples tosupport the development and implementationof Indigenous-led models for child andfamily services•

Investment to support capacity-building activities
for the Indigenous women’s shelter sector as well
as new and expanded healing lodge services•

New investments in mental health and addictions
supports for Indigenous communities•

Expanded funding to anti-racism programs
and supports•

Investment to support the identification,
investigation, protection, maintenance andcommemoration of burials at Indian Residential
Schools and surrounding areas.

Next Steps/Priorities
Ontario recognizes that much more needs to be done.
The legacy of the Indian Residential School system
continues to haunt Indigenous communities acrossOntario and Canada. Coupled with the impacts of thepandemic, including increased violence experienced
by Indigenous women, efforts to address the Calls for
Justice of the National Inquiry must take on a renewed
urgency. Ontario will continue working with Indigenous
partners to expand collaboration and strengthen
our response to the Calls for Justice, including
efforts to improve collaborative data collection andmeasurement, collect baseline data, develop relevant
indicators, and track strategy progress.

113

Work will also continue with the Indigenous Women’s
Advisory Council to support Women’s Circles andFamily/Survivors’ Circles so women’s voices areamplified. These commitments are important steps inOntario’s strategy.

Reports/Publications
Ontario’s 2021-22 Pathways to Safety Progress
Report, released on March 31, 2022, highlights
advancements made on accountability andrelationship commitments under Ontario’s strategy
and profiles progress on key initiatives and newinvestments made this past year.

Ontario will also continue to work with the federal
government on shared priorities, including justiceand policing, mental health supports, and housing
supports. Ontario also recognizes that much
more work needs to be done with Indigenous
2SLGBTQQIA+ communities, and we will continue
to build on conversations held to date so the needsof gender-diverse Indigenous peoples are addressed
and met under the province’s strategy. Finally, inpartnership with the Indigenous Women’s Advisory
Council, Ontario will continue to release annual public
progress reports to highlight progress in building
a province where all Indigenous women, children
and 2SLGBTQQIA+ people live in safety, free fromviolence and exploitation.

Progress Report: https://www.ontario.ca/page/
ontarios-2021-22-pathways-safety-progress-report
Pathways to Safety Strategy: https://www.ontario.ca/
page/pathways-safety-ontarios-strategy-responsefinal-report-national-inquiry-missing-and-murdered114

Government of Manitoba
Introductory Statement
Honourable Alan Lagimodiere, Minister of Indigenous Reconciliation
and Northern Relations, Manitoba Government
Today, as the 2022 Progress Report on the Missing and Murdered
Indigenous Women, Girls, and 2SLGBTQQIA+ People National Action
Plan is released, we pay our sincere respects to the families and friends
who continue to experience a painful loss and mourn their missing andmurdered loved ones. We also honour the strength and courage ofsurvivors who have, and continue to experience trauma and violence.
Manitoba is committed to putting an end to gender-based violence,advancing reconciliation and supporting families of missing andmurdered Indigenous women, girls and gender diverse people.
In collaboration with community, we want to make transformativechange. The voices of families and survivors must be at the centre andlead us in the work we do. It is our hope to continue to shed light on
MMIWG2S+ and to continue to work in partnership as allies to end
gender-based violence.

Areas of Progress
Manitoba continues to work toward developing concrete and effective
responses to the National Inquiry that build on the work underway
at the community-level. The Manitoba Government is supporting apartnership table coordinated by the Ma Mawi Wi Chi Itata Centre to
co-develop a provincial implementation plan to raise awareness andend violence against Indigenous women, girls, and 2SLGBTQQIA+
peoples in Manitoba. This implementation plan will be an Indigenousled expression of priorities as related to the Calls for Justice. It will
be informed by the National Action Plan and used to align Manitoba’s
efforts to advance work as related to the National Inquiry.

115

View of the memorial built inhonour of Helen Betty Osborne(Credit: B. Bloxom; The Pas
Family Resource Centre)

Manitoba has invested in a multi-faceted, skilledtrades training initiative for Indigenous women in four
northern and remote communities, in partnershipwith the Manitoba Construction Sector Council(MCSC). The training initiative includes career
exploration, targeted training, mentorship andongoing career support. Training will be delivered by
MCSC in framing, water and waste-water installation
and blast hole drilling, which are all skills that are inhigh demand in these communities.

Some Success Stories
At the beginning of 2021/22, Manitoba supported
various Indigenous-led community agencies to deliver
programs that address the diverse needs of victims
and address violence against Indigenous women, girls,
and 2SLGBTQQIA+ people. Three-year grants were
provided to support:•

Manitoba Keewatinowi Okimakanak – Indigenous
Men and Boys are Part of the Solution to Building
Healthy and Safe Communities•

Manitoba Métis Federation – Métis MMIWG
Family Support Project•Southern Chiefs Organization – Preventing andAddressing Family Violence Clan•

Mothers’ Turtle Lodge – Healing Village Social
Enterprise Training Program•

Ka Ni Kanichihk – Heart Medicine Lodge•

Portage La Prairie Bear Clan – Noozhek (support
for Indigenous women taking meaningful action to
search for stolen sisters)

Manitoba is launching a web-based crisis line service
to improve access to support for Manitobans
experiencing family, domestic, and intimate partner
violence. The web-based chat feature is an additional
option to the existing crisis phone line, allowing for
more discrete methods of accessing resources for
those impacted by intimate partner violence, providing
privacy, flexibility and anonymity.
Through federal funding made available from Canada’s
Victims Fund, Victim Services has received support
through 2025/26 to improve culturally-aware
programming offered by the branch. This includes
funding to enhance the accessibility of Grandmother,
Elder, and Knowledge Keeper support for victims
of crime, and also having ceremonial tools such as
tobacco, sweet grass, and other traditional materials
available at all Victim Services offices.

On May 12, 2022, the Manitoba government proposed
new legislation, as well as amendments to existing
acts, that would further protect vulnerable children
and youth who are at risk of human trafficking andsexual exploitation. Proposed new legislation, would
improve the ability of law enforcement to investigate
suspected instances of human trafficking by requiring
hotels and temporary accommodations, including online
accommodation platforms, to keep a register of guests,
including their names and addresses, and make theregisters available to investigators by order or without
a warrant on an emergency-demand basis. Further
legislative amendments would require hotels, temporary
accommodations and operators of taxis and online ridesharing platforms such as Uber to immediately reportsuspected human trafficking to police.

On March 17, 2022, the Government introduced abill to amend the Victims’ Bill of Rights to allow for
more discretion by administrators of victims services
programs in supporting families of deceased victims
of crime who might otherwise not have been eligible,
through no fault of their own, but who are in need ofsupport. Supporting victims of crime is important tohealing and ending the cycle of victimization. These
amendments are another step to ensuring the justicesystem not only holds offenders accountable but also
supports victims during the time they need support.

116

Next Steps
With humility, we acknowledge that a great deal of work remains to be done andprogress is ongoing. Solving this national tragedy is not easy but we continue
working towards developing concrete and effective responses to the National
Inquiry and the Calls for Justice that build on the work that is underway at thecommunity-level.
The Manitoba Government has recently amended the Path to Reconciliation Act toestablish the Calls for Justice of the National Inquiry into Missing and Murdered
Indigenous Women and Girls as a central and guiding aspect of the government’s
approach to advancing truth and reconciliation in Manitoba.
These legislative amendments affirm that the Manitoba government will be guided
by the Calls for Justice of the National Inquiry into MMIWG, alongside the Calls
to Action of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission, and the principles set out inthe United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples.
Addressing violence, in particular the incidences of MMIWG2S+, is a priority for
the Manitoba Government and we intend to continue to take action to prevent andcombat gender-based violence in all forms.
Link to Indigenous Reconciliation and Northern Relations, MMIWG website:
https://www.gov.mb.ca/inr/mmiwg/index.html

Each of the 231 Calls for Justice wasprinted and placed along the memorial
route for the 50th Anniversary
Commemoration for Helen Betty Osborneon November 13, 2021
(Credit: B. Bloxom; The Pas Family
Resource Centre)117

Government of Saskatchewan
Key Highlights•

Addressing the root causes of violence andvictimization is paramount for long-lasting change.
This past year, Saskatchewan provided fundingto Kineepik Métis Local #9 for the Muskwa
Lake Wellness Camp. The camp is a grassrootscommunity-directed program that provides landbased health intervention to address alcoholism,
suicide rates and overdose deaths in northern
Saskatchewan communities and includes
Western addictions education and traditional
Indigenous teachings. This responds to CFJ 7.3
and 7.4. The project will focus on developing aculturally responsive model that can inform future
programming. Part of the grant will also go toward
winterizing the camp, which will allow the program
to run year-round and enable the camp to increase
the number of people it serves.

