AFN Draft National Action Plan to End Violence

7/27/2019 AFN Draft National Action Plan to End Violence

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ANATIONALACTIONPLAN TO END VIOLENCEAGAINSTINDIGENOUS WOMEN AND GIRLS

UPDATED DRAFT FOR FULL DISCUSSION & INPUT

July 2013


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A National Action Plan to End Violence Against Indigenous Women & Girls DRAFT FOR FULL DISCUSSION

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BACKGROUND

There is an immediate and pressing need to seek justice for Indigenous women and

girls in Canada and ensure that they have the same opportunities to fully enjoy theirrights, regardless of where they reside. The Assembly of First Nations (AFN) is wellaware of the unacceptable levels of violence against Indigenous women and girls and iscommitted to action. An effective strategy must include full commitment andparticipation from all levels of government including First Nations, civil society and bothIndigenous and non-indigenous people. Our actions must be able to ensure justice forwomen and girls who are or have been victims of violence, make changes to laws andpolicies that allow these problems to persist, ensure the availability of adequate supportservices and generate a fundamental societal shift that will no longer allow epidemiclevels of violence against Indigenous women and girls to continue.

The AFN is the national political organization representing First Nation citizens inCanada. This includes more than 800,000 citizens living in 633 First Nationcommunities, as well as remote, rural and urban areas. The AFN is an advocacyorganization for First Nations which advances First Nation priorities and objectives asmandated by the Chiefs-in-Assembly.

Through resolution and the direction of First Nations, the AFN has been mandated toaddress the critical situation of violence, disappearance, and murder of countless FirstNations women and girls.

At the 2012 Annual General Assembly, over 1,800 Chiefs and First Nations citizens

made a pledge to live violence free and to personally work to achieve safety andsecurity for all Indigenous peopleswomen and men, girls and boys. This pledge hasalso been taken by thousands of Canadians and is available on the AFNs websitewww.afn.ca.At the 2012 Council of the Federation, Premiers took up this pledge as areminder in their professional and personal lives of their responsibility to ensure thesafety of Indigenous women and girls.

The pledge is a clear recognition that ending violence and ensuring the safety andsecurity of all citizens particularly those most vulnerableis everyones responsibility.
http://www.afn.ca/http://www.afn.ca/http://www.afn.ca/


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CONTEXT

Indigenous women and girls are five times more likely to experience violence than anyother population in Canada. The numbers of missing and murdered Indigenous womenare staggering and increasing every year. It is through the efforts of the Native

Womens Association of Canada (NWAC) that a picture has eme rged of the magnitudeof this problem. Based on their concerted research, NWAC estimates that roughly 600Indigenous women and girls in Canada have gone missing or have been murdered overthe last two decades. The majority of these cases remain unsolved. Community basedworkers estimate that these numbers are up to four times higher.

Through their research, NWAC sought to create greater awareness of violence againstFirst Nations women, as well as broaden the conversation and research from a focus ondomestic and family related violenceto examine broader, societal forces. The initialresearch question of the initiative boldly challenged the context in which violenceimpacts Aboriginal women in that it asked specifically: What are the circumstances, root

causes and trends leading to racialized, sexualized violence against Aboriginal womenin Canada?1

A number of historical, socio-economic and legal realities have come together togenerate the conditions that allow violence against Indigenous women and girls topersist.

Indigenous women have always held leadership roles within their respective familiesand societies. Their participation was central to the safety and security of their familiesand community members. Women in some pre-contact traditional societies, such asthe Haudenosaunee, had the power to appoint and remove the Chiefs. Indigenous

governance systems had established processes to deal with violence in a way thatcontinued to support families and the community. However, these traditional systemshave been eroded over time due to the imposition of foreign governance and justicesystems, federal government interference, legislation and policies reaching far back tothe development of Canada and continuing to today. Key among these is displacementof Indigenous peoples and dispossession of our lands, breaking up families by targetingchildren through the Indian Residential Schools and the broken child welfare systemand the discrimination, assimilation and enfranchisement of Indigenous women throughregistration provisions of the Indian Act.

As a result, Indigenous women and girls have been pushed to the margins more so than

non-Indigenous counterparts, especially within urban settings. For Indigenous women,violence is not only seen in the context of victimization but it is also part of a cycle that isperpetuated by their overrepresentation in criminal justice and correctional systems.The 2012 Public Safety Canada report, Marginalized: The Aboriginal Womensexperience in Federal Corrections, and the March 2013 report of the Office of theCorrectional Investigator, Spirit Matters: Aboriginal People and the Corrections and

12010, Native Womens Association of Canada. What Their Stories Tell Us: Research findings from the

Sisters In Spirit initiative.


