Existing Measures & Engagement on Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women & Girls A Preliminary Response to Invisible Women

Transcription

1 Existing Measures & Engagement on Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women & Girls A Preliminary Response to Invisible Women Presented by: Winnie Babou, Drew Meerveld and Jessie Wallace, December 2015 Faculté des sciences sociales Faculty of Social Sciences

2 2 International Scope States shall take measures, in conjunction with Indigenous peoples, to ensure that Indigenous women and children enjoy the full protection and guarantees against all forms of violence and discrimination. - UNDRIP, Article 22(2)

3 Presentation Layout 1. Overview of MMIW crisis 2. By the Numbers 3. Invisible Women: A Call to Action 4. Methodology 5. Examples from Select Findings 6. Analysis of Alternative Recommendations & Gaps 7. Concluding Remarks

4 MMIW: THE CANADIAN CONTEXT Historically: à Asymmetric state-societal relations have contributed to the social, cultural, political, and economic marginalization of FN, Inuit, and Métis peoples. à Enduring, inter-generational legacies from collective group experiences with: Settler colonialism IRS system & Day Schools 60s Scoop Perhaps nowhere is the convergence of these linkages more explicit than with the crisis of MMIW.

5 MMIW: THE CONTEXT Contemporary Developments: à Pickton case (2006) à NWAC-led Sisters in Spirit (2005): 5-year, $5M initiative. à Missing Women Commission of Inquiry (2012): Investigation of the role of the Vancouver Police and RCMP regarding the disappearances/murdered of women in the DTES. à RCMP report ( ): Missing and Murdered Aboriginal Women: A National Operational Overview à 50+ reports conducted on the violent victimization of Indigenous women and girls in Canada.

6 By the Numbers: RCMP report identified 1,181 reported cases of Indigenous female homicides and unresolved missing Indigenous women ( ). - Indigenous females represent 4.3% of the female population: comprise 16% of female homicides, 11.3% of missing female cases. - 60% of female Indigenous murders occur in urban centers, compared to rural (28%) and on-reserve (13%) localities (NWAC, 2010).

7 Invisible Women : An Environmental Scan 16 recommendations, 7 themes Awareness campaign Support for the family of victims Support for communities Police Services Violence against women and girls Other supports Moving to action

8 Methodology ~120hrs of research Timeline: Sept. 21-Nov. 22 Internet-based searches Range of sources, including: - Government content (e.g. audits, websites) - News articles - Press releases - Academic and civil society publications

9 Selection of Findings: 6/16 Recommendations

10 1.That the federal government learn from the stories of the families of missing and murdered Aboriginal women and girls and work with the provinces, territories and municipalities to create a public awareness and prevention campaign focusing on violence against Aboriginal women and girls in Canada. à 9 Findings Federal involvement ( 2014 Action Plan) Federal involvement (INAC) Provincial involvement Justice Canada: $5M over next 5 years to raise awareness and create tools for building healthy relationships. SWC: $2.5M over next 5 years to work with Indigenous stakeholders on engaging Indigenous males and empowering Indigenous females to prevent violence. Family Violence Prevention Program: $9M in on-going annual funding for 300 community-driven violence prevention programs and outreach awareness. Coordinated by the National Circle Against Family Violence. The Highway of Tears Prevention and Awareness Project (BC) I Am A Kind Man Kizhaay Anishinaabe Niin (ON)

11 4. That the federal government implement a national DNA-based missing person s index. à 1 Finding RCMP National DNA Databank initiative Currently 697 unidentified remains in Canada. DNA Bank would allows for national coordination to identify these victims and provides support for families of victims. $8.1M over 5 years (DNA testing only). Expected to launch in Spring 2017.

12 6. That the federal government continue to support programming and legislation that allow Aboriginal communities to respond to violence. ON Ministry of Community and Social Services Yukon territorial government Aboriginal Healing and Wellness Strategy: Creation of 6 healing lodges, 7 family shelters, 2 family violence healing programs, 2 outpatient hostels, crisis intervention teams in 47 northern communities, over 460 community-based health/healing programs, training for more than 1,000 social services staff since inception in Prevention of Violence Against Aboriginal Women Fund $1.9M for 70 projects since its creation in recipients: $200,000 for 5 projects. Examples: $50,000 allocated to Selkirk FN, $25,000 to Laird Aboriginal Women s Society. à 37 Findings B.C. provincial government $1.5 million over next 2 years to increase services and supports throughout the province for Aboriginal people who are affected by domestic violence. (August 2015) Giving Voice initiative: 37 community organizations to receive $350,000 ( ) for community mobilization against violence facing Indigenous females.