•

Cowessess First Nation signed off on the first
Coordination Agreement in Canada in July 2021
related to An Act Respecting First Nations, Inuit andMétis children, youth and families. Cowessess’ service
authority, the Chief Red Bear Children’s Lodge,
is building capacity to assume delivery of childand family services to members of their Nation.
Working protocols between the Lodge and Childand Family Programs continue to be developed. In
response to CFJ 12.1, the Ministry of Social Services
works closely with Indigenous communities andFirst Nations Child and Family Services Agencies
to help keep families together, build capacity forextended family caregivers and keep children
connected to their culture and community.

Since the release of the National Action Plan:
Ending Violence Against Indigenous Women, Girls,
and 2SLGBTQQIA+ People, the Government of
Saskatchewan (Saskatchewan) continues to engage
with Indigenous communities to better understandtheir concerns and priorities regarding mattersrelated to Missing and Murdered Indigenous Womenand Girls and Two-spirited, Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual,
Trans, Queer, Questioning, Intersex, Asexual, andother gender-diverse people (MMIWG2S+).
••

In Fall 2021, the province held an engagement
session to focus on the safety of Indigenous women,
girls, and gender-diverse people, and on relationshipbuilding through economic reconciliation. The
session was primarily led by Indigenous women,
and the presenters discussed Indigenous
entrepreneurship and community safety.
Ongoing funding will be provided, starting in
2022-23, for the Missing and Murdered Indigenous
Women and Girls Community Response Fund. This
program funds initiatives created by Indigenous
communities and organizations that address theCalls for Justice (CFJ). Saskatchewan is currently
working with Indigenous representatives toco-develop the criteria, application process, andevaluation tools. This fund, which responds to
CFJ 15.6, will enable applicants to generate selfdetermined solutions and increase safety within
their communities.

118

•

Progress/Successes
Work continues within the themes of Culture, Healthand Wellness, Human Security, and Justice.

Culture, Health and Wellness•••

To provide culturally safe culture and language
programs for Indigenous children, Early Years
Family Resource Centres have begun to offer
programming in Indigenous languages. To date,
Nipawin Early Years Family Resource Centre isoffering programing in Cree (CFJ 2.3, 12.7).

Saskatchewan continues to support families of
MMIWG2S+ and survivors of violence. For example,
the Saskatchewan Family Information Liaison Unit
(FILU) takes a family-centred approach which
includes attending and helping families organize
events and activities and linking families to trauma
and grief supports. This past year, FILU enabled
inmates in custody to access FILU supports (CFJ 5.6).

Human Security and Justice

Saskatchewan hosted a public Solstice Speakers
Series consisting of four events focused on
MMIWG2S+ and reconciliation. The second
event in late 2021 was a panel discussion on
MMIWG2S+ as a form of gender-based violence,
its impacts on families and community, andavailable supports. This event provided an
opportunity for the public and community toconnect, heal, and learn together, which supports
the National Action Plan goal of achieving societal
change by knowing the root causes of violenceagainst MMIWG2S+ (CFJ: 11.1).
Access to cultural spaces supports the principleof reclaiming Indigenous cultural identity andtraditional practices. The incorporation of
dedicated cultural spaces within health careand corrections facilities is one way to increase
cultural awareness and connection. For example,
four new cultural centres have been built withincorrections facilities since 2021 to ensure First
Nations and Métis ceremony and culture isavailable for adults and youth (CFJ 15.2).

119•

Saskatchewan continues to address the CFJ
within the justice system, including calls related
to trauma-informed and inclusive programming.
These initiatives are designed to support womenin their healing journey through increased accessto relevant supports and training opportunities.
This includes supporting entrepreneurial training incorrectional centres for female inmates (CFJ 4.4).

•

Saskatchewan recognizes the importance ofincreasing supports for Indigenous women andgirls to access economic opportunities, which
can aid in breaking the cycle of violence. In
2021, Saskatchewan signed onto the CanadaSaskatchewan Canada-Wide Early Learning andChild Care Agreement. One of the key priorities in2022-23 is to engage with First Nations and Métis
organizations to develop a plan for a coordinatedsystem that reflects the needs of First Nations andMétis peoples in Saskatchewan (CFJ 1.3, 4.1, 4.4).

•

As part of ongoing awareness and education,phase two of Saskatchewan’s multiyear publicawareness campaign, Face the Issue, launchedin 2022. The campaign challenges beliefs that
normalize interpersonal violence. The initial phase
was designed to spark conversations, increaseawareness of services, and focus on prevention.
The second phase focuses on subtle forms of abuse,asking the question: “Would you know abuse if you
saw it?” The campaign was translated into Cree andDene and has had over 2.2 million views (CFJ: 1.9).

•The Protection from Human Trafficking Act cameinto force on April 20, 2022 to provide further
safeguards for victims and survivors of humantrafficking. The Act streamlines the process forvictims to seek a protection order. It adds newprovisions for protection orders, including one
that prohibits traffickers from contacting their
victims directly or indirectly. Victims can apply fora protection order on their own or be assisted by ashelter worker, a medical professional, or anotherprescribed individual as defined in the Act.
The legislation includes significant penalties todiscourage violations of protection orders. Thesechanges respond to CFJ 3.4.

The root causes of violence against Indigenous
women, girls, and gender-diverse people are deepand complex. Saskatchewan is committed to bridging
community-led solutions and government services
to address the social and economic marginalization
experienced by Indigenous communities and makeprogress on reconciliation. The province recognizes
the resilience of Indigenous peoples and respects
their leadership and continued partnership in
addressing violence within our communities. This
collaborative work must continue to better support
Indigenous women, gender-diverse people, andcommunities across Saskatchewan.

Next Steps/Priorities
While efforts to address the CFJ are ongoing, thefollowing remain priorities for Saskatchewan:•

Increasing the number of Indigenous employees
across the public service to reflect and address
Indigenous priorities, including the Truth
and Reconciliation Calls to Action and the
MMIWG2S+ CFJ. Within several ministries,
Indigenous Advisors guide government work andoften work with Indigenous organizations andcommunities to address priority areas such as
missing persons (CFJ 1.3, 1.4).

•

Ongoing commitment to training and continued
awareness across the Saskatchewan public service
addresses the calls for health providers, police,
employees in the judicial system, child protection
workers, and all Canadians to learn about thehistory of Indigenous people and the impact ofcolonial policies. The Saskatchewan Police College
employed its first Indigenous Executive Director
and its first Indigenous female training officer. The
Police College has also begun including Indigenous
presenters and perspectives into its recruit training
program (CFJ 7.6, 9.2, 9.3, 10.1).

When someone dies, there is often a gravesite,a place to gather and remember; when someone
vanishes, there is a void. Created by Indigenous artist,
Lyndon Tootoosis, the Place of Reflection in Regina,
Saskatchewan began with a small group of community
members who shared a concept that grew into theexisting place of hope.

120

Government of Alberta
Key Highlights(between June 2021 and June 2022)

Initiatives/programs put in place

Vision: Alberta is a place where Indigenous women,
girls, and two spirit, lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender,
queer, questioning, intersex and asexual (two-spirit+)
people live in safety and security, free from violence,
and are treated with dignity and respect.

•

Minister of Indigenous Relations declared Sistersin Spirit Day on October 4 every year since 2019,and has participated in Red Dress Day gatherings
on May 5 to raise awareness of violence against
Indigenous women and girls.

•

November is Family Violence Prevention Month inAlberta, which gives space to communities to help
raise awareness and prevent family violence byorganizing public events and activities.

•

The Alberta government and its community
partners lead awareness events each year torecognize the 16 Days of Activism and callfor the prevention and elimination of genderbased violence.

Development/release of plans, reports,summaries••

The Alberta government is addressing this national
tragedy with Indigenous women guiding our way.
In March 2020, Alberta established the Alberta
Joint Working Group on Missing and Murdered
Indigenous Women and Girls, made up of fourIndigenous women and three members of theLegislative Assembly, to provide advice, direction
and input into the Alberta government’s proposed
action plan to address the National Inquiry Calls for
Justice. The Alberta Joint Working Group delivered
its final report in late December 2021, which iscurrently being reviewed (https://www.alberta.ca/
alberta-joint-working-group-on-mmiwg.aspx).

Work or initiatives with communities, grassroots
organizations
Alberta’s government continues to fund Indigenous
communities and organizations to advance work
toward Indigenous people’s safety and well-being:•

Alberta responded to the Alberta Human
Trafficking Task Force final report – The Reading
Stone – The Survivor’s Lens to Human Trafficking, on
August 31, 2021.

121

Navigational and advocacy supports to Indigenous
women in Alberta through the Institute for the
Advancement of Aboriginal Women (IAAW) and
Awo Taan Healing Lodge Society.

