Many voices in indigenous communities said they were disappointed on Friday at the little progress made last year on the issue of missing and murdered Indigenous women and girls. At a press conference held with three federal ministers, First Nations representatives denounced the lack of concrete action.
A report filed three years to one day after the filing of the final report of the National Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls (ENFFADA). And a year after the Federal Pathway and the National Action Plan for Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women, Girls, and 2SLGBTQQIA+ People are in action.
The press conference included Minister of Crown-Indigenous Relations Marc Miller, Minister of Indigenous Services Patty Hajdu, Minister of Justice David Lametti, as well as Hilda Anderson-Pyrz, Chair of the National Circle of Families and Survivors, and Sylvia Maracle, representative of the 2SLGBTQQIA+ community.
From the very beginning, Ms. Anderson-Pyrz himself failed little progress made by the Government of Canada on the first anniversary of the National Action Plan.
It is a huge disappointment and frustrating to see the lack of accountability [du gouvernement] last yearsaid Ms. Anderson-Pyrz. The government must be held accountable for its responsibilityhe continued.
He thinks, need a timeline for achieving changes report requested byENFFADAto maintain safe indigenous women and girls.
The call for an ombudsman for indigenous rights was ignored, the government failed to meet this requestaccording to Ms. Anderson-Pyrz.
The 2022 Action Plan shows little progress, and that’s it a national disgracehe believes.
For her part, Sylvia Maracle said the federal government has done little to ensure gender equality for Indigenous peoples.
We were not listened tohe says.
The plan was one stepbut initiatives need to be put in place to make our lives better.
Ms. also promoted. Maracle for public policy that can help the fight racism, sexism and homophobia in Canada.
A message for Canada: It’s your mess, and we need help cleaning it up, and it’s not just ushe exclaimed.
Marc Miller defended himself
During the press conference, Crown-Indigenous Relations Minister Marc Miller said understand frustration community. For him, his assessment in the first year of the National Action Plan was the firstbut the main line is the Government of Canada identify the poverty of the people in the First Nations.
The report [de l’ENFFADA] We are told that changes must be systematicsaid Minister Miller, without, however, directly addressing the changes that need to be made in relations between Canada and indigenous communities.
He insisted that the the Canadian government should do better, indefinitely. It’s time stop crossing your fingers and to encourage provincial and territorial partners to implement the changes proposed byENFFADA.
Her colleague from Indigenous Services, Patty Hajdu, taught the deep responsibility of his government towards the First Nations. He seemed to like it bring more justice for the natives, but that is machine [gouvernementale] was never designed for justice and inclusion to all.
Ms Hajdu added that she will always bring the stories he heard from aboriginal survivors, and the other ministers share this passion.
For him, Canada continued a colonial system which must be abolished, if it wishes to achieve justice for all these inhabitants.
We all have a part to playhe recalled, while remaining aware, he added, that many advances remained to be made. This is a huge taskunderlined Ms. Hajdu.
In an interview, Minister Miller agreed that Friday’s press conference was largely a moment to reflect with the families and members of the 2SLGBTQQIA+community. For them, he was aware that progress was modest in advancing their rights.
Because of the pandemic, people have become more vulnerable, and the LGBT community has become more vulnerablehe admits.
Minister Miller said he wanted three actions in the second year of the National Action Plan.
First, set up an accountability process – such as an ombudsman – to measure progress.
Then, that the federal government will assume its leadership with its partners in the province and territory, specifically for Aboriginal people living in urban areas and outside its jurisdiction.
Finally, he wants to speed up the weight of investments, because there is the money in the safes, [et] the needs are intense.
Structural changes requested
For former ENFFADA commissioner, Senator Michèle Audette, the ministers ’press conference on Friday cooked by emotionbut he expects more action, especially on the third anniversary of the filing of the final reportENFFADA.
A chance that ministers have hearts in the right placehe admitted, because of the follow-up to the recommendations of the national investigation caught and it remains a self -assessment of government in its own actions.
I find it heavy that there are no more commitments on the side of the ministers, Ms. estimated. Audette.
He also said to himself failed that ministers do not make more room for indigenous women currently being murdered in Manitoba.
It supports the creation of an ombudsman position and an independent structure to monitor federal actions. At this point, they speak, but they do nothingexplained by Ms. Audette.
He also cited the example of creating task forces to reopen investigations into missing and murdered Indigenous women and girls, a proposal that would have the Ottawa agreement, but they do nothe added.
Ms. said. Audette that she hopes that on the second anniversary of the National Action Plan, police investigations into missing and murdered Indigenous women and girls will involve families.
We were effective at COVID-19he said, he was done convinced that with political will – not just an exchange of words – we can achieve this.
We just can’t say [qu’il existe des problèmes systémiques]we must actend of Ms. Audette.
Source: Radio-Canada