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Conditional Release Act, underscore these facts. While Aboriginal people account forjust four per cent of the Canadian population, one in three females in the federalcorrectional system is Aboriginal. In addition, over the last 10 years, the representationof Aboriginal women in the prison system has increased by nearly 90 per cent, makingthem the fastest-growing offender group.

For many Indigenous women, involvement in the criminal justice system is the result ofa complex set of collective and individual life circumstances marked with violence andpoverty. Consequently, upon entering federal correctional institutions, many Aboriginalwomen present with a range of programming needs including culturally appropriate andgender appropriate programming regarding life skills; parenting skills; education;employment; alcohol and substance abuse; anger management; and spiritualprogramming. In addition, a number of Indigenous women may present with a need formental health care and treatment.

The high rates of First Nation children in state care (8 times that of non-First Nationchildren) and chronic underfunding of First Nation child welfare services introducesadditional vulnerabilities to violence. In addition, women and girls often face economicand educational disadvantages which make them vulnerable to violence. Compoundingthese indignities is the widespread silence of mainstream Canadian society and mediaon violence against Indigenous women and girls.

All of these factors have worked together to develop a societal narrative that allowsviolence against Indigenous women to persist. Just one example is the perception thatwomen working in the sex trade are leading high risk lifestyles and are therefore lesslikely to garner police and media attention. Consequently, the violence that theyexperience has become normalized and, in some cases, almost expected.

The safety and wellbeing of Indigenous women and girls is integral to ensuring healthyand prosperous Indigenous families, communities and nations. Clearly, the factors thathave led to the current rates of violence against Indigenous women and girls arecomplex and intersecting. Therefore, our responses must be similarly comprehensiveand far-reaching.


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A NATIONAL PUBLIC COMMISSION OF INQUIRY

The AFN, NWAC, First Nations, Indigenous womens organizations and families ofmurdered and missing Indigenous women have been long advocating for a RoyalCommission or National Public Inquiry on Violence Against Indigenous Women and

Girls, including the circumstances around those that have been murdered or aremissing.

An independent National Public Commission of Inquiry on Violence Against IndigenousWomen and Girls must focus on developing action plans to address violence and thefactors that lead to it, inclusive and reflective of the perspectives of Indigenous women,First Nation, Inuit and Mtis communities, and the families of missing and murderedwomen.

Such a Commission could: Ensure an open and transparent examination of socio-economic, political and

historical factors and their current manifestation within the child welfare, justiceand corrections systems that lead to increased vulnerability;

Examine police practices and protocols with regards to investigations inincidences where Indigenous women are reported missing, communications withfamilies and among and between jurisdictions;

Examine and build on the substantial and often unimplementedrecommendations made in previous commissions, inquiries, reports and taskforces (such as the Royal Commission on Aboriginal Peoples, Manitoba JusticeInquiry , National Aboriginal Womens Summits, etc.) with a focus on identifyingcritical barriers to their implementation and strategies to overcome these;

Examine experiences, supports and strategies in urban centres;

Provide special focus on the North and the unique perspectives and experiencesof Northern First Nations and Inuit communities;

Review innovative practices and community-based supports in preventingviolence and achieving reconciliation; and,

Increase public awareness and understanding of the impacts and underlyingcauses of violence.

Support for a National Public Commission of Inquiry has been growing and social justiceorganizations, church groups and international human rights bodies have lent theirvoices to this call. In April 2013, Ministers of Aboriginal Affairs also agreed to call uponthe federal government to initiate a National Public Inquiry.

A National Public Commission of Inquiry is critical for accountability and to createchange. However, without a strong and actionable national strategy and plan forimplementation, change will continue to be delayed. In order to compel concertedactions and efforts, a National Action Plan is urgently required.


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EFFORTS TO DEVELOP A NATIONAL ACTION PLAN

The best and most successful efforts to prevent and end violence against Indigenouswomen and girls are grounded in communities, are inclusive of the voices of womenand Elders, and respect the jurisdiction of First Nation governments. Communities are

best able to coordinate, support and mobilize the appropriate people, includingleadership, frontline workers, volunteers, families, youth, service providers and externalsupports to create safer homes and environments.