•

Public awareness strategies identified by
Indigenous partners to tackle the barriers toeliminating discrimination against Indigenous
peoples through the Multiculturalism, Indigenous
and Inclusion Grant Program in Alberta.

•• Improving the functionality of the Aboriginal
Alert system across multiple platforms, build
partnerships with law enforcement agencies andbroadcasters, and increase public awareness ofthe service;

Progress/Successes(between June 2021 and June 2022)
Overview of progress, including measuring
success/impact••

Alberta Ministry of Indigenous Relations provided
more than $979,000 in grants to support initiatives
to help stem the ongoing crisis of violence against
Indigenous women, girls and two-spirit+ people,
such as:• Programming to Indigenous girls and gender
diverse youth aged 15 to 21 to help combat
gender-based violence; andContinued support to the First Nations and the
Métis Women’s Councils on Economic Security,
which provide recommendations on government
policies, programs and services that can improve
the lives of Indigenous women, their families andcommunities.

• Supporting community gatherings, healing
circles and coordination with the RCMP andother agencies that respond to emergencies.

Supported the Alberta Joint Working Group on
Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women andGirls (Joint Working Group):•• They examined topics related to law
enforcement, human trafficking, housing andhomelessness, violence prevention, media,
children’s services, income support and mental
health, addictions and health services.
• The Joint Working Group submitted its final
report to the Ministers of Indigenous Relations,
Justice and Solicitor General and Associate
Minister of Status of Women (December 2021).

122

Continued implementation of legislation such as
Disclosure to Protect Against Domestic Violence
Act (Clare’s Law), and Protecting Survivors of
Human Trafficking Act.

Priorities identified relating to Missing and

Next Steps/Priorities

Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls
Alberta continues to analyze the National Inquiry
Final Report as well as the advice, direction and input
from the Alberta Joint Working Group on Missingand Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls with the
purpose of developing actions to address violenceagainst Indigenous women, girls and two-spirit+
people.

Supporting Indigenous Women’s social andeconomic security: Collaboration with Indigenousorganizations to support eight projects totalling$979,000 on initiatives targeting improved accessto government programs and services; supporting
Indigenous women, families and survivors of violence;increasing awareness of Indigenous missing persons;youth conversations on normalization of violence;and improving communication between service
organizations to support Indigenous women, girls andtwo spirit plus people.

Reports/Publications
Relevant reports/publications

Acknowledging the agency and expertise of
Indigenous women, girls, and 2SLGBTQQIA people:
Continue to support the First Nations and Métis
Women’s Councils on Economic Security and provide
long-term funding support to the Institute for the
Advancement of Aboriginal Women.

Alberta Human Trafficking Task Force final report –The Reading Stone – The Survivor’s Lens to Human
Trafficking: https://open.alberta.ca/publications/the-reading-stone-the-survivors-lens-to-humantrafficking

123Government of British Columbia
Key Highlights

Supports for Sexual Assault Response

Key accomplishments from June 2021 to June 2022
included release of A Path Forward: Priorities and Early
Strategies for BC (the Path Forward) in conjunction withthe release of the 2021 Missing and Murdered Indigenous
Women, Girls, and 2SLGBTQQIA+ People National Action
Plan: Ending Violence Against Indigenous Women, Girls,
and 2SLGBTQQIA+ People on June 3, 2021, more
funding provided to increase the number of emergency
sexual assault response services grants, and release of
the five-year Declaration Act Action Plan.

In March 2021, BC provided an additional $10 million
in funding to enhance the Emergency Sexual Assault
Services multi-year grant program (administered by
the Ending Violence Association of BC) supporting
the delivery of co-ordinated, community-based
emergency sexual assault response services
throughout B.C. until March 2023. In recognition of
the substantial need for locally relevant and culturally
safe supports for survivors in Indigenous communities
in B.C., more than 40% of the grant funding was
allocated to Indigenous service providers.

Path Forward
Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples
The Path Forward reflects priorities identified in
Indigenous-led dialogue sessions with survivors,family members and communities held in 2019 and2021. It sets a solid foundation with early strategies
and a foundational investment of over $5 million in
2021/22 to develop and implement the Path Forward
Community Fund. The BC Association of Aboriginal
Friendship Centres (BCAAFC) will manage the Fundto help Indigenous communities and organizations
expand safety planning capacity. The Fund is a key
part of the Path Forward, BC’s response to the
Reclaiming Power and Place: the Final Report of the
National Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous
Women and Girls (the Final Report).

Action PlanOn March 30th, 2022 BC also introduced a five-year
Declaration Act Action Plan to achieve the objectivesof the United Nations Declaration on the Rights ofIndigenous Peoples (UN Declaration). The Action Plan
achieves one of the early actions in the Path Forward
and is a commitment in the Declaration on the Rights
of Indigenous Peoples Act (Declaration Act), but
it is much more than a legislative requirement. It
provides a collectively identified long-term vision
for the implementation of the UN Declaration in
B.C. including 89 priority actions that will be taken
towards that goal over the next five years.

124Progress/Successes

The Path Forward Community FundOn June 3, 2021, the second-year anniversary of
the release of the final report of the National Inquiry
into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women andGirls, the National Action Plan – a path towards
ending violence against Indigenous Women, girls and
2SLGBTQQIA+ peoples was released. On the sameday, BC released A Path Forward: Priorities and Early
Strategies for BC (the Path Forward).

The BCAAFC will manage the Community Fund,
including developing and administering the grant
program, defining criteria, reviewing applications
and distributing grants to Indigenous communities
and organizations throughout the Province. As partof this work, the BCAAFC will engage communities
and work collaboratively to inform and develop theobjectives, intended outcomes and key indicatorsof the Fund. This will include making best efforts toestablish an advisory committee that reflects regional
representation, on and off reserve, Elders, First
Nations, Inuit, Metis, and non-status communities.

The Path Forward is grounded in the Province’s
participation in the National Inquiry, research andreview of historic reports and more than 3,000
recommendations, and engagement with Indigenous
leadership, survivors, family members and community
organizations undertaken in 2019 and 2021.

Next Steps/Priorities
Moving forward, BC will continue to work in
consultation and cooperation with Indigenous
Peoples across the province to implement actions
identified in this plan, reflecting our mutualcommitment to work together in partnership.

The number one priority identified across all
community engagement sessions since 2019 is theneed for increased capacity so that Indigenous
communities can create and implement theirown culturally safe and appropriate solutions tothe systemic issues resulting in violence against
Indigenous women, girls and 2SLGBTQQIA+ people.
In a first step to meet this need, the Province madea foundational investment of more than $5 million
in 2021-22. With these resources, BC is investing in
a new Path Forward Community Fund – accessible
to First Nations communities, urban/off reserve
communities, Métis, Inuit citizens and 2SLGBTQQIA+
communities – to support capacity to develop safety
plans. A cornerstone of this work includes taking a
distinctions-based approach (i.e., an approach thatrecognizes the diversity of Indigenous communities
across BC) that honours and respects the expertise,agency, and leadership of Indigenous peoples
throughout all stages of planning and implementation.

As we reflect on the third anniversary of the releaseof the Final Report of the National Inquiry, BC’scontinued focus on addressing the systemic causesof violence against Indigenous women, girls and
2SLGBTQQIA+ peoples remains unchanged. The
resiliency and innovation in community, and theleadership and expertise of Indigenous women inparticular, must be acknowledged and supported.

125

The Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples
Act Action Plan five-year plan represents a significant
milestone towards fulfilling our shared responsibility
for meaningful reconciliation through enhancementsthat support the safety and wellbeing of Indigenous
Peoples, and brings significant provincial investments
to housing, child welfare, justice and public safety,
cultural preservation, transportation and connectivity
to the forefront of our government’s work in the next
five years.

Reports/Publications

Ending violence against Indigenous women, girls,
and 2SLGBTQQIA+ people requires sustainedcommitment and efforts by all, with the flexibility toadapt based on emerging needs and priorities. Our
government has strongly renewed its commitment todoing its part to ensure that its legislation, policies,
programs and services meet the needs of those they
are intended to serve.

Additionally, the Declaration on the Rights ofIndigenous Peoples Action Plan can be found at thefollowing link: https://www2.gov.bc.ca/assets/gov/
government/ministries-organizations/ministries/
indigenous-relations-reconciliation/declaration_act_
action_plan.pdf.

Recent inquiries, reports, and other publications areposted publicly on the BC Government’s webpages.
The following link includes the Path Forward, BC’s
submissions to the commission of the National
Inquiry into MMIWG, reporting related to theMissing Women Commission of Inquiry, and other key
inquiries and reports: https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/
content/justice/about-bcs-justice-system/inquiries.

