BCAFN Calls for Action on Systemic Causes of Violence Against Indigenous Women, Girls on National Day of Awareness for Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women

  • Press Release

May 5, 2021

News Category
Press Release

The BC Assembly of First Nations (BCAFN) honours survivors and family members of missing and murdered Indigenous women, girls and 2-Spirit, lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, questioning, intersex and asexual (2SLGBTQQIA+) people today, the National Day of Awareness for Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls (Red Dress Day), by calling for action on systemic causes of all forms of violence. The red dress campaigns are powerful grassroots expressions of grief, solidarity, strength and hope which are displayed in many different ways across Canada to address this critically important crisis.

RC Teegee
Regional Chief Terry Teegee

"I continue to press for federal and provincial governments’ commitment, focus and energy to escalate movement on the implementation of the Calls for Justice from the Final Report of the National Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls and the urgent need for the upcoming Action Plan that will guide concrete measures for active solutions to end the violence against Indigenous women, girls and 2SLGBTQQIA+ people. Change is coming in which we will all will play a role, and that will ensure First Nations people are safer wherever they live."

“As the BCAFN Women’s Representative I call on all governments to recommit themselves to the development and implementation of the National Action Plan in a way that is transparent, accessible, representative, and led by Indigenous women and 2SLGBTQQIA+ people, and families,” 

Louisa
Louisa Housty-Jones, BCAFN Women's Representative

The Assembly of First Nations will begin holding engagement sessions across the country over the next few weeks that will be centered around survivors and families of missing and murdered Indigenous women, girls and 2SLGBTQQIA+ people. Information about the British Columbia regional sessions can be found on the BCAFN events website here

Helpful links:
National Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls: https://www.mmiwg-ffada.ca/final-report/
The REDress Project: https://www.jaimeblackartist.com/exhibitions/
Building a national action plan with partners: https://www.rcaanc-cirnac.gc.ca/eng/1590950479157/1590950564663
BC AFN Regional Engagement on the Development of the National Action Plan on MMIWG2S: https://events.bcafn.ca/regionalengagementdevelopnationalactionplanmmiwg2s/

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