Government of Canada reaffirms commitment to address the ongoing tragedy of missing and murdered Indigenous women, girls and 2SLGBTQQIA+ people

Ottawa: Violence against Indigenous women, girls and 2SLGBTQQIA+ people in Canada is an ongoing national tragedy. The Government of Canada is working with families, survivors and communities as equal partners towards solutions that will protect vulnerable people and address the root causes of this violence.

Today, on the first anniversary of the release of the Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women, Girls and 2SLGBTQQIA+ People National Action Plan, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and the Honourable Marc Miller, Minister of Crown–Indigenous Relations, attended a ceremony at the Canadian Museum of History with family members, survivors, members of the 2SLGBTQQIA+ community, Elders and Grandmothers.

During the ceremony, the Government of Canada reaffirmed its commitment to continue working with families and communities to respond to this national tragedy. The Prime Minister received teachings from Elders and Grandmothers on the importance of continuing this work.

Following the ceremony, the Government of Canada released its report that outlines some of the work undertaken over the last year under the Federal Pathway to Address Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women, Girls and 2SLGBTQQIA+ People. The Federal Pathway is the Government of Canada’s contribution to the National Action Plan. The report also acknowledges the significant work ahead to further implement the government’s commitments.

A report was also released by contributing partners to the National Action Plan entitled A Progress Report on the Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women, Girls and 2SLGBTQQIA+ People National Action Plan. The Government of Canada remains steadfast in its commitment to continue to work in partnership with provincial and territorial governments, Indigenous Peoples, families and survivors, and Indigenous women’s and 2SLGBTQQIA+ organizations to make progress on the National Action Plan and address the tragedy of missing and murdered Indigenous women and girls and 2SLGBTQQIA+ people in Canada.

Addressing the ongoing violence against Indigenous women, girls, and 2SLGBTQQIA+ people is a whole-of-government approach, which requires living up to our moral obligations as a country, and all the Calls for Justice. Our work will never cease as long as survivors, families, and communities are enduring this national tragedy. We will ensure our initiatives are trauma-informed and survivor-centric, to put an end to this tragedy – as survivors work towards healing.