AMC calls on the federal government to immediately operationalize the promised action plan for the 231 calls for justice of the National Inquiry into MMIWG
March 9, 2021
Treaty One Territory, Manitoba
alexpapineau
Treaty One Territory, Manitoba – The Assembly of Manitoba Chiefs (AMC) issues this statement today to call on the Minister of Crown-Indigenous Relations to finally address the 231 calls for justice of the National Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls (MMIWG), including the long promised national action plan. This action plan is especially critical as more and more First Nations women continue to lose their lives at unacceptable and disproportionate rates. The recent murder of Jana Williams in Winnipeg is only the latest example in Winnipeg of the national tragedy of Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls.
“First and foremost on behalf of the Assembly, I would like to offer my heartfelt condolences to the family and loved ones of Jana Williams on her tragic passing,” said Grand Chief Arlen Dumas. “Jana was loved, valued and will be missed by all those who attended her vigil over the weekend and by the extended First Nations community and their allies. Jana will be missed and remembered by all First Nations in Manitoba.
“This is another horrific murder of a First Nations women in Winnipeg and I am asking the Minister how many more First Nations women have to die in this country before the federal government will finally address the calls for justice and implement the national action plan? Not only does this ongoing genocide continue to be ignored in the larger society, the federal government continues to willfully and recklessly contribute to the deaths of First Nations women by refusing to address root causes, refusing to follow the calls for justice for its own National Inquiry, and its refusal to commit the required resources to implement the action plan,” added Grand Chief Dumas.
“First Nations work diligently to continue to protect all our women and girls in spite of the challenges posed by the pandemic and despite a lack of resources for a coordinated strategy to address the underlying causes. We need to do more at the regional and national levels and work together to address the deep, structural racist and misogynistic attitudes that contribute to deaths such as Jana’s. First Nations women and girls deserve action from the federal government and deserve to live in safety and security, free from violence and misogyny,” Grand Chief Dumas concluded.