This update has provided examples of some of the key
recent initiatives BC has undertaken to advance thisagenda – we know there is significant work left to do
and our path forward will be guided in partnershipwith community, collaboration with Indigenous
leadership, and coordination with all provincial
stakeholders and the federal government.
Moving forward, BC will be keenly focused on
working collaboratively on all relevant initiatives
intended to respond to the Final Report and fulfill
provincially relevant Calls for Justice, and to alignour efforts towards meaningfully implementing the
Declaration of Indigenous Peoples Act Action Plan.

126

Government of Yukon
Key Highlights
Since the release of Changing the Story to Upholding
Dignity and Justice: Yukon’s MMIWG2S+ Strategy,
the Yukon Advisory Committee on MMIWG2S+ has
continued to work in partnership to guide how Yukon
addresses the tragedy of violence against Indigenous
women, girls, and LGBTQ2S+ people. This approach,bringing together representatives of Government of
Yukon, Yukon First Nation governments, Indigenous
women’s organizations, and families and survivors is aunique “whole of Yukon” approach to the work. It has
also meant that each step takes more time and is more
complex than originally planned.

This logo of Yukon MMIWG
was created by Janelle
Richardson. Janelle’s
youngest sister Tina was oneof the MMIWG of the Yukon.
In her honour, she dedicatesthis memorable logo to her,with whom she never had
the opportunity to meet but
will forever be in Janelle’s her heart.

Progress/Successes
Although there is a deep understanding in Yukon of
the magnitude of work ahead and how the pandemic
impacted our progress so far, many promising
practices are underway to highlight.

In 2021, the Yukon Advisory Committee (YAC)
struck a Technical Working Group to create an
Implementation Plan for the Strategy, providing
more detail to the Strategy so that all partners could
collaborate in doing the work. The YAC hosted thefirst annual Accountability Forum on May 18-19,
2022, bringing families and survivors together withpartners and contributors for Yukon government,
Yukon First Nations, private industry, and the nonprofit sector. The event successfully highlighted
promising practices, built relationships, and fostered
momentum for the monumental work ahead. It
sent home a clear message to all participants of theimportance of keeping families and survivors at theheart of the work.

The Act to Amend the Child and Family Services
Act (2022) was passed by the Legislative Assembly
and received assent on March 31, 2022. This Act
was created in partnership with representatives
from Yukon First Nations and co-chaired by theCouncil of Yukon First Nations and represents a step
towards developing a child welfare system based on
non-discriminatory values and fundamental childand human rights. The foundation of this new Act
is to have children safely supported within theirfamilies, extended families, and communities. The
Government of Yukon knows it must continue toimprove and expand culturally appropriate supports
for Indigenous families.

127

Yukon was proud to officially establish the First
Nations School Board in February 2022. Marking along journey from 49 years ago, when 12 Yukon First
Nations leaders presented “Together Today for ourChildren Tomorrow” to Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau,
this agreement is a first step forward in reclaiming therightful authority and control over education for Yukon
First Nations and all Indigenous students.

The Government of Yukon has created a new
Community Safety Planning program to ensure there
is consistent funding for First Nations governments
across the Yukon to engage in community safety
planning activities. Phase one of the program is now
available and will provide up to $200,000 to eachFirst Nations government to support local community
safety assessments, planning and initiatives. Thisinitiative will help First Nations create tailoredcommunity safety approaches that respond to theirunique challenges, concerns and priorities. This
program builds upon the successes that communities
have seen, by leading with unique approaches topolicing in Kwanlin Dün First Nation, Selkirk First
Nation, and Teslin Tlingit Council.

In September 2021, a monument to missing
and murdered Indigenous women and girls was
unveiled in Whitehorse and in March 2022, threecommemorative dresses were unveiled by Little
Salmon Carmacks First Nation, Nacho Nyak Dun, andSelkirk First Nation.

Council of Yukon First Nations, the RCMP ‘M‘Division, and Government of Yukon are working
together to review the implementation of Sharing
Common Ground: Review of Yukon’s Police Force,
which was completed in 2010. This is action 2.2 ofYukon’s MMIWG2S+ Strategy, which will identify
progress made and outstanding actions to improvepolicing in the territory. The review is an important
step in making the Yukon a safer place, where
Indigenous women, girls and Two-spirit+ Yukoners aretreated equitably and with dignity and justice.

Next Steps/Priorities
Moving forward, the Yukon Advisory Committee
remains committed to leading the work in
partnership. In the next year, the Implementation Plan
will be released to partners and contributors. This will
provide more guidance to partners and contributors
doing this work.
The next Accountability Forum in 2023 will
showcase more promising practices and progresson the implementation of the Strategy. Families andsurvivors will remain part of this forum, reminding
all partners of the urgency and priority of this work.
Long-term change will mean that Indigenous women’sorganizations have the capacity and resources toengage in this work; that the Yukon government
continues to create meaningful partnerships with First
Nations; that families and survivors have the supports
they need; and that systemic discrimination ends.

The Government of Yukon is investing $1 million
from its Housing Initiatives Fund, building on $15
million from Government of Canada, to refresh andrenovate the High Country Inn in Whitehorse. This
will create 55 new supportive housing units, of which
50 per cent will be allocated to women; 75 per centwill be allocated to Indigenous people; and 16 units
will be allocated to youth (age 16–24). These units
will support Yukoners who are in uncertain housing
situations, who are homeless or at risk of being
homeless, or who are living in temporary shelters.

Reports/Publications
Changing the Story to Upholding Dignity and Justice:
Yukon’s MMIWG2S+ Strategy.

128

Government of the Northwest Territories

The Draft Action Plan includes a commitment
statement from Cabinet and the Premier andthe following vision statement:“We envision an NWT where Indigenous
women, girls, and 2SLGBTQQIA+ people live
free from violence, are respected and valued,

Key Highlights

have equitable access to programs and services,
are honoured and celebrated, and where their

On December 8, 2021, the Government of theNorthwest Territories tabled its Draft Action
Plan in response to the Calls for Justice of the
National Inquiry into Missing and Murdered
Indigenous Women and Girls. Entitled “Changing theRelationship”, the Draft Action Plan aims to address
the effects of colonialism and racial and gender
discrimination at all levels of government and public
institutions and to change attitudes and behaviors,
especially those of service providers.

security is assured and provided no matter
where they reside.
The GNWT is committed to working with
all Northerners and with partners acrossCanada to address systemic causes of violence,
inequality, and racism so that Indigenous
women, girls, and 2SLGBTQQIA+ people canfeel safe and empowered in our country and in
our territory.”

129

The Draft Action Plan also incorporates the four
primary recommendations put forward by the
Native Women’s Association of the NWT in their
final submission to the National Inquiry. The fourrecommendations are:

Progress/Success
The Department of Executive and Indigenous
Affairs launched a MMIWG webpage which provides
an overview of the GNWT’s participation in, andresponse to, the National Inquiry. It includes links
to all related documents, contact information forsupport services, and the GNWT’s Draft Action Plan.

8. We must acknowledge that violence against
Indigenous women and girls including membersof the 2SLGBTQQIA+ communities is a crisis thatdemands an urgent and active response.

In 2021, the Government of the Northwest
Territories also launched the “Living Well Together:
Indigenous Cultural Awareness” online course. This
self-directed online course is comprised of eight (8)modules that are designed to raise awareness aboutcolonization, residential schools and Indigenous/nonIndigenous relations. This course is mandatory for all
GNWT Employees and is also available to the public
at no cost.

9. We must re-establish, build and foster trust
between all levels of government, service
providers, communities and every one of theircitizens.
10. We must ensure that the purpose and objectiveof all government services is to be community andperson centered.

The GNWT holds monthly meetings with theircommunity contacts where briefings are provided on
initiatives related to MMIWG that are taking placein the NWT and nationally. The GNWT also meetswith and provides briefings to key organizations suchas the Native Women’s Association of the NWT, theWomen’s Shelters, the NWT Leadership Council(comprised of the Chairs of the regional healthboards), the Members of the Legislative Assembly of
the NWT and Indigenous governments.

11. We must establish a meaningful entity withaccountability to monitor and evaluate theacknowledgement by governments, efforts
towards rebuilding trust and establishment ofand outcomes from community and personcentered government services.
The Draft Action Plan is a three-year plan and isbased on a thematic approach. The four thematic
areas include: Culture, Justice, Health and Wellness,and Human Security. A total of 95 Actions were
included in the Draft Action Plan, some of which are
already being implemented. Full implementation will
begin once the Draft Action Plan has been finalized in
Fall 2022.

