WINNIPEG, MB - TREATY 1 TERRITORY, HOMELAND OF
THE RED RIVER MÉTIS, May 3, 2024
/CNW/ - Ahead of Red Dress Day on
May 5, we acknowledge the ongoing
national crisis of missing and murdered Indigenous women, girls,
Two-Spirit and gender-diverse people, and commit to the next steps
in better protecting them.
The hours immediately after someone goes missing are the most
critical period to finding them. That is why today, after calls
from Indigenous grassroots service providers and organizers on the
front lines of the crisis, the governments of Canada and Manitoba announced that they will partner to
launch a Red Dress Alert pilot, to be developed together with
Indigenous partners. The alert system, supported by funding in
Canada's Budget 2024 and
Manitoba's Budget 2024, will
provide notification when an Indigenous woman, girl, Two-Spirit, or
gender-diverse person goes missing so they can be brought home
safely.
Indigenous women, girls, Two-Spirit and gender-diverse people
are at a much higher risk of experiencing violence than
non-Indigenous women –12 times more likely to go missing or be
murdered in comparison to non-Indigenous women in Canada.
In the past year, we heard from Indigenous partners that a Red
Dress Alert system is needed and in order for it to be safe and
effective, it must be informed by inclusive consultation and
grounded in understanding and respect of Indigenous cultures, lived
realities, and diverse regional contexts. After 16 engagement
sessions, the federal government brought together Indigenous
communities and leadership, provinces and territories, and other
partners to work together on what a community-based Red Dress
Alert could look like.
The Province of Manitoba is
partnering with Canada in
recognition of the need to develop a regional alerting system and
our governments' shared priority and commitment to putting an end
to this crisis. This pilot, which will continue to be designed with
and led by Indigenous voices and knowledge, will help inform a
national alerting system. We continue to work closely with
Indigenous partners at the national, regional and grass-roots
levels, families and Survivors, and provincial and territorial
counterparts, to make sure an alert system reflects the needs of
Indigenous Peoples from coast to coast to coast.
Together, we must do all we can to save lives, as we continue to
work to end this national crisis.
Quotes
"In the lead up to Red Dress Day,
we keep those who have been stolen from their communities and this
world in our thoughts, and we centre them in our action. Today, as
we announce this partnership to co-develop a Red Dress Alert system
with Indigenous partners, we take the next steps towards bringing
more Indigenous women, girls, Two-Spirit, and gender-diverse people
home, and we redouble our efforts to addressing the root causes of
this crisis of violence – as we work to put it to an end."
The Honourable Gary Anandasangaree
Minister of Crown-Indigenous Relations
"Our government is committed to a future with less missing and
murdered Indigenous women, girls, and Two-Spirit Peoples—a future
where Indigenous women are protected, Indigenous girls are
supported, and Two-Spirit relatives are safe. We have heard clearly
from community that a Red Dress Alert system can be a part of that
future. We look forward to working inclusively with Indigenous
partners in Manitoba to find the
best path forward as we build this pilot project."
The Honourable Nahanni Fontaine
Minister responsible for Women and Gender Equity Manitoba
"Should we go missing we must be found. This is not just because
we're sisters, aunties, daughters. It is because we are human
beings, deserving dignity, safety, and human rights. I lift
up all the family members, survivors, and the many advocates
who made this possible including, Sandra
Delaronde and Hilda
Anderson-Pyrz. This is a small step, but a significant one,
to make sure that our relatives are brought home. I thank the
Province of Manitoba for becoming
the first provincial champion of the Red Dress Alert System as well
as Minister Anandasangaree and MP Pam
Damoff for their personal commitment in ensuring the Red
Dress Alert became a reality. This will save lives."
Leah Gazan
Member of Parliament for Winnipeg Centre
Quick facts
- Canadian statistics report that more than six in ten Indigenous
women have experienced physical or sexual assault in their
lifetime. In addition, Indigenous women and girls are greatly
overrepresented among long-term, unresolved missing persons
cases.
