THUNDER BAY – The Canadian government’s recent Federal Pathways Report details progress in response to the National Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls (MMIWG) and its 231 Calls for Justice. However, Pauktuutit Inuit Women of Canada, celebrating its 40th anniversary, is urging all levels of government to expedite implementation of the National Inuit Action Plan.
The organization acknowledges increased investments in housing, shelters, and transitional homes but emphasizes the need for more widespread support to address the housing crisis faced by Indigenous women, girls, and 2SLGBTQI+ people.
Despite progress through the Violence Prevention Strategy and the Indigenous Shelter and Transitional Housing Initiative, Pauktuutit highlights the slow pace of change and the lack of tangible improvements despite promises made through the National Action Plan and the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP).
“Since the National Inquiry concluded and the release of its Final Report, Inuit women, girls, and gender-diverse Inuit continue to go missing and are murdered,” the organization states, emphasizing the need for specific data on how this crisis affects Inuit communities.
Pauktuutit calls on Canada to support its gender-based research and invest in data gathering to address gender gaps in housing, health, and food security. They urge an examination of the intersections between child welfare involvement, incarceration, and the impact of specific policies.
Additionally, the organization stresses the importance of Calls for Justice 1.7, which calls for establishing an Indigenous and Human Rights Ombudsperson and Tribunal.
“The Government of Canada must accelerate all its efforts now,” Pauktuutit declares, emphasizing the need for an all-of-society approach to ending systemic violence against Indigenous peoples and ensuring Inuit voices are heard and their lived experiences inform all actions.