The Family Information Liaison Unit’s work aligns
with the National Action Plan’s Common Short-Term
Priorities 2b: “Comprehensive approach to support
Indigenous victims and families/friends of Indigenous
murdered or missing persons, such as victim services,family information liaison units, legal services, access tocoroner/hospital reports, media, etc.”
Human Trafficking resources: Department of Justicehas established Victim of Crime Emergency Fund,for travel costs to return to their home Nunavut
community, and the purchase of emergency supplies
and prescription medication.

130

Next Steps/Priorities

Reports/Publications

The GNWT will conduct community engagementon the Draft Action Plan from June to August 2022
before it is finalized and tabled in the Legislative
Assembly during the fall 2022 session.

Changing the Relationship: The GNWT Draft
Action Plan in Response to the Calls for Justice on
Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women, Girls and
2SLGBTQQIA+ People

NWT Indigenous languages will be a featurecomponent of the approach to community engagementon the Draft Action Plan. In advance of community
engagement, the GNWT, in partnership with theNative Women’s Association of the NWT, will co-hostan Indigenous languages terminology workshop on
terms related to MMIWG, family violence, genderbased violence and intimate partner violence. The
terminology developed will be shared widely with
communities and Indigenous organizations.

The following resources informed the work of the
GNWT on the Draft Action Plan:

The Government of the Northwest Territories iscommitted to responding to the Calls for Justiceof the National Inquiry into Missing and Murdered
Indigenous Women and Girls and intends to develop
legislation to further support missing persons
investigations (Call for Justice 5.8). In 2022, the
GNWT will begin public engagement with NWT
residents and stakeholders to guide the drafting of
missing persons’ legislation.
The Government will also be preparing an Annual
Report which will be tabled on June 3, 2022.

131•

Doing Our Part: Initial Response to “Reclaiming
Power and Place: The Final Report of the National
Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous
Women and Girls•

Taking Action: GNWT’s Workplan to Address theCalls for Justice•Annual Report on Missing and Murdered
Indigenous Women and Girls•

What We Heard: Preliminary Engagement on the
GNWT Action Plan for Missing and Murdered
Indigenous Women and Girls

Government of Nunavut
A successful application for the Rapid Housing
Initiative 2.0 drew an additional $75 million in
territorial and federal funding for constructing
101 public housing units. The Nunavut Housing
Corporation is already building these units in Iqaluit,
Hall Beach, Kimmirut, Naujaat, Kugaaruk and Pond
Inlet. The housing will serve Inuit, with 50 per centof the units dedicated to women and their children.
This follows the successful conclusion of negotiations
over the $18 million Canada Housing Benefit to
support more than 670 low-income households
through programming to be delivered through the
Department of Family Services.

Key Highlights
The Arnait Tulliningit: Women’s Leadership Forum took
place August 22-24, 2021, in Iqaluit and Rankin
Inlet and focused on empowering and building thecapacity of women and girls to take on leadershipand decision-making roles within their communities.
Inuit women across Nunavut expressed the need for
activities focusing on leadership development to build
the foundation for greater action on gender equality
and social change in Nunavut – the Governmentof Nunavut (GN) is responding to this need. 13
communities were represented with a total of 25
participants from across the territory.

Progress/Success

In March 2022, GN Department of Health announced
its commitment to providing medically necessary
health care that aims to address the mental healthof Nunavummiut when it comes to sexual health,including for the first time, health services fortransgender and non-binary Nunavummiut All
individuals that meet the criteria are eligible for full
funding including mental health services and costsof transition-related treatments. These are very
specialized services, and the Department of Health isworking with the Centre Métropolitain de Chirurgie inMontreal, currently, one of only three clinics in Canada
that provide transition-related surgeries, to ensure
Nunavummiut have access to these important services.

132•

Collaboration with Departments across theterritorial government to determine what, if
any, existing programs and services may alreadyaddress the Inuit Specific Calls to action (partiallyor in full).

•

GN participated in a Working Group alongside
Pauktuutit and the Law Society of Nunavut on
access to justice for family violence in Nunavut.
The document produced focuses on research andincludes a report on its awareness campaign.

•

GN has provided funding for increased shelter
and transition housing- Through the Kitikmeot
Friendship Society, Cambridge Bay opened
its first transition housing for women and as ayouth shelter.

•

GN Department of Justice received funding from
Justice Canada to administer Family Information
Liaison Unit (FILU). The unit provides services
and support to families affected by MMIWG,
including:

Next Steps/Priorities•

In the coming year, Nunavut will begin working
towards drafting an Action Plan to address
the Inuit-specific calls to action. This will bedone in collaboration with Nunavut Tunngavik
Incorporated and the Qulliit Nunavut Status of
Women. This Plan will outline areas that havealready been addressed, areas where work is
ongoing and areas that need to be focused on
moving forward.

•

Continue to call on Canada to extend the First
Nations and Inuit Policing Program (FNIPP) to
Nunavut.

• Coordinating service delivery between
families of missing and murdered Indigenous
women and girls and other territorial andnational agencies.
• Supporting families’ access to information fromvarious entities such as the Nunavut Courtof Justice, Coroner’s Office, Royal Canadian
Mounted Police, Department of Family
Services and Department of Health.

Reports/Publications• Helping families access culturally relevant
services to assist their healing journey.
•

The Family Information Liaison Unit’s work aligns
with the National Action Plan’s Common ShortTerm Priorities 2b: “Comprehensive approach tosupport Indigenous victims and families/friends of
Indigenous murdered or missing persons, such as
victim services, family information liaison units,
legal services, access to coroner/hospital reports,
media, etc.”•

Human Trafficking resources: Departmentof Justice has established Victim of Crime
Emergency Fund, for travel costs to return to theirhome Nunavut community, and the purchase of
emergency supplies and prescription medication.

Access to Justice for Family Violence in Nunavut:
Final Report on Research and Awareness Campaign– https://www.lawsociety.nu.ca/sites/default/files/
public/Access-to-Justice/Preliminary_Findings_
Report.pdf

133

The Path Forward

As the federal government, provincial/territorial governments,
Indigenous governments, Indigenous representative organizations,and Indigenous partners work together on the development of the
National Action Plan in response to the Calls for Justice and Calls for
Miskotahȃ, the importance and the urgency of preventing and ending
violence against Indigenous women, girls, and 2SLGBTQQIA+ people
must be recognized. Further, there is a critical need to keep survivors
and family members at centre of the implementation of the National
Action Plan.
The Path Forward focuses on the immediate next steps in the
National Action Plan that were supposed to have been started and/or
completed by June 2022. Since there has been little or no progress onthese immediate next steps, they are re-stated. They need immediate
attention when the implementation plan is prepared. Also, theremaining common short-term priorities still require work and need to
be included within the implementation plan to be established. Further,where funding has been announced, there is a need to ensure it makes
its way down to community-based service organizations and has its
intended impact for Indigenous women, girls, and 2SLGBTQQIA+
people, including support for survivors and family members.

134Immediately Establish and Fund a National Action Plan Committee with an
Independent Chairperson and Secretariat Support for the Work
The National Inquiry called upon “the federal government to create an independent mechanism to report on
the implementation of the National Inquiry’s Calls for Justice to Parliament, annually” (1.10), and the National
Action Plan added an immediate next step to “determine mechanisms and processes for national independent
oversight and coordination of the National Action Plan, that includes Contributing Partners and governmentswith financial support”.
For effective implementation of the National Action Plan, and to ensure information sharing and a coordinatedapproach, it is crucial that a long-term National Action Plan Committee be created to oversee implementation of
the National Action Plan with an independent chairperson. The Committee must involve families and survivorsof missing and murdered Indigenous women, girls, and 2SLGBTQQIA+ people. It should also include, at aminimum, representation from all governments (federal, provincial/territorial, municipal, Indigenous), Indigenous
representative organizations, and other partners.

Therefore, it is recommended that:••

Within three months of release of the Progress
Report, as an interim measure, a National
Action Plan Working Group be created with anindependent Chairperson (with representatives
from the National Family and Survivors Circle,
contributing partners, provinces/territories, otherpartners), with support from the existing MMIWG
Secretariat and funding for meetings, which willallow work to begin on the implementation of the
National Action Plan.

135

Mechanisms and processes be determined
for national oversight and coordination of the
National Action Plan, with financial support.
An independent Chairperson and Secretariat
function will also be required.

Immediately Develop an Implementation Plan for the National Action Plan
The development of an implementation plan was identified as an immediate next step in the National
Action Plan but has not been established a year late. It is critical that a full implementation plan beprepared as soon as possible to address the goals in the National Action Plan.
It is recommended that, with the inclusion of families and survivors of missing and murdered
Indigenous women, girls, and 2SLGBTQQIA+ people at the forefront, the independent National
Action Plan Working Group/Committee develop an implementation plan. This should include:•

An Implementation Plan for the National Action
Plan is developed. This plan includes the shortterm priorities identified in the National Action
Plan, as well as medium- and long-term priorities
that will lead to real systemic change.