In February 2012, the AFN convened a National Justice Forum to bring together FirstNation leadership, citizens, community justice workers, activists and Elders, federal andprovincial policy makers and police representatives. Among other priorities related to

justice, this gathering was an opportunity to foster dialogue and seek input on an actionplanintended to build on tools and partnerships to create and sustain safe and securecommunities.

Building on these recommendations and in response to Resolution 01-2012 passed inToronto, Ontario during the 2012 Annual General Assembly, the AFN worked with theNative Womens Association of Canada to co-host a National Forum on CommunitySafety and Ending Violence on April 9 and 10, 2013. Over 380 participants attended theForum, including leaders, community-based justice workers, government officials andfamilies of murdered and missing Indigenous women and girls.

The intent of the Forum was to seek input into the development of National Action Planto end violence containing concrete and tangible actions for all levels of governmentand building on successful and innovative initiatives. In addition, the Forum featured anumber of speakers and participants engaged directly in action planning, providing

written recommendations in small groups and on their own.

Overwhelmingly participants at the National Forum wanted to move towards action.

To build on the experiences and insight of participants, the AFN posed a number ofquestions to guide the development of a strategy. Participants identified a number ofcritical actions needed to take place within a number of themes, including: addressingstructural violence and systemic racism; building strong and healthy communities;cultural connections and resiliency; strengthening partnership and awareness;intergovernmental relationships and coordination; and accountability.


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THEMES AND ACTIONS

Priority themes and actions are outlined below. Activities are described at a high-level,to enable jurisdictions, communities, organizations and individuals to design their owntactics or specific initiatives to meet the desired outcomes.

ADDRESSING STRUCTURAL VIOLENCE AND SYSTEMIC RACISMIndigenous women experience social and economic inequality and institutionalizeddiscrimination through legislation and approaches of institutions, such as schools, childand family services, police, courts and jails. These all leave them more at risk forviolence.

Area of

focus

Outcome (s) Activity Responsibility

Legislative and

policy change

Improved quality of life

through implementation,protection andenforcement of Treatiesand rights of Indigenouspeoples

Implement and fulfill all Treaties on a

Treaty-by-Treaty basis.

Implement the United NationsDeclaration on the Rights ofIndigenous Peoples (UNDRIP)through creating implementationstrategies and workplans with clearmandates and timelines.

Support communities to displace theIndian Act with their own laws.

Strengthen and support community-based solutions and development oflegislation.

Pursue relationship and policyprinciples that restore the role ofIndigenous women and girls in

decision-making, policy and strategydevelopment.

Federal and provincial/territorial

governments; First Nationgovernments

Federal and provincial/territorialgovernments; First Nationgovernments

Federal government; First Nationgovernments

Federal and provincial/territorialgovernments; First Nationgovernments

Federal and provincial/territorialgovernments; First Nation

governments


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Area of

focus


ImprovedSupport to

Victims andFamilies

Improved access tojustice for victims of

violence and theirfamilies and proceduresthat ensure thatperpetrators are held toaccount

Ensure an effective and responsivejustice system which supports justice,

restitution, and healing for victims ofviolence and their families andcommunities.

Recognize and support the fullimplementation of First Nationsjurisdiction over justice systems,institutions and law-making.

Ensure capacity for First Nations todesign and deliver program, services

and supports aimed at restoringharmony, balance and wellness incommunities

Federal and provincial/territorialgovernments; First Nation

governments

InstitutionalChange

Institutions policies,processes, and practicessupport rather thandisadvantage andmarginalize FirstNation citizens

Enhance supports for First Nationwomen in mainstream institutions,including direct services and humanresources strategies.

Launch public education campaign onIndigenous rights that amplifies First

Nation womens voices and connectslocal struggles and builds solidarity.

Training and awareness for serviceproviders and police services on FirstNation histories and current realities.

Monitoring and accountability forpolice services and correctionalinstitutions and their treatment ofIndigenous peoples.

All governments, institutions andcivil society actors


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Area of

focus


PublicEngagement

and Education

Greater awarenessamong the Canadian

public of the root causesof violence, including theimpacts of colonizationand socio-economicinequalities and acommitment to action.

