How can I help?

Violence against Indigenous women and girls isn’t just an Indigenous issue - it is a Canadian issue. To end the violence, each one of us must commit to taking action in our daily lives. 

How do we stop indigenous women from disappearing?

1. Take the pledge

2. Inform yourself on the subject and share with others - national inquiry, key reports, review the timeline

3. Participate in social media photo campaign We Care MMIWG. Take a photo of yourself holding a sign that says #WeCare #MMIWG; then post and share on your personal social media accounts using the hashtags #WeCare #MMIWG

4. Host or particpate in a vigil- Sisters in Spirit Vigils, Annual Womens Memorial March

6. Feathers for Our Women calls on educators and student leaders to engage youth on issues relating to MMIWG by getting open discussions going in schools.

7. Invite a speaker to your event or meeting.

8.  Host a book or film night. Book suggestions, Film suggestions

9. Review 10 Ways to be a Genuine Ally to Indigenous Communities by Amnesty International.

10. Help us hold all governments accountable to act on the calls for justice.

11. Call on Minister of Crown -Indigenous Relations Carolyn Bennett to take urgent Action:

• Start with ‘Dear Minister Bennett’ and a sentence about yourself to make your message unique.
• Express concern about the levels of violence experienced by Inuit, Métis, and First Nations women, girls, and two-spirit people in Canada.
• Welcome the release of the National Action Plan, and applaud its use of new ways of working to co-create the plan with Métis, Inuit, and First Nations women, girls, and two-spirit people.
• Let the minister know you are concerned that the plan is too little, too late, and that stronger actions to to end the violence are needed now.
• Specifically, call on Minister Bennett to:
  • Moving forward, include Indigenous activists and organizations who were left out of the process to develop the National Action Plan;
  • Develop robust, detailed implementation plans responding to the 231 Calls for Justice that are locally adapted and distinctions-based, while also ensuring that all Indigenous women, girls, and two-spirit people have access to the same level of services no matter where in Canada they live;
  • Make timelines, implementation plans, and monitoring and accountability tools and reporting publicly available; and,
  • Ensure implementation plans specifically addresses forced and coerced sterilization, as called for by the UN Committee Against Torture.

Write to:

The Honourable Carolyn Bennett

Minister of Crown-Indigenous Relations and Northern Affairs

10 rue Wellington
Gatineau, QC  K1A 0H4

Email aadnc.infopubs.aandc@canada.ca

Twitter @Carolyn_Bennett