•

The roles and responsibilities of all governments(federal, provincial/territorial, municipal,
Indigenous) and Indigenous organizations to
implement the 231 Calls for Justice and 62 Calls
for Miskotahâ be clearly defined.

•

specific actions, expected outcomes, timelines,
and resources will be identified for each priority.

•

Contributing Partners continuing to develop theirimplementation plans.

• Applying an Indigenous and genderbased analysis plus (GBA Plus) lens to theimplementation plan.
• Developing an accountability/results structure
for the National Action Plan.

136

Create a Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women, Girls, and2SLGBTQQIA+ People Federal/Provincial/Territorial Table
The National Action Plan included the development of a Missing and Murdered Indigenous
Women, Girls and 2SLGBTQQIA+ FPT Table to provide a specific forum to consider and coordinate
intergovernmental collaboration and discussion on various areas such as administrative issues,policy, resourcing, resolution of interjurisdictional responsibilities, and processes that emerge fromthe implementation of the National Action Plan. This FPT Table has not yet been created, although
the Prime Minister recently announced that this Table would be created.
Therefore, it is recommended that:•

A Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women Girls
2SLGBTQQIA+ Federal/Provincial/Territorial
Table be established and launched.

•

A mechanism for inclusion of Indigenous
governments, representative Indigenousorganizations, and the National Family andSurvivors Circle at this Table be determined.

Independent Oversight Body
The creation of an independent national Indigenous oversight body or Independent National
Indigenous Human Rights Ombudsperson and/or Tribunal was identified as an immediate next
step in the National Action Plan but has not yet been implemented.
Therefore, it is recommended that:•

Various options for consideration by the National
Action Plan Committee for an independent
oversight body be identified.

•

An agreed-upon mechanism be established for
creation of an independent oversight body which
represents the interests of families, survivors,
and Indigenous communities by investigating andaddressing complaints of mal-administration or aviolation of right.

•

137

Full implementation of national oversight andcoordination of the National Action Plan withan independent Chairperson and Secretariat
support, responsible for development of an
implementation plan for the National Action Plan,and ongoing oversight and coordination of the
National Action Plan.

2SLGBTQQIA+ People – Greater Access and Representation
During preparation of this Progress Report, it was found that there were not many
initiatives or programs specifically designed for 2SLGBTQQIA+ people.
Therefore, it is recommended that:•Work be undertaken with 2SLGBTQQIA+
leaders to review and revise programs, policies,
legislation, and practices to meet the needs of2SLGBTQQIA+ people and ensure they haveequal access.

•Support services be designed focusing on thespecific needs of 2SLGBTQQIA+ people.

•

New programs be created with a specific focus on
2SLGBTQQIA+ people.

Accountability Measures and Data
The National Action Plan called for the creation of broad accountability mechanisms rooted in
Indigenous data sovereignty. Further, lack of data is a major gap which impacts on the ability
to track the number of missing and murdered Indigenous women, girls, and 2SLGBTQQIA+
people; examine disaggregated data; examine distinctions-based and intersectional data about
Indigenous women, girls, and 2SLGBTQQIA+ people in the criminal justice system; and measure
the impact of programs and initiatives.
Therefore, it is recommended that:•

A Data Strategy sub-committee be establishedwith representatives from the National Family
and Survivors Circle, contributing partners,
provinces/territories, and other partners
including Indigenous experts on Indigenous Data
Sovereignty, and Knowledge Keepers.

138•

The Data Strategy sub-committee will determine
next steps regarding data and accountability
mechanisms, and an independent web portal.

•

By June 3, 2023, the second annual progress
report on the National Action Plan is published.

Closing Comments

Over the last year, families, survivors, Indigenous
women, and 2SLGBTQQIA+ people have advocatedfor transformative change to support reclaiming
their power. Through their continued advocacy andefforts, this has provided opportunities to take theirrightful place in leadership roles in all governments
and representative organizations. Families, survivors,
Indigenous women, and 2SLGBTQQIA+ people arecoming together to support each other, to heal andto lead the resurgence - the matriarch movement has
started, and the demand for political and institutional
will, action, accountability, respect, and inclusivenesscan no longer go unheard.

139

The steps to end and redress
this genocide must be noless monumental than the
combination of systems andactions that has worked tomaintain colonial violence forgenerations(MMIWG National Inquiry
Report, Volume B, p167)

Indigenous women, girls, and 2SLGBTQQIA+ people have Indigenous human rightsthat include inherent Treaty and Constitutional rights, they have the right to live freefrom violence, and be celebrated, honoured, respected, valued, treated equitably,and be safe and secure. Now more than ever, the urgency for action on the Calls for
Justice and the Calls for Miskotahâ cannot be delayed and must be implemented.
The time is long past due for a transformed Canada.
Indigenous girls and 2SLGBTQQIA+ youth, you are the future leaders, there ishope in this urgency – steps towards a safe and equitable future have started, yourinherent rights can no longer be denied.

This work we are doing on MMIWG is so important because we want a better futurefor our children and grandchildren. My granddaughter, simply because she was born
Indigenous, places her in a high-risk category to experience many forms of violence.
I don’t want that for her future.
— Granny(Credit: Alison Rogers-Biscaye)“We want the goal to be that our women can live in aworld free of violence, one in which they can be respected,
valued for their knowledge, and can feel safe and secure”— Newfoundland Aboriginal Women’s Network

140

Appendix A: Acronyms

AcronymDefinition

2S

2 Spirit

2SLGBTQQIA+ people

Two Spirit, Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer, Questioning,
Intersex and Asexual Plus people

ACIS

Awaking Cultural Identity and Spirituality

AFN

Assembly of First Nations

AHS

Alberta Health Services

BC

British Columbia

BCAAFC

British Columbia Association of Aboriginal Friendship Centres

CACP

Canadian Association of Chiefs of Police

CAP

Congress of Aboriginal Peoples

CCSD

Children, Seniors and Social Development

CFJ

Calls for Justice

CIRNAC

Crown-Indigenous Relations and Northern Affairs Canada

CMHC

Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation

CSC

Correctional Service Canada

CTA

Calls to Action141Acronym

Definition

FILU

Family Information Liaison UnitFNGBAFirst Nations Gender-Balanced Analysis

FNIGC

First Nations Information Governance Centre

FPT

Federal-Provincial/Territorial

FPTI

Federal-Provincial-Territorial-Indigenous

GBA Plus

Gender-Based Analysis Plus

GN

Government of Nunavut

GNL

Government of Newfoundland and Labrador

GNWT

Government of the Northwest Territories

IAAW

Institute for the Advancement of Aboriginal Women

ISC

Indigenous Services Canada

ITK

Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami

JPC

Jane Paul Indigenous Women’s Resource Centre

LFMO

Les Femmes Michif Otipemisiwak

LOFEO

Looking Out For Each Other

MCSC

Manitoba Construction Sector Council

MMIWG

Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls

MMIWG2S+

Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls and 2-Spirited Plus

MN-S

Métis Nation-Saskatchewan

NAP

National Action Plan

NAWN

Newfoundland Aboriginal Women’s Network

NB

New Brunswick

NBAPC

New Brunswick Aboriginal Peoples Council

NS

Nova Scotia

142

Acronym

Definition

NSNWA

Nova Scotia Native Women’s Association

NWAC

Native Women’s Association of Canada

NFSC

National Family and Survivors Circle

NL

Newfoundland and Labrador

NWT

Northwest Territories

OCAP®

Ownership, Control, Access, and Possession®

OCIL

Office of the Commissioner of Indigenous Languages

OFIFC

Ontario Federation of Indigenous Friendship Centres

PEI

Prince Edward Island

PTO

Provincial-Territorial Organization

RCMPRoyal Canadian Mounted Police

TRC

Truth and Reconciliation Commission

UNDRIP

United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples

WAGE

Women and Gender Equality

YAC

Yukon Advisory Committee

143

Appendix B: Key Terms

Terms

Definition

AgencyRefers to the capacity and rights of individuals to act independently and to
make their own free choices.

Anti-racism

Refers to strategies, theories, actions, and practices that challenge and counter
racism, inequalities, prejudices, and discrimination.

Co-development

Refers to when two or more parties work together to develop a product jointly.

Colonization

Refers to when one group takes control of the lands, resources, languages,
cultures, and relationships of another group.

Co-management

Refers to a process that brings together governments and organizations toshare management responsibility.

Community

In the National Action Plan, the term “community” is utilized in the
broadest sense, referring to Indigenous communities or groups with diverse
characteristics who may be linked by social ties, share common perspectives,
and/or engage in joint action in geographical locations or settings.