Increased, effective, andaccurate mediacoverage of missing andmurdered First Nationswomen cases

Conduct awareness campaigns toeducate the Canadian public on

systemic racism and its role inperpetuating the violence experiencedby First Nations women

Eliminate common misconceptions ofFirst Nations realities througheffective education strategies, suchas incorporating First Nations historyand cultural content in the publiceducation system

Launch public education campaign onIndigenous rights that amplifies FirstNation womens voice, connects localstruggles and builds solidarity.

Media

First Nation governmentsFederal and provincial/territorialgovernments;

Grassroots organizations

First Nations communities

NGOs

Attitudinal &BehaviouralChange /Empowerment

Improved attitudes andbehaviour that act as aprotective factor againstfuture violence

Through cultural values and customs,create activities that empower womenand girls who have experiencedviolence and facilitate and sustain the

healing process.

Raise awareness and educatefamilies about violence, what causesit, and how to respond to it.

Encourage positive male and femaleroles models for youth and adults.

First Nations leadership

Elders

First Nations families


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Area of

focus


Self-determination,

decolonization,and nation-rebuilding

Enhanced support andstrengthened prevention

through culturallyappropriate responsesthat meet needs

Put in place political arrangements ofself-government that facilitate and

strengthen self-determination andnation re-building.

Exercise jurisdiction, rights, and law-making powers, based on an inclusivecommunity consultation process, andimplement holistic plans foraddressing community needs, safety,and ending violence.

First Nation governments; federagovernment

First Nation governments

Connection tothe Land andWater

Improved protection andimplementation ofAboriginal title andinherent rights to theland and water

Strong advocacy efforts to ensure thatinherent rights are respected

Raise awareness about the uniqueand important relationship FirstNations have with their land andwater. When respected, suchrelationship is a strong protectivefactor against violence.

Ensure First Nation access to andcontrol over land and revenuesderived from resource extraction toimprove the quality of life in FirstNation communities.

Federal and provincial/territorialgovernments



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SUPPORT & CAPACITY REBUILDING STRONG & HEALTHY COMMUNITIES

Indigenous Nations and their governing and social systems have been directly attackedthrough colonial legislation, policies and institutions (such as residential schools, forcedrelocation and settlement of families and communities, and exclusion of women underthe Indian Act). The effects of these attacks continue today as communities makeconcerted efforts to heal.

As part of healing, Indigenous communities are restoring and reviving their traditionalprotocols and languages. Strong connections to culture and language have protectivefactors that improve self-esteem and lead to less risk of committing or being the victimof violence.

Area of

focus


Communitysafety, well-being andhealing

Enhanced support andstrengthened prevention inFirst Nation communitiesand for all First Nationcitizens regardless ofwhere they reside.

Address substance abuseas a contributing factor toviolence.

Ensure that community members areincluded in deliberations on how toend violence, for instance, throughround tables where communitymembers can dialogue with theirleaders

Support community-based andculturally appropriate addictions andhealing programs and raiseawareness on the harmful effects of

substance abuse.

Raise awareness on the damagingimpacts of lateral violence andaddress issues in the community inan open and inclusive way

Support safe and secure communitiesthrough appropriate resources forinfrastructure and governance,including safe drinking water andhousing

Prepare a comprehensive scan andgap analysis of community-basedhealing supports.

Enhance funding available to healingprograms.

All governments, communityagencies


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Area of

focus


Provide opportunities for families ofmissing and murdered women to

spend time together and support eachother on their healing journey.

Adopt holistic models of well-beingthat include spiritual, emotional,mental and physical needs and startfrom the resilience and strength ofFirst Nation peoples.

Develop violence response teamsand protocols in communities withcommunity agencies and working

closely with the police.

Increase capacity building to addresssubstance abuse in communities.

Develop and support healthpromotion strategies that aim to deteryoung generations from substanceabuse.

Increase culturally appropriateresources and supports available to

families affected by substance abuse.

Resources forprograms andservices

Enhanced support andstrengthened preventionthrough improvedavailability of and accessto appropriate communityservices

Provide needs-based, sustainablefunding and adequate resources forFirst Nation women, including corefunding for grassroots organizations.

Improve funding for communityprograms and services andstrengthen community-basedsolutions and culturally appropriate

frameworks.

Improve resources for mental,spiritual and emotional well-being andaccess to cultural teachings andlanguage instruction.

Make more resources available to

All governments


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Area of

focus


address mental health issues andaddictions in the community.

Provide equitable funding for FirstNation child and family services tostrengthen prevention and keepchildren in their home communities.

