AFN and NWAC Call for Canada to Work with Aboriginal and Women's Groups to
End Violence Against Indigenous Women

OTTAWA, Nov. 23 /CNW/ - Assembly of First Nations (AFN) National Chief Shawn A-in-chut Atleo and Native Women's Association of Canada (NWAC) President Jeanette Corbiere Lavell today stated their continued support for the Sisters in Spirit campaign and the need for a national action plan to end violence against Indigenous women in Canada.

"The AFN continues to advocate strongly for action that will ensure the safety of Aboriginal women across Canada and support for the families of missing and murdered Aboriginal women," said AFN National Chief Shawn Atleo. "This must be a priority for the government and all Canadians. I have stood with NWAC at vigils and in meetings with the premiers and territorial leaders to call for action, as have members of the AFN Women's Council. Any initiatives on this important matter must be done in collaboration with Aboriginal and women's groups, and include the voices of families and communities across Canada - something the Sisters in Spirit campaign was successful in doing."

The National Chief and NWAC President met on Friday, November 19 to discuss issues of mutual priority, including action on missing and murdered women and the future of the Sisters in Spirit campaign. Sisters in Spirit, launched in 2004, was a groundbreaking initiative to compile important information on missing and murdered Aboriginal women in Canada.  Funding for the campaign was not included in the 2010 federal budget.

"This message is not simply about funding, but about engaging the people impacted by violence against Aboriginal women and more specifically, creating the opportunity for families who lost loved ones to have their voices heard," said NWAC President Jeanette Corbiere Lavell.  "NWAC, together with AFN, must be at the fore in addressing this issue with the federal government and to ensure the voices of the people are heard.  The leaders, experts, and champions of change for Sisters in Spirit are the many women, men, and children who have lost a loved one.  Regardless of whether their sister, their mother, their daughter, or their friend, has gone missing or was found murdered, they are left with too many questions, many of which will never be answered."

In October, AFN and NWAC called for all levels of government to engage Indigenous and women's groups on the development of a national action plan that would both support families of victims and address the root causes of violence against Indigenous women. 

The Government of Canada recently announced some details of a strategy to address the almost 600 unresolved cases of missing and murdered Aboriginal women but reports suggest that only a portion of this funding will be used specifically for Aboriginal women.

"We must support initiatives that work for our people, like Sisters in Spirit, as well as working together on a national action plan that will prevent further violence," said National Chief Atleo. 

"Our nation as a whole has lost mothers, teachers, warriors, caregivers, and leaders. We have also lost part of our future generation. For this reason the federal government must continue the commitment to Aboriginal women and the work of the Sisters in Spirit Initiative," said NWAC President Corbiere-Lavell. 

The Assembly of First Nations is the national organization representing First Nation citizens in Canada.  The Native Women's Association of Canada one of Canada's National Aboriginal Organizations and represents Aboriginal women, particularly First Nations and Métis women.

For further information:

Jenna Young, Assembly of First Nations Communications Officer at 613-241-6789, ext 401, 613-314-8157 or [email protected]

Alain Garon, AFN Bilingual Communications Officer 613-241-6789, ext 382, 613 292-0857 or [email protected]

Kate Rexe, Sisters in Spirit Director, Native Women's Association of Canada at 613-722-3033.