Culturally Informed

Refers to acknowledging, respecting, and integrating Indigenous culturalvalues, beliefs, and practices.

Culturally Safe

Refers to recognizing and addressing power imbalances and inequities,
enabling services and processes that are holistic, spiritually, socially, andemotionally safe and allowing reclamation of power.

Decolonization

Refers to challenging colonial influences and dismantling and replacing
structures that perpetuate the status quo using Indigenous perspectives.

144

TermsDefinition

Gender-Based Analysis
Plus (GBA Plus)

Refers to an analytical process used to assess how different women, men, andgender-diverse people may experience policies, programs, and initiatives. It
includes other intersecting characteristics such as race, ethnicity, religion, age,and mental and physical disability.

Gladue Principles

Refers to an approach to sentencing and bail hearings allows judges to consider
sentencing alternatives to incarceration when appropriate. These reports/
principles allow a judge to consider the colonial history of Indigenous people
when they encounter the criminal justice system. This initiative is aimed at
reducing the number of incarcerated Indigenous people.

Grassroots

Grassroots organizations use collective action from the local level to effectchange at the local, regional, national, or international level.

Governments

Refers to federal, provincial, territorial, municipal, and Indigenous government.

Intergenerational
TraumaRefers to the transmission of historical and contemporary trauma from one
generation to the next.

Miskotahȃ

Refers to the Michif word for change.

OCAP®

Refers to ownership of, control of, access to, and possession of research
processes affecting participant communities, and the resulting data. OCAP
addresses issues of privacy, intellectual property, data custody and secondary
use of data.33

RacismRefers to the belief that all members of each race possess characteristics orabilities specific to that race, especially so as to distinguish it as inferior orsuperior to another race or races. Racism is typically directed at and against
communities that are considered to be non-white.

Residential Schools

Refers to government-sponsored religious schools that were established toassimilate Indigenous children into Euro-Canadian culture.

Self-Determination

Refers to a state having the right to choose freely its political, economic, social,and cultural systems and is defined as the right of a people to constitute itself
in a state or otherwise freely determine the form of its association with anexisting state.34

33 Canadian Institutes of Health Research, Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada, & Social Sciences and Humanities
Research Council (2018). Tri-Council policy statement: Ethical conduct for research involving humans. Available at: https://ethics.gc.ca/eng/
documents/tcps2-2018-en-interactive-final.pdf.
34 Encyclopedia Britannica (2021). Available at: https://www.britannica.com/topic/self-determination.

145

TermsDefinition

Shelters

Refers to emergency shelter projects that may contain hostel style living units
where occupants can stay for only a short period of time, usually one to three
weeks.

Strength-based

Refers to an approach, where the focus is on self-determination, and theindividual identifies value and assembles strengths, capacities, and the free will
to decide in the course of action.

Substantive Equality

Refers to taking special measures to achieve true equality in order to address
historical disadvantages, intergenerational trauma, and discrimination.

Systemic Discrimination/
RacismRefers to patterns of behaviour, policies or practices that are part of thestructures of governments and institutions, and which create or perpetuate
disadvantage for racialized persons.

Transitional Housing

Transitional housing is interchangeable with second stage housing and is anextended term, interim housing project for those leaving emergency shelters,
providing accommodation generally for a period of about one year.

Wraparound Services

Refers to an integrated system of care that provides individualized,
coordinated, person or family-driven care that will meet the complex needs ofchildren and their families.

146

Appendix C: Guiding Principles

Guiding Principle

Description

1. Honour the strength of
Indigenous women, girls, and2SLGBTQQIA+ people andsupport them in reclaiming theirsacred roles and responsibilities•

Focus on reclaiming the power, place, and dignity of Indigenous
women, girls, and 2SLGBTQQIA+ people.

2. Include families and survivors
throughout the implementationof the National Action Plan•

The lived experience of families and survivors provide criticalinsight, perspectives, and solutions for transformativechange – they are the heart of this change.

•

Family includes all forms of familial kinship including, but notlimited to, biological families, chosen families, and families of
the heart147

Guiding Principle

Description

3. Focus on substantive equality
and Indigenous humanrights that include inherent,
Treaty, and Constitutionalrights, and responsibilities ofIndigenous Peoples•

Substantive equality: identical treatment can sometimes resultin inequality, so unique measures may need to be taken
to achieve true equality in outcomes to address historical
disadvantages, intergenerational trauma, and discrimination.

•

Human rights: all human rights are universal, indivisible,
interdependent and inter-related. Indigenous Peoples holdinternational and domestic human rights, including inherent
rights, Treaty rights, and Constitutional rights. Governments
have legal obligations to ensure that these individual andcollective rights of Indigenous women, girls, and 2SLGBTQQIA+
people are fully respected, promoted, and upheld.

•

Responsibilities: when promoting and protecting their Indigenous
human rights that include inherent, Treaty, and Constitutionalrights, Indigenous people have the responsibility of respecting
one another, the earth, and their cultural heritage.

4. Support a distinctions-based
approach to ensure that the uniquerights, interests and circumstancesof First Nations, Métis and Inuit
are acknowledged, affirmed,
and implemented•

Recognizes the rights including the right to self-determination,unique interests and priorities of First Nations, Métis, and Inuit
grounded in the promise of section 35 of the Constitution Act,
1982.35

5. Respect intersectional and diverse
perspectives, and be inclusive of
all Indigenous women, girls, and2SLGBTQQIA+ people no matter
where they are•Intersectional: there is a need to account for the multifaceted
and interconnecting aspects that make up an individual’s
identity, including ethnicity, cultural identity, sex, gender
identity or expression, sexual orientation, ability, class, andgeographical location.

•

Diverse perspectives: individuals have differing experiences
based on their diverse identities and histories. We must ensure
inclusion of intersecting aspects of identity to meaningfully
acknowledge and address the specific realities, barriers, andchallenges not only between, but within, First Nations, Inuit,and Métis communities and individuals.

35 Note: the Constitution also uses the term Aboriginal.

148

Guiding Principle

Description

6. Base the National Action Planon the recognition of Indigenous
Peoples’ right to self-determination•

Indigenous Peoples have the right to self-determination.
By virtue of that right they freely determine their politicalstatus and freely pursue their economic, social, and culturaldevelopment.36

7. Utilize a decolonizing approach,including being culturally informed
and culturally safe•

Decolonizing approach: involves challenging colonial
influences and dismantling and replacing or adapting
structures that perpetuate the status quo using Indigenous
worldviews and perspectives.

•

Culturally informed: acknowledges, respects, and integrates
Indigenous cultural values, beliefs, and practices. Rooted
in a recognition of the importance of the land, culture,
language, and Indigenous-led approaches, it encourages therevitalization and flourishing of Indigenous cultures, languages,
and traditional knowledge.

•

Culturally safe: recognizes and addresses power imbalances
and inequities, enabling services and processes that areholistic, spiritually, socially, and emotionally safe andallow reclaiming of power by Indigenous women, girls, and2SLGBTQQIA+ people.

36 United Nations General Assembly (2007). United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples. Available
at: https://www.un.org/development/desa/indigenouspeoples/wp-content/uploads/sites/19/2019/01/UNDRIP_E_web.
pdf?msclkid=b46c198dc37a11ec9ccd86e675786055.

149

Guiding Principle

Description

8. Co-develop, co-implement, and comanage the National Action Plan•

Recognize that everyone has a role to play in ending violenceagainst Indigenous women, girls, and 2SLGBTQQIA+ people.
This includes co-developing a National Action Plan, including abroad spectrum of engagement and collaboration that enables
all governments (federal, provincial/territorial, municipal,
Indigenous), Indigenous representative organizations andother partners to contribute, reflecting their own priorities
and capacities.

•

To ensure that impacts are felt on the ground by Indigenous
women, girls, 2SLGBTQQIA+ people, families, and survivorsof violence, all governments (federal, provincial/territorial,
municipal, Indigenous), in partnership with Indigenous
representative organizations, will co-implement and comanage their commitments in the National Action Plan. This
will ensure accountability on the next steps of the National
Action Plan.

•

The National Action Plan should be based on informed
decisions that are built on evidence, learning, andunderstanding of what works to end violence against
Indigenous women, girls, and 2SLGBTQQIA+ people.

•

The National Action Plan must be sustainable by all
governments (i.e., federal, provincial/territorial, municipal,
Indigenous) identifying and prioritizing resources to support
implementation of the Plan.

•

As an evergreen document, the National Action Plan is living
and changing, adapting to shifting priorities or circumstances
over time.