13 7. That the federal government examine options to address poverty as a root cause of violence against Aboriginal women and girls by empowering Aboriginal people through economic development opportunities and jobs and skills training. à 28 Findings Federal involvement Provincial/ Territorial involvement Traderelated initiatives Skills and Partnership Fund: $7 million in funding to Nunavut s Kivalliq Mine Training Society for training over 300 Aboriginal people (2015). FN Job Fund: $109M ( ) to support activities including skills assessments and personalized training. Aboriginal Information and Communications Technology program: $4.1M invested by N.B government for 3-year training-foremployment program in Rupertsland Institute: Métis Training to Employment Program Women in Trades program, Saskatchewan Indian Institute of Technologies Aboriginal Construction Technology Program, Indigenous Leadership Development Institute

14 8. That the federal government engage First Nation communities to examine how to improve supports for shelters and front-line services on reserve for victims of violence. Federal involvement Provincial involvement Family Violence Prevention Program: $92.5M allocated to on and off-reserve shelters over 5 years under Action Plan. Approx. 55% of FN communities served by INAC-funded shelters. B.C. government under Provincial Domestic Violence Plan: $500,000 to be distributed to 56 transition houses and safe houses for the allocation of subsidies to Indigenous women and children. à 18 Findings Civil Society NACAFV: Annual Training Forum Burnout Prevention for Frontline Workers 1-3 Dec Talk 4 Healing Helpline: Services offered in English, Oji-Cree, and Cree to Indigenous women.

15 Future Outlooks Recommendation reports call for the creation of a national action plan to address violence against Indigenous women and girls. à Dissenting opinions of Liberal Party and NDP (Invisible Women) à National Roundtable on MMIW à AFN s Coordinated and Urgent Action to Address Violence Against Indigenous Women and Girls Towards a National Action Plan (2012) à ON Ministry of Aboriginal Affairs priorities: Joint Working Group plans for coordinated action to end cycles of violence.

16 A Flawed Document The political game Language matters Recommendation 2: That the Federal Government continue strengthening the criminal justice system to ensure, among other things, that violent and repeat offenders serve appropriate sentences. Beat by alignment

17 Alternative Recommendations 1. National commission of inquiry 2. National action plan 3. Public acknowledgement & prioritization 4. Indigenous-specific programs addressing root causes of MMAW 5. Aboriginal involvement in program development/delivery 6. Data gathering and publication 7. Public information and awareness raising 8. Transport services and access to housing/shelters 9. Community based first response measures 10. Aboriginal sex worker care programs 11. Relationship enhancement between Aboriginal peoples and police 12. Investigation and prosecution changes 13. Community-based and restorative justice measures 14. Law reform of discriminatory legislation 15. International human rights instruments 16. Compensation healing fund

18 Alternative Recommendations 1. National commission of inquiry 2. National action plan 3. Public acknowledgement & prioritization 4. Indigenous-specific programs addressing root causes of MMAW 5. Aboriginal involvement in program development/delivery 6. Data gathering and publication 7. Public information and awareness raising 8. Transport services and access to housing/shelters 9. Community-based first response measures 10. Aboriginal sex worker care programs 11. Relationship enhancement between Aboriginal peoples and police 12. Investigation and prosecution changes 13. Community-based and restorative justice measures 14. Law reform of discriminatory legislation 15. International human rights instruments 16. Compensation healing fund

19 Alternative Recommendations 1. National commission of inquiry 4 2. National action plan Public acknowledgement & prioritization 4 4. Indigenous-specific programs addressing root causes of MMAW Aboriginal involvement in program development/delivery Data gathering and publication Public information and awareness raising Transport services and access to housing/shelters Community based first response measures Aboriginal sex worker care programs Relationship enhancement between Aboriginal peoples and police Investigation and prosecution changes Community-based and restorative justice measures Law reform of discriminatory legislation International human rights instruments Compensation healing fund 4

20 4. Properly Resourced, Indigenous specific programs designed to address the root causes of violence against Indigenous Women. 28 Reports More than an Employment Strategy Reducing Poverty Adequate housing Improved education Healing for the Perpetrators P/T poverty alleviation strategies Autonomy

21 5. Aboriginal Involvement in program development and delivery 20 Reports Aboriginal Peoples Program women s community family violence women s self-government participation Provincial native women s associations Nova Scotia, Ontario, Yukon, Northwest Territories, Newfoundland and Labrador. ensure programming is developed with the woman s perspective.

22 11. Measures to improve relationships between police and indigenous individuals and communities 21 Reports A story of almosts Draft framework to address violence against aboriginal women Public safety: Comprehensive Review of First Nations Policing Program BC White Paper on Justice Reform 1) Awareness OPP Native awareness training RCMP cultural awareness Training 2) Relationship Building Vancouver Diversity and Aboriginal Policing Section Toronto Aboriginal Peacekeeping Unit Winnipeg police community sessions 1-2 aboriginal liaisons: Thunder Bay, Winnipeg, Calgary and Saskatoon 3) Involvement Vancouver Police Department Cadet Program Aboriginal Community Constable Program

23 CONCLUSION A tale of 2 timelines Short-term Culturally responsive adjudication Ratio of Indigenous liaison positions (urban, rural) Long-term Education Perceptions Stable funding