Rights of Indigenous Peoples
Indian Act
Know Your Rights
Criminal Law
Child Protection
Fair Decision Making
This National Inquiry ran from 2016 to 2019 and investigated the causes of the extremely high rates of violence against Indigenous women, girls and 2SLGBTQQIA people in Canada. The Inquiry spoke with many people and wrote a final report containing 231 Calls for Justice. You can read the report here - "Reclaiming Power and Place". Read below for links to programs and services the government has created to help families and communities.
Can I Rely on the MMIWG+ Inquiry Report in Court?
There are cases where courts have used the Inquiry and its Final Report as a part of understanding the circumstances facing Indigenous women and girls. In R. v. A.(M.), 2020 NUCJ 04, a woman called police for help when she was being assaulted. Police assisted but also noted she had been drinking. They charged her with breaching conditions she was required to follow that said she could not drink. The court gave her an absolute discharge and said that one of the findings of the Inquiry Report was that Indigenous women were reluctant to call police out of fear of being blamed or seen as a criminal.
The National Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls was created to investigate the causes of violence against Indigenous women and girls in Canada. From September 2016 through June 2019 the Inquiry met with and listed to survivors, families, national organizations, communities, regional groups, legal experts and government officials. The final report of the Inquiry - "Reclaiming Power and Place" - was published on June 3, 2019. The Report contains 231 Calls for Justice, calling on governments, institutions, services providers and all Canadians to take real and meaningful steps towards reforming the systems and practices that have contributed to violence against Indigenous women, girls and gender-diverse people.
Since the Inquiry, some steps have been taken by the federal and provincial governments to support families, improve safety and address root causes of the crisis. Some programs to be aware of are listed below.
Getting Help
Counselling and Cultural Support Services
If you are impacted by MMIWG2S+ and need immediate support, you can call the national support line at 1.844.413.6649. Support is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week in English, French, Cree, Anishnaabemowin (Ojibway) and Inuktitut.
You can also get longer term counselling and support, including cultural support services, through Indigenous Services Canada by calling 1.866.250.1529.
Family Information Liaison Units
These programs are available in every province and territory to support families of missing and murdered Indigenous people. FILUs can
- gather and provide information to families about individual cases
- connect families with community elders
- direct families to counselling support
Contact information for the Saskatchewan Unit is listed below. There are also Family Information Liaison Officers within both the Federation of Sovereign Indigenous Nations and Métis Nation-Saskatchewan.
Saskatchewan Family Information Liaison Unit
Danielle Carrier
Phone: 306.519.7804
Toll-free: 1.833.529.6486
Email: danielle.carrier2@gov.sk.ca
Family Information Liaison Officer - Federation of Sovereign Indigenous Nations
Email: blaire.buffalo@fsin.com
Family Information Liaison Officer - Métis Nation-Saskatchewan
Email: mlaplante@mns.work
Phone: 306.371.6156
Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls+ Community Response Fund
In Saskatchewan, this Fund supports Indigenous-led projects to build safety for Indigenous women, girls and Two Spirit+ people, their families and communities. There are two opportunities each year to apply for funding.
Aboriginal Community Safety Planning Initiative
This program supports Indigenous communities to develop community safety plans. Under this program, the Prince Albert Grand Council is working with the federal and provincial governments toward a self-administered regional police force to improve community safety in the 12 First Nations that make up the PAGC. The project is in the feasibility study stage with ongoing consultations across all Nations. You can stay up to date with the project through the PAGC at https://pagc.sk.ca/policing/.
Indigenous Resource Officer Program
Indigenous Resource Officer programs are run as partnerships between the Saskatchewan Ministry of Justice, the police and the Indigenous community within each location. There are currently six programs in the province, providing culturally specific support and information to Indigenous victims of crime. Programs currently operate in the Battlefords, La Ronge, Yorkton, Prince Albert, Regina and Saskatoon. You can find contact information at the link.
Indigenous Family Violence Program
These programs assist Indigenous families dealing with violence and abuse within urban areas. Programs run in Regina, Prince Albert, the Battlefords, Yorkton and Saskatoon. You can find contact information at the link.