9. Build on evidence, and ensure the
National Action Plan is sustainable
and evergreen

150Appendix D: Goals and Short-Term Priorities

Goal

National Inquiry into Missingand Murdered Indigenous
Women and Girls

Short-Term Priorities

ThemesLes Femmes Michif
Otipemisiwak

Calls for
Justice

ThemesCalls forMiskotahâ1. Achievetransformativechanges in attitudes,
behaviours, andknowledge within
the broader society
to prevent and end
the root causes ofsystemic racism,
inequality, injustice,and violenceagainst Indigenous
women, girls, and2SLGBTQQIA+ people
in Canadaa. Public education/awarenesscampaigns on the issues Indigenous
people experience and to challenge
the acceptance and normalization ofviolence

Culture;Human
Security;
Health &Wellness;
Justice

1.9; 11.1;
16.23; 17.24;
18.1; 18.1918.21

Prevention &Awareness

60-62

b. Trauma-informed training for those
who work with Indigenous people
on topics such as history, culture,
issues, anti-racism, anti-sexism, antihomophobia, anti-transphobia, etc.

Culture7.6; 10.1;
16.27; 17.8;
17.13; 17.24;
17.29; 18.1;
18.13; 18.1818.20; 18.26;
18.32

Intergovernmental
Affairs; Child
Welfare;Implementation
Committee;
Health &Wellness

6; 30; 49;
58

2. Keep families
and survivors at
the centre of theprocess and provide
concrete support
to survivors andfamilies of missing andmurdered Indigenous
women, girls, and2SLGBTQQIA+ people

a. Continuous and accessible
community-led healing programs andsupport for children of missing andmurdered Indigenous women, girls,
and 2SLGBTQQIA+ people and family
members

Health &Wellness

3.7

Services

23b. Comprehensive approach to support
Indigenous victims and families/friendsof Indigenous murdered or missing
persons, such as victim services, family
information liaison units, legal services,
access to coroner/hospital reports,
media, etc.

Health &Wellness;
Justice

5.6; 16.29;
17.28

Services;
Criminal Justice

19-20; 22;
40; 45c. Nationwide emergency number

Human
Security

9.5vii

--

--

151

Goal

National Inquiry into Missingand Murdered Indigenous
Women and Girls

Short-Term Priorities

ThemesLes Femmes Michif
Otipemisiwak

Calls for
Justice

ThemesCalls forMiskotahâ3. Support the deliveryof programs andservices by Indigenousorganizations,
including at thegrassroots level, toaddress all forms ofgender- and racebased violencea. Indigenous-led prevention andhealing programs, education, andawareness campaigns for Indigenous
families and communities related
to violence prevention and lateral
violence

Human
Security;
Health &Wellness

1.8; 3.2-3.3;
7.3; 7.9; 11.2;
16.7; 16.9;
16.22; 16.24;
17.20; 17.27

Services

18-19; 24

b. Creation of shelters and secondstage/transition housing

Human
Security

4.7; 16.19;
18.25

Services25

4. Address the broader
root causes of violenceagainst Indigenous
women, girls, and2SLGBTQQIA+ people

a. Implement initial steps to ensurestable and sustainable housing andclose the housing gap between
Indigenous people and non-Indigenous
Canadians

Human
Security

4.6; 16.18;
18.25

Intergovernmental
Affairs; Services

8; 26

b. Immediate action to implement
infrastructure to ensure access to highspeed Internet

Health &Wellness

15.1; 16.5----

c. Guaranteed annual livable income

Human
Security

4.5; 16.20

Intergovernmental
Affairs; Services

8; 27

d. Support Indigenous-led initiatives
for Indigenous individuals, families,
and communities to access cultural
knowledge and 2SLGBTQQIA+
programs and services

Culture;Health &Wellness

2.4; 2.5; 16.4;
17.7; 17.2517.26; 18.1;
18.7; 18.17

Services18; 21e. 24-hour in-person support system
for Indigenous women, girls, and2SLGBTQQIA+ people, such as
wraparound mental health services,trauma, addictions, etc.

Health &Wellness

3.4; 16.7;
17.23; 18.27

Services; Health& Wellness

23; 53f. Governments recognize Indigenous
self-determination and inherent
jurisdiction over child welfare, andsupport enhancements for child andfamily services

Health &Wellness

1.2v; 2.2;
12.1; 12.10;
17.17

Child Welfare

28-29; 3133; 35-37

152

Goal

National Inquiry into Missingand Murdered Indigenous
Women and Girls

Short-Term Priorities

Calls for
Justice

Themes1.7; 5.7; 16.43

Criminal Justice39

b. National task force which reviews
Humanand re-investigates unresolved files
Security;of missing and murdered Indigenous
Justicewomen, girls, and 2SLGBTQQIA+
people; and police services to provide
unresolved cases of missing andmurdered Indigenous women, girls, and2SLGBTQQIA+ people to the task force

9.9; 9.10

Criminal Justice39

c. Make the National Inquiry’s publicrecord accessible and report annually
to Parliament on the Calls for Justice;
implement LFMO Calls for Miskotahâ

1.10; 1.11

Consultation &Engagement;
Implementation
Committee

16; 46-48

Themes
5. Develop a national
Indigenous humanrights accountability
mechanism focusedon Indigenous humanrights that include
inherent, Treaty, andConstitutional rights.
This mechanism
will create sharedaccountability for
upholding the humanrights of Indigenous
Peoples regarding
gender-based violence

Les Femmes Michif
Otipemisiwak

a. Oversight bodies, such as Indigenous
Ombudsperson, Human Rights
Tribunal, or civilian police oversightbodies to represent the interests offamilies, survivors, and communities
by investigating and addressing
complaints of mal-administration or
violation of rights

Justice

Justice

153

Calls forMiskotahâGoal

Short-Term Priorities

National Inquiry into Missingand Murdered Indigenous
Women and Girls
Themes

6. Support a
paradigm shift inpolicies and systems
across Canada
which definestransformativechange in justice,
health and wellness,
human security,
culture, andIndigenous humanrights that include
inherent, Treaty, andConstitutional rights

7. Establish
a culturally
appropriate
Indigenous data
infrastructurereflective ofIndigenous and
2SLGBTQQIA+
people, based on
Indigenous data
sovereignty andculturally rooted anddistinctions-based
indicators

Les Femmes Michif
Otipemisiwak

Calls for
Justice

ThemesCalls forMiskotahâa. Justice Reform Committee toJusticereview legislation regarding genderbased violence, including missing
persons legislation

5.2; 5.3; 5.8;
5.14; 5.165.20; 14.3----

b. Acknowledge, recognize, andprotect the rights of Indigenous
Peoples to their cultures andlanguages as inherent rights

Culture;Justice

2.1

--

--

c. Implement Gladue principles that
contribute to addressing systemic
barriers, increase the involvementof Indigenous communities andorganizations in rehabilitating
offenders, and reduce the risk of
future harm

Justice

5.15; 14.5

Criminal Justice 42-43

d. Create a Deputy Commissioner
Human
for Indigenous Corrections andSecurity;
address issues for Indigenous
Justicewomen and 2SLGBTQQIA+
offenders, such as prohibitingtransfer of women prisoners to maletreatment centres; and increased
opportunities for education/training
in prison

5.23; 11.1;
14.7

Criminal Justice 44

a. Address issues related to the
Humanaccurate tracking of data on missing Security
and murdered Indigenous women,
girls, and 2SLGBTQQIA+ people

9.5v

Identity, Data
Collection& Research;
Services

2; 22

b. Collect disaggregated data (Inuit,
Métis, and First Nations) to report onviolence against Indigenous women,
girls, and 2SLGBTQQIA+ people, andon progress and the effectiveness oflaws, policies, and services

Culture;Health &Wellness;
Human
Security;
Justice

16.6; 16.44;
17.2; 18.3;
18.4

Identify, Data
Collection& Research;
Services

2-3; 5; 22

c. Collect distinctions-based
and intersectional data about
Indigenous women, girls, and2SLGBTQQIA+ people in thecriminal justice system

Justice

5.24; 16.31

Identity, Data
4; 41
Collection& Research;
Criminal Justice154

Appendix E: List of Contributors
to 2022 Progress Report•

National Family and Survivors Circle•

Government of British Columbia•

Assembly of First Nations•

Government of Alberta•

Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami•

Government of Saskatchewan•

Les Femmes Michif Otipemisiwak•

Government of Manitoba•

Pauktuutit Inuit Women of Canada•

Government of Ontario•

Congress of Aboriginal Peoples•

Government of Quebec•

Urban Group•

Government of New Brunswick•

2SLGBTQQIA+ Group•

Government of Nova Scotia•

Ontario Native Women’s Association•

Government of Prince Edward Island•

Government of Nunavut•

Government of Newfoundland and Labrador•

Government of Northwest Territories•

Government of Canada•

Government of Yukon

In addition, numerous Indigenous regional, community, and grassroot organizations
and Indigenous communities provided input to the Progress Report.

155