Overview
The National Inquiry on Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls (National Inquiry) was established to examine systemic causes of all forms of violence against Indigenous women and girls. A final report summarized the work with recommended actions to address this issue.
Since then, the Alberta government has been examining what has happened to Indigenous women and girls in Alberta in relation to the issues raised in the National Inquiry Final Report.
Some the current initiatives include the Alberta Joint Working Group on Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls, and supporting Indigenous women and girls through the Victim’s Services Family Information Liaison Unit
National Inquiry support
Canada established the National Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls to identify and examine the systemic causes of violence against Indigenous women and girls and to make recommendations for effective action.
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December 2015
The federal government announced the National Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls.
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September 1, 2016
The work of the National Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls work began to:
- identify and examine the systemic causes of violence against Indigenous women and girls
- make recommendations for effective action
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June 2019
The National Inquiry into Missing Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls released the report: Reclaiming Power and Place: The Final Report of the National Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls.
The Minister of Indigenous Relations accepted the National Inquiry's final report on June 3, 2019.
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March 5, 2020
Indigenous women and girls need to know the Alberta government stands with them and hears their voices. The Alberta Joint Working Group on Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls (Working Group) was announced on March 5, 2020. The working group, with Indigenous women and Members of the Legislative Assembly, will provide recommendations on co-developed actions to address the National Inquiry Final Report Calls for Justice and recommendations.
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June 3, 2021
The National Action Plan released on June 3, responds to the Final Report of the National Inquiry on Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls. The plan is the collaborative effort of the federal, provincial and territorial governments in partnership along with Indigenous representative groups and organizations working together to develop an action plan aimed at ensuring Indigenous women, girls and 2SLGBTQQIA+ people live free of violence.
The plan includes actions by Alberta’s government to keep the lives of Indigenous women, girls and 2SLGBTQQIA+ people in Alberta safe. The Alberta Joint Working Group on Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls engaged with Indigenous families, survivors and organizations and provided recommendations to Alberta’s government through a separate provincial process. Their advice and recommendations will provide Alberta with future actions on how to address this crucial issue.
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January 5, 2022
The Alberta Joint Working Group on Missing and Murdered Women and Girls submitted their final report with recommendations to government.
An update on the next steps will be provided once a review of the final report is completed.
Victims Services Family Information Liaison Unit
The Family Information Liaison Unit (FILU) provides a specialized service in addition to the services already offered by existing Victim Services Units in Alberta.
The FILU acts as a single point of contact to support families with missing and murdered Indigenous women and girls.
The FILU collaborates with other system providers and community stakeholders to:
- provide information, support and referrals to families
- share information about the loss of their loved one
- share information on local, culturally safe services and supports
- open access to cultural protocol, including facilitating access to an Elder or other spiritual support for families
- provide information about and access to counselling, other healing supports or both
- give facilitated referrals to ease the barriers to services
The Alberta FILU is committed to ensuring families are treated with dignity, compassion and respect.
Call toll free 310-0000 then dial 780-427-3460
Provincial actions
National inquiry
The Government of Alberta has also taken the following actions in relation to the National Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls:
- supported the pre-inquiry and truth gathering phases of inquiry by ensuring Commissioners had jurisdiction to examine Alberta government records
- the Minister of Indigenous Relations travelled to Gatineau on June 3, 2019 to accept the National Inquiry’s final report
- established the Alberta Joint Working Group on Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls that has made recommendations to the Government of Alberta on actions to address the issues raised in the National Inquiry Final Report and Calls for Justice
- engaging with the Government of Canada both at the elected and public service levels to share information and discuss collaboration
Indigenous womens' issues
The Government of Alberta has also taken the following actions relation to address issues facing Indigenous women, including violence against Indigenous women and girls:
- the Minister of Indigenous Relations declared October 4, 2019 Sisters in Spirit Day to honour the memory of missing and murdered Indigenous women and girls
- participated in Sisters in Spirit Day commemoration events in Hinton, Calgary and Edmonton
- accepted a Red Dress, commissioned and gifted by Awo Taan Native Healing Lodge Society, which was put on public display to raise awareness of missing and murdered Indigenous women and girls
- provided operational and project funding support including to the Institute for the Advancement of Aboriginal Women, an Indigenous women's organization that promotes rights of Indigenous women
- enacted legislation to help protect individuals from domestic violence (Disclosure to Protect Against Domestic Violence (Clare’s Law)) Act and Human Trafficking (Protecting Survivors of Human Trafficking Act)
- established the Ministry of Culture with a specialized violence against women and girls prevention unit.
Contact
Connect with Indigenous Relations:
Hours: 8:15 am to 4:30 pm (open Monday to Friday, closed statutory holidays)
Phone: 780-427-2711
Toll free: 310-0000 before the phone number (in Alberta)
Fax: 780-427-4019
Contact government
Address for Indigenous Relations mail/courier:
Alberta Indigenous Relations
Indigenous Economic Security Councils
10th Floor, Forestry Building
9920 108 Street
Edmonton, Alberta T5K 2M4