NationTalk: Toronto, Ontario) Ontario Regional Chief Glen Hare issued the following statement calling for action on the National Day of Action for Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls:
“On behalf of the Chiefs in Ontario, we mark National Day of Action for Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls, a day our communities know all too well,” said Ontario Regional Chief Glen Hare. “It is with a heavy heart we acknowledge those who have been taken from us and those who are still missing.”
“It has been over three years since the release of the Final Report of the National Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls; which included 231 Calls for Justice, each aimed at ending genocide, tackling root causes of violence, and improving the quality of life of Indigenous women, girls, and 2SLGBTQQIA+ people. Since its release, the Government of Canada and the Government of Ontario have made some progress in addressing the root causes and ongoing violence against First Nations women, girls, and 2SLGBTQQIA+ people; however, more needs to be done, and we must act now.”
In Budget 2021, the Government of Canada proposed to implement a National Action Plan to end gender-based violence. The National Action Plan included specific funding to bolster the capacity of Indigenous women and 2SLGBTQQIA+ organizations to provide gender-based violence prevention programming. The aim of this funding is at addressing the root causes of violence against Indigenous women, girls, and 2SLGBTQQIA+ people.
“While we are pleased with the support from the Government of Canada, funds outlined in Budget 2021 are not only insufficient to effectively address the crisis within First Nations communities; since its announcement, they have not been allocated or received by communities. Further, there was no mention of additional funds or programs in Budget 2022.
To ensure our loved ones are found and that First Nations women, girls, and 2SLGBTQQIA+ people can live safely, free from violence and abuse, we require immediate and substantive funding that goes directly to communities. We need a cross-government, First Nations-led approach that effectively supports Survivors, families and loved ones of those missing.
On this day of action, I call on all Canadians to support Survivors, families, and our communities and demand action to end violence against Indigenous women and girls, and work collectively to address the history of colonialism and the impacts it has on our people. Additionally, I call on all governments to commit to working in full partnership with First Nations and provide equitable and substantial funding to effectively end violence against Indigenous women, girls, and 2SLGBTQQIA+ people. Together, we can begin the necessary work to make systemic and structural changes to ensure they are supported, and that our future generations are free from violence and fear of harm.
I also encourage all to attend one of the many Sisters in Spirit vigils across the province in honour of the lives of Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women, Girls, and 2SLGBTQQIA+ people. We will not stop until the violence ends.”
The Chiefs of Ontario (COO) First Nations Women’s Council (FNWC) is committed to supporting First Nations Leadership in identifying issues surrounding violence and developing community-based solutions that reflect community needs. Some of these priorities include creating Safe Spaces in communities to stop violence before it occurs, and raising awareness of issues related to gender-based violence, including human trafficking, intimate partner violence, homophobia, and the need for First Nations men’s healing initiatives.
Ontario Regional Chief Glen Hare (Gwiingos)
Read the Final Report of the National Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls here: https://www.mmiwg-ffada.ca/final-report/.
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