Fund on-reserve shelters on par withprovincial shelters and ensureavailability and accessibility of shelterservices for every First Nationwoman, man and child who is in needof a safe place.

Data collection/research

Baseline data and ongoingresearch into the roots,impacts and remedies ofviolence

Collect existing data on murdered andmissing women and make thenational database accessible.

Undertake research to shed light onthe root causes of violence againstIndigenous women and girls.

Conduct research to determine theresource needs in communities to

implement anti-violenceprogramming.

Establish an Indigenous expertadvisory committee andclearinghouse function to support thedevelopment of community plans andshare available information and bestpractices.

Carry out qualitative research so thatstories can help inform a deeper

understanding of the issues and waysof addressing them.

All governments

Law enforcement agencies

Academia

Community-based researchers

First Nation communities

NGOs


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Area of

focus


Economicparticipation

and improvedoutcomes

First Nations women andgirls have opportunity to

actively participate in theeconomy

Ensure First Nation access to andcontrol over land and revenues

derived from resource extraction toimprove the quality of life in FirstNation communities.

Support access to education, trainingand employment opportunities.

Address the deep poverty faced byFirst Nation women on and offreserve.

Respect & Self-

Esteem

Increased and healthy

levels of self-esteem andrespect within and amongFirst Nations as aprotective factor fromviolence

Decreased levels of lateralviolence throughenhanced understandingof the context in which it

takes place and itsdetrimental effects

Facilitate activities that engage and

support First Nations families tocreate, enhance and promoterespectful environments.

Support community driven initiativesthat aim to enhance personal andcommunity wellbeing.

Encourage male and female healthyrole models.

Conduct awareness campaigns that

educate community members torecognize lateral violence, itsdetrimental impacts and how to bestrespond to it.


Community champions


Elders

Culturally sound service provider

Culturalresilience andresurgence understandingtraditional

family rolesand positivegender roles

First Nations citizens andcommunities with strongunderstanding andpractice of cultures,traditions and languages

Enhanced support andstrengthened preventionthrough responses thatmeet needs

Foster pride and self-esteem in allFirst Nation children by providing astrong grounding in First Nationidentity, culture, language, andrelationships and responsibilities to

the land

Provide opportunities for First Nationchildren and youth, especially thosewho live in urban settings, to connectwith their traditional territories, landsand waters

Individuals, knowledge keepers,community agencies, FNgovernments



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Area of

focus


Raise awareness of First Nationissues and educate all children about

the impacts of colonization and FirstNation cultures, traditions, andterritories as a mandatory part of K-12curricula.

Promote traditional First Nationvalues, ceremonies, and ways ofbeing which encourage peace andpositive behaviour, includingkindness, sharing, and respect fordifference.

Create community-based preventiveand healing programs based oncultural teachings, including anunderstanding of gender balance andtraditional family roles.

Encourage Elders and leaders to instilknowledge and appreciation ofegalitarian gender roles, includingtwo-spirited people, and traditionalFirst Nation family values

Support First Nation men inunderstanding and restoring theirtraditional roles and taking on theirresponsibilities as fathers throughculturally appropriate programs andsupports

Individuals, knowledge keepers,community agencies, all

governmentsProvincial/territorial governments


Community agencies, FNgovernments

Individuals, knowledge keepers,leadership, community agenciesFN governments

Support toFamilies ofmissing ormurdered

persons

Recognition and increasedsupport for families ofmissing and murderedwomen and girls

Coordinated community plans anddedicated resources to supportfamilies in crisis events.

Support families of missing and

murdered women and girls to hold aNational Gathering to ensure theirvoices inform the actions ofleadership in preventing violence.

Federal/provincial/territorialgovernments


Elders

Families of missing and murderewomen

Family- andchild-centered

Improved outcomes forfamilies and children

Place children and their safety andwell-being at the centre of activities

First Nation governments,community agencies


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Area of

focus


approach and community plans moving forward,including childrens food security,

access to safe drinking water,adequate housing, and a healthynatural environment.

Ensure the connection of First Nationchildren to their families, communitiesand nations, as well as their culture,language, and values.

Deliver community-based andculturally appropriate programs tohelp children recover from

experiencing and witnessing violence.

Create child-friendly educationalmaterials, including on the history ofFirst Nations-Canada relations from aFirst Nation perspective.

Establish mentoring programs forFirst Nation youth.

