Assembly of Manitoba Chiefs Statement on the Fifth Anniversary of the MMIWG Report
June 3, 2024
Treaty One Territory, Manitoba
AMC Communications
Treaty One Territory – The Assembly of Manitoba Chiefs (AMC) releases the following statement on the fifth anniversary of the final report of the National Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls (MMIWG). The AMC reflects on the ongoing impact of this pivotal report and continues to advocate for the urgent action needed to address the systemic issues outlined in the report.
The 2019 report demonstrates how Canada’s MMIWG2S+ crisis constitutes genocide and was a call for transformative action. Despite the 231 Calls for Justice directed at various levels of government and sectors, meaningful progress has been disappointingly slow. The AMC expresses frustration and disappointment at the ongoing lack of substantial advancements.
The AMC urges the federal government to accelerate and intensify its efforts to address the MMIWG2S+ crisis. In Manitoba, First Nations individuals continue to face alarmingly high rates of violence and systemic discrimination. First Nations women are six times more likely to be murdered compared to non-First Nations women, highlighting the urgent need for action.
“The federal government’s recent commitments, such as the MMIWG2S+ public alert system pilot project and funding for the Prairie Green Landfill search, are steps in the right direction,” said Grand Chief Cathy Merrick. “However, these measures fall short of addressing the deep-rooted issues that jeopardize the safety and well-being of First Nations Peoples.”
The AMC emphasizes that sustainable, long-term funding and accountability from all federal political parties are essential for meaningful change. Our Nations cannot afford to continue to experience glacially slow progress. Sixty-two First Nations Leaders in Manitoba continue to show incredible resilience and strength in advocating for these changes, but we need concrete actions from Canadian governments.
“The high numbers of First Nations children in foster care, overdose deaths, suicides, and pervasive poverty are stark reminders of the continuing marginalization our people face,” said Grand Chief Cathy Merrick. “On this significant anniversary, we remember those we have lost and stand united with survivors and families. The time for meaningful action is now. We cannot wait any longer for justice and safety for our women, girls, and Two-Spirit people that live on and off reserve.”
For more information, please contact:
Communications Team
Assembly of Manitoba Chiefs
Email: media@manitobachiefs.com
About the Assembly of Manitoba Chiefs
The AMC was formed in 1988 by the Chiefs in Manitoba to advocate on issues that commonly affect First Nations in Manitoba. AMC is an authorized representative of 62 of the 63 First Nations in Manitoba with a total of more than 172,000 First Nations citizens in the province, accounting for approximately 12 percent of the provincial population. AMC represents a diversity of Anishinaabe (Ojibway), Nehetho / Ininew (Cree), Anisininew (Ojibwe-Cree), Denesuline (Dene) and Dakota Oyate (Dakota) peoples.