$10 Million Not Enough To Restore Justice and Dignity for Indigenous Women in Canada
After 600 Aboriginal women and girls go missing or found murdered in Canada the federal government decides to throw-a-bone and give $10 million dollars. In March, the Canadian Minister of Justice budgeted $10 million over two years to address the issue of murdered and missing women in Canada, however, they have yet to figure out how to use the money.
Many justice organizations such as Amnesty International and Native Women’s Association of Canada (NWAC) have made recommendations. Both organizations suggest that the $10 million is not enough to support the decades of injustice for Aboriginal women and girls.
NWAC said the $10 million is not enough to actually prompt real change in the lives of women who are experiencing violence, families who’ve never received justice, or appropriate counseling or support through victim services. NWAC have been collecting evidence, raising awareness, and developing policy directives to address the issue of missing and murdered Aboriginal women and girls since 2005.
“It’s unclear. Is the $10 million new money, or just allocated within the same budget?” said Craig Benjamin, campaigner for the Human Rights of Indigenous Peoples at Amnesty International Canada. “There hasn’t been word on where the $10 million came from. But it is definitely not enough.”
NWAC Sisters’ in Spirit Director, Kate Rexe said, spent wisely, and with commitment from all levels of government and NGOs, there is an opportunity to change the system and how the system responds to violence and the disappearance of Aboriginal women and girls.
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“NWAC recommends a comprehensive action plan based on four key areas of priorities: Increasing access to justice, reducing violence against Aboriginal women and girls, increasing economic security, and reducing the impact of children in care,” Rexe said.
How could the $10 million be used specifically? Mandatory police and justice officials training?
Since this $10 million is mandated by the Minister of Justice, Rexe said this funding should primarily address Aboriginals’ access to justice. Rexe said the funds should target: mandatory training of police officers and justice officials to understand the history of Aboriginal people, systemic violence and human rights abuses and today’s impact and outcomes of government policies, such as the Indian Act.
Rexe said that navigating through the Indian justice system is complex. The right tools and resources are needed to support family, friends, and those who have experienced violence. “[Justice System navigation tools] will help families, as well as police and justice officials, in the reporting of cases, accessing programs and resources for help and healing, developing networks of support, and raising awareness of where gaps are in the system with the aim to fill in these gaps.”
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According to the Department of Justice Canada, since 1991 it has implemented the Aboriginal Justice Strategy (AJS). The AJS programs are aimed at reducing the rates of victimization, crime and incarceration among Aboriginal people and helping the mainstream justice system become more responsive and sensitive to
