OTTAWA, TRADITIONAL UNCEDED ALGONQUIN
TERRITORY, ON, May 5, 2024 /CNW/ - Today, the Honourable
Gary Anandasangaree, Minister of Crown-Indigenous Relations; the
Honourable Patty Hajdu, Minister of
Indigenous Services and Minister responsible for FedNor; the
Honourable Dan Vandal, Minister of Northern Affairs; and the
Honourable Marci Ien, Minister for Women and Gender Equality and
Youth; issued the following statement:
"Since Métis artist Jaime Black
began the REDress Project in 2010, red dresses hanging in
public spaces have become a stark visual reminder of every
Indigenous woman, girl, Two-Spirit, and gender-diverse person in
Canada who has gone missing or
been murdered.
"Today, on Red Dress Day, we
honour every First Nation, Inuit, and Métis life lost to this
crisis, and we reaffirm our efforts to bring the missing home.
Ahead of Red Dress Day, the
governments of Canada and
Manitoba announced a partnership
to co-develop a pilot Red Dress
Alert system together with Indigenous partners. This was
made possible by the $1.3 million
investment included in Budget 2024. Alert systems can help ensure
that when an Indigenous woman, girl, Two-Spirit or gender-diverse
person goes missing, they are found.
"We stand united in affirming our unwavering commitment to
addressing this national crisis and collectively working toward a
secure, violence-free future for all Indigenous women, girls, and
Two-Spirit and gender-diverse people. We also recognize that means
supporting grassroots, Indigenous-led and community-driven change
through housing, shelters, policing, and infrastructure
initiatives, such as the Inuvialuit Family Wellness Centre that
provides shelter for Indigenous women and families in Inuvik, the Indigenous Victim and Family
Liaison Program that helps individuals and family members
navigate culturally-appropriate health and wellbeing supports, and
new rural public transit studies to better connect communities
undertaken by the Nahanni Butte First Nation, Yellowknives Dene
First Nation, and the Hay River Métis Government.
"The work to end the national crisis of missing and murdered
Indigenous women, girls, Two-Spirit, and gender diverse people is
ongoing, and a lot more remains to be done. The federal
government is committed to learning from Indigenous partners in a
way that respects our shared priorities. We will continue to use
the Federal Pathway, the National Action Plan, the National
Inquiry's Calls for Justice, and the National Action Plan to End
Gender-Based Violence to lay the path forward for our work. Today,
as we honour these lives, we continue our efforts to dismantle the
systems that put Indigenous people in danger, and to create
transformative change that will ensure every Indigenous woman,
girl, Two-Spirit, and gender-diverse person in Canada has a future free from fear and
violence, where their rights are protected, and respected."
Taking Care
The Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls Crisis Line
is a national, toll-free, 24/7 crisis call line that provides
support for anyone who requires emotional assistance related to the
crisis of missing and murdered Indigenous women, girls, Two-Spirit
and gender-diverse people. For assistance, call 1-844-413-6649.
Trauma-informed support is also available to all those impacted
by the ongoing crisis of missing and murdered Indigenous women,
girls, Two-Spirit and gender-diverse people through the Missing and
Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls Health and Cultural Support
Program. The program funds access to cultural support (e.g.,
Elders, Knowledge Holders, and Traditional Healers), emotional
support (e.g., community-based health workers, peer supports), and
registered mental health counsellors (e.g., psychologists, and
social workers).
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SOURCE Crown-Indigenous Relations and Northern Affairs
Canada