TRC Calls to Action: #41

Legacy
Justice

41. We call upon the federal government, in consultation with Aboriginal organizations, to appoint a public inquiry into the causes of, and remedies for, the disproportionate victimization of Aboriginal women and girls. The inquiry’s mandate would include: 

i. Investigation into missing and murdered Aboriginal women and girls.

ii. Links to the intergenerational legacy of residential schools. 

The main cause of the disproportionate victimization of Indigenous women can be broadly explained by the intersection of gender and race: if women's lives are undervalued, and Indigenous lives are undervalued, Indigenous women's lives are therefore doubly undervalued. Add to that Canada's colonial legacy, which has "forced Indigenous women and girls into dangerous and precarious social and economic conditions," and it is no wonder why these women are vulnerable to exploitation and violence. This excellent report on Trafficking of Indigenous Women and Girls in Canada goes into great detail about the impact of colonization and discrimination on Indigenous women, the historical disrespect and violence toward Indigenous women's bodies, and information regarding human trafficking in Canada. I especially appreciate the report's inclusion of youth, two-spirit, and LGBTQ+ folks.

The inquiry into missing and murdered Indigenous women and girls has been underway since 2015, and has until April 2019 to submit its final report; an interim report was produced in November 2017. Many critics are saying not enough is being done in the fight against violence against Indigenous women and children; Indigenous women are still going missing, and the inquiry itself does not include mention of residential schools and their impact. Nonetheless, Beyond 94 considers this Call complete.

Until women's lives and bodies - and specifically Indigenous women's lives and bodies - are respected and protected in and by society, we will continue to see such victimization.