Include children and youth in thecreation of programming to prevent

and stop violence in First Nationcommunities

Stress the importance of adults actingas positive role models for children intheir community and the need tomodel healthy behaviour,relationships, and attitudes.

Focus advocacy efforts on familyviolence and child welfare.

Establish a support system andongoing resources to help families ofmissing and murdered women.

Deliver culturally appropriateprogramming and make resourcesavailable to strengthen healthy andstrong families, including parenting

Community agencies, First Natiogovernments, individuals andfamilies

First Nation governments,

community agencies

Community agencies

First Nation governments,

community agencies

First Nation governments,community agencies

Individuals

First Nation regional and nationaorganizations

All governments, communityagencies

All governments, community


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Area of

focus


programs.

Encourage leadership to act as rolemodels and take responsibility forcommunity well-being and mobilizingsupport and caring within ourcommunities.

agencies

Leadership

STRENGTHENING PARTNERSHIPS & AWARENESS

Critical gaps remain in how services in different geographic areas and those run bydifferent governments work with each other to prevent and address violence against

Indigenous women and girls. Many institutions have a role to play in creatingawareness and preventing violence. This must be done in a way that supportscommunity and individual healing and responds to the needs and direction ofIndigenous communities and citizens.

Area of

focus


Improved

Policing

Improved police response

to incidences and reportsof violence and missingpersons

Work with Indigenous women and

Elders to review policies andprocedures with a view towardsfostering respectful relations.

Develop protocols to ensure a moreintegrated response to missingpersons, with strong and immediatecross-jurisdictional coordination.

Modify access to and protocol forcalling Amber Alerts to ensure timely

response.Provide cultural sensitivity andIndigenous awareness training topolice officers.

Strengthen partnerships andcommunications with communitiesand families of missing and murdered


Law enforcement agencies,community agencies, First Nationgovernments



Law enforcement agencies,communities



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Area of

focus


women.

Create effective accountabilitymechanisms and communityoversight to address police brutality

Create adequate fundingarrangements for First Nation policeservices.

Gather baseline information bychanging reporting practices toinclude ethnicity and create a unifiedpolice database.

Create a National Missing PersonsOffice.

Encourage the recruitment of FirstNation women to increase the FirstNation representation on policeforces.

Create and implement action plans forpolice services to address racism andsexism.

Create harm-reduction and protectivestrategies for Indigenous women andgirls engaged in the sex trade.

Provincial and federal

governments


Federal government




Law enforcement agencies,service organizations, sex tradeworkers

KnowledgeSharing

Improved knowledgesharing among FirstNations which maximizethe benefits of successfulcommunity initiatives andoverall education and

awareness efforts

Develop an information sharing hubfor communities to share successfulinitiatives, and provide mutualsupport. Such a mechanism can alsoprovide information and resources toeducate First Nations on issues of

violence and how to best respond toit.

Utilize social media to maximizenetworking and knowledge sharingefforts


Community members


Elders


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Area of

focus


Cross-Jurisdictional

Commitment &Implementation

Effective, sustainable,coordinated, and equal

engagement of FirstNations, Federal,Provincial and Territorialgovernments in planning,developing, implementingand supportingstrategies/initiatives thataddress the root causesand perpetuating factorsof violence against FirstNations women and girls

Develop a UNDRIP implementationstrategy with the full and effective

participation of First Nationsleadership and grassrootsorganizations, as well as adequatesupport from all levels of government.

Identify and implement effectivemechanisms that facilitate communityinput in the development of actionplans or strategies aiming to addressand prevent violence against FirstNations women and girls.



NGOs

First Nation citizens

CoordinatedResponseSystem andPartnerships

An effective, prompt,multi-sectoral andcoordinated responsesystem is in place

Develop an inter-jurisdictionalresponse plan that comes in effectonce a missing person is reported(immediate response).

Create a national missing personsoffice to coordinate all the activitiesand disseminate information tofamilies (ongoing response).

Establish multi-sectoral partnerships

to facilitate coordinated responsesacross provincial and territorialjurisdictions and internationally.

Support and facilitate culturallyappropriate training for front lineworkers.

Increase profile, awareness andresponses to human trafficking ofIndigenous women and girls.

Create one-stop service windows andcoordinate resources more effectively

.



