Anishinabek Nation welcomes national emergency declaration on violence against MMIWG2S+
Trigger Warning: readers may be triggered by the subject matter of Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women, Girls, and 2SLGBTQ+. To access a 24-hour National Crisis Line, call: 1-844-413-6649. Community Assistance Program (CAP) can be accessed for citizens of the Anishinabek Nation: 1-800-663-1142.
ANISHINABEK NATION HEAD OFFICE (May 5, 2023) —The Anishinabek Nation welcomes the recent unanimous motion by the House of Commons to declare violence against MMIWG2S+ individuals a national emergency. The advocacy of Member of Parliament for Winnipeg Centre Leah Gazan should be applauded for leading this one of many steps forward in the work required to end this increasingly devastating crisis.
“Indigenous women continue to be subjected to violence and the number of those who never return to their families continues to rise,” says Anishinabek Nation Grand Council Chief Reg Niganobe. “MMIWG2S+ is a crucial priority for the Anishinabek Nation as it is for other Indigenous nations and communities across the continent”.
As part of the Anishinabek Nation’s efforts to combat violence against MMIWG2S+, Grand Council Chief Niganobe recently wrote to the federal and provincial governments to raise concerns and support the creation of an interagency Red Dress Alert system. From the onset of an issued report, this alert system will make a crucial difference in response times and coordinate collaborative efforts between various police forces, health organizations, and Indigenous nations.
In addition to the Red Dress Alert system, the Anishinabek Nation would like to see the development of an Auntie Network Helpline to connect Indigenous women with the crisis support and services they need. This initiative would be staffed by Indigenous women and 2SLGBTQ+ individuals who have the ability to quickly help MMIWG2S+ people in crisis and are well-versed in trauma-informed approaches. The success of similar initiatives, such as the Call Auntie Clinic during the COVID-19 pandemic, demonstrates the potential for this initiative to provide fast and effective support for MMIWG2S+ individuals.
The Anishinabek Nation is committed to working with the federal and provincial governments, and other stakeholders to address this national emergency and prevent further violence against MMIWG2S+ individuals. We urge all Canadians to join in this effort by writing to the Prime Minister, Members of Parliament, the Premier, and Members of Provincial Parliament to support full implementation of all 231 Calls to Justice for MMIWG2S+.
“Supporting the growth of these projects and initiatives will save lives and ensure the protection of our future generations,” adds Grand Council Chief Niganobe. “This action is also part of the Reclaiming Power and Place: The Final Report of the National Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls.”
Relevant links:
- Anishinabek Nation Murdered and Missing Indigenous Women, Girls, Trans and Two Spirited Five-Year Action Plan
- Family Information Liaison Units (FILU)
- Pathways to safety: Ontario’s strategy in response to The Final Report of the National Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls
- National Family and Survivors Circle