We Demand Immediate Action from Canada
- Union of BC Indian Chiefs -
Women's Memorial March, Vancouver, February 14, 2019.
Violence against Indigenous women, girls, and
Two-Spirit
people continues to devastate families and communities across
Turtle Island. Today, as the National Inquiry into Missing and
Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls releases its final report,
the Coalition on MMIWG2S in BC calls on the federal and
provincial governments to take immediate action in implementing
the recommendations of this report.
"We have always known this was a genocide; an Indigenous
femicide. The violence we face happens in all aspects of our
lives -- at every level, in every institution, in every
interaction. Canada must immediately respond to all the calls for
justice in the National Inquiry report and stop the genocide
against Indigenous women and girls," says Sophie Merasty,
sister
of Rose Merasty and member of the Downtown Eastside Women's
Centre.
Kukpi7 Judy Wilson, Secretary-Treasurer of the
Union
of BC Indian Chiefs stated, "For too long we have waited for
action on this issue, and this report covers much of what we
already know. We need safe and accessible housing,
transportation, and services for Indigenous women, girls, and
Two-Spirit people. We need to address the "Canadian Genocide" --
it's the worst form of discrimination that has continued over
hundreds of years and into today with the blatant sexism and
racism that is rampant in this country. We need a child welfare
system that seeks to reunite families, not to tear them apart in
a continuation of the legacy of residential schools. We need this
change today, we cannot wait any longer."
Grand Chief Stewart Phillip, President of the
UBCIC,
stated, "The Federal Liberals are ramming through a controversial
pipeline expansion whose industrial man-camps will further put
Indigenous women, girls, and Two-Spirit people at risk, and yet
they say they are a feminist government? With the release of this
report, we know that we must see a dedicated budget and action
plan for the implementation of these recommendations before the
Federal election this fall."
Janice Abbott, CEO of Atira Women's Resource
Society,
stated, "We support the strong and necessary language used in the
report and call on all Canadians to set aside their stereotypes
and fear to embrace the recommendations in support of a kinder,
stronger, more inclusive Canada, one that holds close not only
the women who have been disappeared and their families and loved
ones, but all First Nations, Métis and Inuit women everywhere --
those struggling to survive right now in a climate of profound
anti-Indigenous racism and misogyny, whose children continue to
be stolen by the State and who continue to be vulnerable to
violence, abuse and exploitation. This is not our past. This is
our present. Change is already too late. There is no time to
waste."
Laurel McBride, of Vancouver Rape Relief and
Women's
Shelter stated, "We are pleased to see the call for the state to
take all necessary measures to prevent and hold accountable those
responsible for violence against Indigenous women, two spirit,
gay and transgender people; for the implementation of a
guaranteed annual livable income; and for programs and services
to promote the safety and security of those in the sex industry.
We urge all levels of government to take seriously Reclaiming
Power and Place's findings and to make the implementation of
these calls for justice an immediate priority."
Regional Chief Terry Teegee, of the BC Assembly
of
First Nations, stated, "The recommendations outlined in this
report must be quickly and fully addressed to bring about a
prompt end to the ongoing genocide of our people. While many of
the social issues have been known for decades, we have continued
to experience apathy, and outright hostility at times, as we have
worked towards collaboration and progress within the Canadian
justice and social services systems -- this must end now."
Jenny Kwan, MP for Vancouver East, stated, "The
federal government must commit to implementing all the
recommendations with dedicated resources and a time line that is
publicly accountable. Anything less would be disrespectful to all
those who have shared their stories and advocated for
justice."
Representatives from the Neskonlith Indian Band
Chief &
Council spoke with unity, noting that "Thousands of MMIWG
Survivors & Families across the Nations have shared their
stories, now is the time for action!"
This article was published in
Volume 49 Number 21 - June 8, 2019
Article Link:
We Demand Immediate Action from Canada - Union of BC Indian Chiefs
Website: www.cpcml.ca
Email: editor@cpcml.ca
|
