Please enable JavaScript.
Coggle requires JavaScript to display documents.
Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women in Canada (MMIWG) - Coggle Diagram
Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women in Canada (MMIWG)
Government of Canada/ policies
need for improvements in tracking and identifying cases of missing and murdered Indigenous women
Indigenous women’s economic, social, political and cultural rights
educating young Indigenous women/girls on safety issues
risk factors (poverty, homelessness) that make Indigenous women vulnerable to violence need to be addressed
Indigenous women’s economic, social, political and cultural rights
2017: 4th October was officially organized as a day to honour MMIWG by the Government of Manitoba.
Amnesty International
: 1st call for action:
October 2004: (1st Report) Stolen Sisters: A Human Rights Response to Discrimination and Violence against Indigenous Women in Canada
9 women, 9 stories, varying degrees of violence
after 2004-numbers/violence still on rise
Amnesty International
another call for action
September 2009: (2nd Report) No More Stolen Sisters: The Need for a Comprehensive Response to Discrimination and Violence against Indigenous Women in Canada.
what is MMIWG?
a human rights issue that has just recently garnered national media attention on larger scale
calls for action against the high and disproportionate rates of violence, large numbers of missing/murdered Indigenous women/girls in Canada
Police
lack of accountability/transparency
under protected
over polices
cultural sensitivity training
forming good relationships with Indigenous communities
due to bias: lack of trust on part of both parties
leads to unreported crimes against Indigenous women
historically mistrust and violence characterized Indigenous-police relationship
abuse of power
police reports contain incomplete data
Historical Context:
what led to indigenous women/girls facing such tragedies?
Colonialism:
issue of missing/murdered Indigenous women is as old as Canada itself
sexualized and racialized legacy of settler colonialism led to an acceptance of violence against Indigenous women
Racism
: dangerous cultural attitudes and stereotypes presumed- still ongoing in 2020
Sexualization of Women
legally sanctioned policies- targeting Indigenous women
forced sterilization
pass system
Indian Act
residential schools
policies- limited Indigenous women’s livelihood
preventing Indigenous women’s access to community resources/safety networks
community ties served
Me (general public/community)
Canadian citizen
attitudes and beliefs
each individual can make a difference: silence on this issue is harmful
voting in elections
support for police
paying taxes
support for local, federal government, their policies
support for NGOs fighting for Indigenous women
vigils, walks, campaigns
Barriers
faced by Indigenous Women: heighten their vulnerability to violence till date (2020)
social and economic marginalization
insufficient police response to violence against Indigenous women
lack of statistical analysis
racism and poverty
misogyny
historic and ongoing mass removal of children from Indigenous families/communities
high numbers of Indigenous women in Canadian prisons (many of them being victims of abuse/violence)
Native Women’s Association of Canada (NWAC)
aimed to research and provide awareness about violence against Indigenous women
secured funds in 2005, launched Sisters in Spirit Initiative
developed a national database to track cases of violence against Indigenous women
frameworks: prevention and safety focused
Canadian Feminist Alliance for
International Action
UN Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women
Human Rights Watch
No Action:
Despite various NGOs and human rights organizations pushing for national inquiry, Canadian Government under Harper dismissed the call for national inquiry
December 2014:
Former prime minister Stephen Harper stated that a national inquiry on missing and murdered Indigenous women was not high on the government's radar.
2015:
government changed and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and the government of Canada launched a national public inquiry.
National Inquiry: begin in 2016 and report finalized in 2019
2,386 people participated
1,484 family members and survivors provided testimony
819 individuals used artistic expressions to share
83 experts/knowledge keepers/officials provided testimony
15 community hearings across Canada
9 Knowledge Keeper, expert and institutional hearings were held across Canada
Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada supported the call for a national public inquiry
Media
news, social media and access to cases
increased public interest, awareness and rage/empathy
mainstream media-documenting and providing public education about violence against Indigenous women/girls (CBC).
documentaries
Violence and vulnerability faced by Indigenous women in health care systems
prejudice and harm leads to misdiagnosis
Indigenous women facing violence less likely to seek help/care
Long Lasting Impact of violence on survivors and relatives of victims
children loosing mothers
trauma
communities disturbed
parents loosing daughters
victims are mothers, daughters, sisters, students
Activists and Educators
Walking with Our Sisters Campaign
REDress Campaign
Faceless Dolls Project