Murdered, missing women honoured
Programs need to be enhanced, says Native Women's Association VP
Evan Kiyoshi French
Northern News Services
Wednesday, October 7, 2015
SOMBA K'E/YELLOWKNIFE
Around 30 people rallied under the colours at city hall last week to raise awareness about murdered and missing aboriginal women in Canada.
Edith Mack, left, marches through the city's downtown with Alyssa Praamsma, executive director of the Native Women's Association of the NWT, as part of the 10th anniversary Sisters in Spirit vigil. - Evan Kiyoshi French/NNSL photo |
Aliza Charlo-Piper, vice-president for the Native Women's Association (NWA) of the NWT, said the 10th anniversary Sisters in Spirit vigil was held last Friday to honour the lives and memory of missing and murdered aboriginal women and girls. An RCMP report released last year found more than 1,186 incidents of aboriginal homicides and unresolved missing women investigations. Piper said programming in the NWT needs to be developed to curb the crisis.
"Educational and healing programs within the NWT must continue and the existing programs need to be enhanced," she said. "We need to support our traditional beliefs and values or we'll become lost. This is a call for action on everyone's part. We're all affected in one way or another."
Women's rights activist Sandra Lockhart, who served as master of ceremonies during the vigil, said the problem is systemic.
"Something happened with aboriginal women," she said. "The public didn't notice, the politicians didn't notice, the police didn't notice. It's systemic racism. It's very targeted. Canada has apologized to First Nations but with every apology that comes up, there has to be a change in attitude."
Lockhart said solutions need to be found that will get aboriginal women out of a dangerous cycle.
"Why are we the greatest numbers in institutions like jails, foster care, health centres?" she said. "Why is that?"
Premier Bob McLeod said the problem isn't going away on its own.
"We continue to have the same conversation," he said. "This is a problem. It's time we face this tragic problem with a reinvigorated approach."
McLeod said governments need to collaborate to find solutions that will eliminate violence in aboriginal communities.
"The causes of violence are complex," he said. "We must work together to address the many factors."
McLeod said he's honoured to sit as the chair of the Department of Aboriginal Affairs body looking into the problem.
He said he's looking forward to the second national roundtable discussion on the issue, to be held in February of 2016, in Winnipeg.
With smudging and speeches complete, the group marched through the city's downtown to the Avens' Community for Seniors.
