October 4, 2022

Today is the National Day of Action on Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women, Girls, and 2SLGBTQQIA+ People. The National Family and Survivors Circle (NFSC) honours and remembers those who have not come home and holding in our hearts the families of missing and murdered Indigenous women, girls, and 2SLGBTQQIA+ people and survivors of gender- and race-based violence.

Today must be a day of action to end the genocide and a recommitment of political will to implement the 231 Calls for Justice.

In the NFSC’s contribution to the 2021 Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women, Girls, and 2SLGBTQQIA+ People National Action Plan, we developed Four Pillars to guide the inclusion of families and survivors in the critical work to end this ongoing genocide: Accountability, Impact, Inclusion, and Interconnectedness. These pillars provide the path forward.

It has been over three years since the release of the Final Report from the National Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls. It has been over a year since the release of the National Action Plan. Yet, there has been very little progress to fulfill the 231 Calls for Justice. Inaction results in murder and the continuance of violence for Indigenous women, girls, and 2SLGBTQQIA+ people. All governments, institutions, organizations, industries, and all Canadians, must take action for the implementation of these legal imperatives and be part of the solution for ending the genocide.

One of the most important aspects of accountability is the implementation of Call for Justice 1.7 demands the establishment of a National Indigenous and Human Rights Ombudsperson and a National Indigenous and Human Rights Tribunal.

In our contribution to the National Action Plan, the NFSC specifically stated that these accountability mechanisms should be established before June 3, 2022. With the failure to meet this deadline and with the lack of progress, it is clearer than ever that this oversight is urgently necessary to ensure these legal imperatives are being actioned and accomplished and that recourse is available for inaction and failure to implement.

An Indigenous woman, girl, or 2SLGBTQQIA+ person has been murdered or gone missing over 4000 times. This is likely a severe underestimate due to the lack of comprehensive, decolonized data collection, analysis and reporting processes regarding Indigenous women, girls, and gender-diverse people.

Hilda Anderson-Pyrz, NFSC Chair, states, “When an Indigenous woman, girl, or 2SLGBTQQIA+ person is murdered or has experienced gender- and race-based violence, it impacts all communities across the country. We can no longer live in a perpetual state of trauma, grief, and fear. We deserve pathways for safety and security. Canada is at a critical point in time – will it take action necessary for transformative change or will it remain status quo and perpetuate the genocide?”

We understand that this subject matter is difficult for many people in our community. If you require immediate support, please contact the national, independent toll free 24/7 support line at 1-844-413-6649 to speak to a counsellor. The service is available in English, French, Cree, Anishnaabemowin (Ojibway), and Inuktitut.

About the National Family and Survivors Circle (NFSC)

The NFSC comprises First Nations, Inuit, and Métis women from diverse backgrounds who use their lived expertise to advocate for centering the voices of families of missing and murdered Indigenous women and girls, survivors of gender-based violence, and 2SLGBTQQIA+ people, and made significant contributions to the 2021 National Action Plan.

For more information and to book interviews, please contact: media@emdashagency.ca

Click here to download this statement as a PDF.