FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
March 28, 2023
OTTAWA – The National Family and Survivors Circle (NFSC) welcomes new specific funding commitments to families of missing and murdered Indigenous women, girls, and 2SLGBTQQIA+ people, and survivors of gender-based violence in the 2023 Federal Budget, including a direct investment of $2.6 million over the next three years to ensure families and survivors are centred in the implementation of the National Action Plan and the Federal Pathway.
“It is important to see the Federal Government build off of its previous Budget 2021 commitments to continue making tangible investments in implementing the 231 Calls for Justice along with the National Action Plan, as well as in the accountability mechanisms the NFSC has been calling for,” said Hilda Anderson-Pyrz, Chair of the NFSC.
“The $124.7 million towards MMIWG2s+ priorities announced in today’s Budget 2023 is a significant step forward — these types of ongoing and concrete financial commitments by all governments (including provincial, territorial, and Indigenous governments) are necessary to ending this genocide. We welcome this investment and the opportunity it presents, and will track these developments closely to ensure the Federal Government follows through on its commitments with the urgency this issue requires.”
Within this investment, the NFSC is pleased to see $20.4 million ongoing to ensure Indigenous families and survivors of gender-based violence can access necessary information about their loved ones and supports for their healing. This offers critical opportunities for independent, Indigenous-led victim support mechanisms. The NFSC also welcomes the prioritization of a Red Dress Alert System that will help keep Indigenous women, girls, and gender-diverse people safe.
In addition, the Federal Government has underscored its responsibility to establish a standing Federal-Provincial-Territorial-Indigenous Table on MMIWG2S+, an accountability mechanism that the NFSC has supported and called for over the past two years.
“The investments made in Budget 2023 reinforce the NFSC’s ability to continue to advocate for concrete, needs-based, decolonized, Indigenous-led solutions from all governments. We honour all the families, survivors, grassroots activists and organizations who tirelessly advocate for the transformative changes necessary for our women, girls, and 2SLGBTQQIA+ people to live with safety, security, and dignity,” said Anderson-Pyrz.
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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 is composed of First Nations, Inuit, and Métis women from diverse backgrounds who use their lived expertise to advocate for centring 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.
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