- The federal Budget 2024 proposes to provide $1.3 million over three years, starting in
2024–2025, to co-develop with Indigenous and other partners such as
provinces and territories, a regional Red Dress Alert system.
- The second National Indigenous-Federal-Provincial-Territorial
roundtable on Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women, Girls,
Two-Spirit and, Gender-Diverse People was held in February 2024. Participants worked together
towards the development of an alerting system.
- In December 2023 and January 2024, 16 Red Dress Alert pre-engagement
sessions took place with National Indigenous organizations,
regional and urban organizations, technical experts, family members
and survivors, and grassroots service providers. These sessions
were led by Hilda Anderson-Pyrz,
Chair of the National Family and Survivors Circle; Sandra Delaronde, Co-chair of the Manitoba MMIWG2S+ Coalition team; Leah Gazan, Member of Parliament for Winnipeg
Centre; and Pam Damoff, Member of
Parliament for Oakville North.
- On May 2, 2023, the House of
Commons unanimously passed a motion presented by the Member of
Parliament for Winnipeg Centre, which called on the federal
government to declare the continued loss of Indigenous women,
girls, Two-Spirit and, gender-diverse people a Canada-wide emergency and to provide immediate
and substantial investments, including a Red Dress Alert system, to
help alert the public when an Indigenous woman, girl, Two-Spirit,
or gender-diverse person goes missing.
- Red Dress Day (also known as the
National Day of Awareness for Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women
and Girls), is held annually on May
5. It was inspired by Métis artist Jaime Black's The Red Dress Project,
which is an art installation that includes hanging red dresses in
public spaces as a visual reminder of the number of Indigenous
women, girls, Two-Spirit, and gender-diverse people who are missing
or have been murdered in Canada.
- The Federal Pathway is Canada's contribution to the broader 2021
Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women, Girls, and 2SLGBTQQIA+
People National Action Plan developed in partnership with
provincial and territorial governments, Indigenous Peoples,
survivors, families, and Indigenous women's organizations in
response to the National Inquiry into Missing and Murdered
Indigenous Women and Girls.
Associated links
- Missing and murdered Indigenous women, girls and 2SLGBTQI+
people
- Red Dress Day
- The Red Dress Project
- The 2021 MMIWG and 2SLGBTQQIA+ People National Action Plan
- The Federal pathway to Address Missing and Murdered Indigenous
Women, Girls and 2SLGBTQQIA+ People
- United Nations Declaration on The Rights of Indigenous
Peoples
- Violent victimization and perceptions of safety: Experiences of
First Nations, Métis and Inuit women in Canada
- Understanding Indigenous Women and Girls' Experiences with
Victimization and Violence
- Canada 2024 Budget
Taking care
The Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls Crisis Line
is a national, toll-free, 24/7 crisis call line that provides
support for anyone who requires emotional assistance related to the
crisis of missing and murdered Indigenous women, girls, Two-Spirit
and gender-diverse people. For assistance, call
1-844-413-6649.
Trauma-informed support is also available to all those impacted
by the ongoing crisis of missing and murdered Indigenous women,
girls, Two-Spirit and gender-diverse people through
the Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls Health and
Cultural Support Program. The program funds access to cultural
support (e.g., Elders, Knowledge Holders, and Traditional Healers),
emotional support (e.g., community-based health workers, peer
supports), and registered mental health counsellors (e.g.,
psychologists, and social workers).
Stay connected
Join the conversation about Indigenous Peoples in Canada:
X: @GCIndigenous
Facebook: @GCIndigenous
Instagram: @gcindigenous
You can subscribe to receive our news releases and speeches via
RSS feeds. For more information or to subscribe, visit
www.cirnac.gc.ca/RSS
SOURCE Crown-Indigenous Relations and Northern Affairs
Canada