Local/provincial police

RCMP

Service providers


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Area of

focus


Ensuringcoordination

and support toFirst Nationcitizens inurban, remoteand Northernareas

Improved outcomes andreduction in all forms of

violence experienced byFirst Nation citizens withspecialized responses tothose living in urbansettings, remote areas andthe North

Develop an urban strategy thatrecognizes the unique needs of First

Nation citizens and their increasedvulnerability to violence.

Increase support for friendshipcentres.

Ensure equal access to justice andpolicing for First Nations citizens livingin rural and remote areas.


Municipal governments


Friendship Centres

First Nations youth

EmergencyPreparedness

Improved coordination,prevention and response

measures to violence inthe context of emergencypreparedness andmanagement

Proactive planning and emergencyfunding to prevent violence in

emergencies.

Ensure community access to anemergency fund in case a crisisarises.



Elders

Service providers

Emergency Relief teams

NGOs


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ACCOUNTABILITY

A terrible tolerance for violence against and among Indigenous people has persisted inCanada for too long. Real accountability is needed from governments, institutions andindividuals to stop this violence, take responsibility for actions needed to address pastviolence, and work towards preventing it in the future.

Area of

focus


NationalInquiry

Cross-sectoral effort todocument violence againstIndigenous women andgirls and makerecommendations to end it

Establish a National Inquiry toinvestigate the epidemic of murderedand missing Indigenous women andgirls in Canada and to propose how tomove forward based on the direction

from the families of missing andmurdered women

Federal government

First NationsDialogue,Collaboration &Unified Voice

Enhanced dialogue andcohesion among FirstNations peoples to work inunanimity to address theroot causes andperpetuating factors ofviolence against FirstNations women and girls

Identify mechanisms to facilitatedialogue and strategy planning andimplementation among First Nations

Engage in public activities thatstrengthen advocacy efforts and raiseawareness about the immediate needto address the unacceptable levels ofviolence against First Nations womenand girls


Elders

Youth

Grassroots organizations

First NationsLeadershipResponsibility&Accountability

Effective and active FirstNations leadershipengagement andaccountability

Facilitate dialogue betweenleadership and community membersto ensure that high-level decisions areinformed by communitys needs.

Develop mechanisms to holdleadership accountable for their rolein addressing violence against First

Nations women and girls

In cases in which the leadership and/or Band Council members may beimplicated, make availableappropriate supports and resources tovictims and their families, as well asan impartial recourse mechanism to


Grassroots

Elders

Community members


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Area of

focus


report and address such incidents

Affirm the personal commitment ofleaders to live violence-free and makethe safety of all citizens a priority intheir nations

IMPLEMENTATION

First Nation citizens and communities will only fully realize their rights once clear actionhas been taken to ensure they are safe from violence.

All governments need to commit to action and establish mechanisms to measureprogress and ensure accountability.

A number of existing forums could be used to ensure progress, including the Federal-Provincial-Territorial Ministers of Justice and Public Safety and the Aboriginal AffairsMinisters and National Aboriginal Leaders working group.

Additional mechanisms should be created, such as a national working group withcorresponding regional input, to ensure ongoing First Nations input into achievement ofthe National Action Plan.

Structural change and making reparations for centuries of colonization and its impactstakes time. However, there are a number of recommendations and areas of action fromthe previous list that can be done immediately to start to create change today:

Investment in front-line services and shelters on-reserve and in rural areas sothat every First Nations woman and girl experiencing violence has accessto immediate support.

Coordinated strategy inclusive of service providers and First Nationsgovernments to prevent and address violence against Indigenous womenand girls in urban centres.

Develop compulsory protocols between and among police services to shareinformation and immediately respond to and appropriately investigatereports of missing persons by Indigenous families.

Create a resource centre/hub for First Nation communities of prevention,awareness and response materials.


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Support a National Gathering led by and for the families of murdered andmissing Indigenous women.

Call a National Public Commission of Inquiry into Violence Against IndigenousWomen and Girls, including those that have disappeared or have beenmurdered.

Provide Local Community Action Grants to support the development ofCommunity Action Plans & Emergency Management Teams in every FirstNation community so they are equipped to intervene in incidences of violence.

Compel police services to work together to produce verifiable numbers onincidences of violence against Indigenous women and girls, so that progresscan be measured.

Provide sustainable, adequate resources to First Nations Police Services.

Create a National public awareness and prevention campaign on violenceagainst Indigenous women and girls.

Documents

AFN Draft National Action Plan to End Violence