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MMIWG2S+

In December 2015 the Canadian Government launched a National Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls. Their final report - Reclaiming Power and Place - was released on June 3, 2019. The two-volume report includes 231 recommendations or "Calls for Justice" directed at governments, institutions, social service providers, industries, and Canadians.
 

On June 3, 2021, the national action plan was released: 2021 Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women, Girls, and 2SLGBTQQIA+ People National Action Plan: Ending Violence Against Indigenous Women, Girls, and 2SLGBTQQIA+ People. As one component of the national action plan, the Canadian Government developed the federal pathway.
 

Full report available here.

This page will help you find background information and updates on the issues involved, and provide links to organizations working to address these issues.

National Action Plan

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The 2021 national action plan website containing information on the plan’s creation, the contributing partners and sub-groups, and their strategies: First Nations, Inuit, Métis Nation, 2SLGBTQQIA+ People, Urban, Congress of Aboriginal Peoples, Federal, Provinces and Territories.

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Released June 3, 2021. The national action plan: 2021 Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women, Girls, and 2SLGBTQQIA+ People National Action Plan: Ending Violence Against Indigenous Women, Girls, and 2SLGBTQQIA+ People.

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The federal government's website that contains links and information about creating the national action plan.

Inquiry Documents

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The National Inquiry’s final report. Released June 3, 2019.

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Submission from a group of British Columbia social service agencies, family members, Indigenous organizations, and human rights advocates.

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Instructions outlining the scope of the committee's inquiry.

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Report on engagement process for designing the inquiry and summaries of meetings with stakeholders.

Online Reports

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Office of the Information and Privacy Commissioner investigation into B.C. Government deletion of emails about the Highway of Tears.

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Report from the Civilian Review and Complaints Commission for the RCMP.

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Report from the Office of the Auditor General of British Columbia about progress on recommendations from the 2012 provincial inquiry.

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Produced by a coalition of Indigenous groups from Northern B.C.

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Data and update on activities from the RCMP.

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NFSC is one group working with the federal and provincial governments to co-develop the national action plan. This report is their contribution to the plan to address the missing and murdered Indigenous women, girls, 2SLGBTQQIA+ people. 30 actions are identified based on the 231 Calls for Justice from the National Inquiry’s final report (2019). Released June 2, 2021.

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NWAC’s action plan informed by their members—the grassroots First Nations, Métis, and Inuit women of Canada. This action plan is in response to the federal government’s National Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls that they felt was inadequate and “toxic.” Released June 1, 2021.

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The Association's latest assessment on the progress of the Commission.

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Report from the Downtown Eastside Women’s Centre based on the lived experiences, leadership, and expertise of Indigenous survivors. Includes stories, research, and holistic recommendations. Released April 3, 2019.

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Extensive list of resources compiled by Indigenous and Northern Affairs Canada, September 4, 2019.

Advocacy Organizations and Resources

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Reports and advocacy about missing and murdered Indigenous women and girls in northern B.C.

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A searchable list of resources across Canada related to ending violence against Indigenous women, girls and 2SLGBTQQIA+ people.

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Providing basic needs and positive change for women and children of the Downtown Eastside of Vancouver.

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FILUs helps families of missing and murdered Indigenous women and girls access information about their loved ones from various government agencies and services (e.g. criminal justice systems, social services, child protection, health services). Contact an FILU in your province or territory.

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Annual march held since 1991 in Vancouver to honour the lives of missing and murdered women.

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Coalition established in 2014 as a response to the alarming prevalence of violence and discrimination against Indigenous women and girls in Canada.

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Fosters the social, economic, cultural, and political well-being of First Nations and Métis women.

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National representative organization of Inuit women in Canada.

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Collaboration between Vancouver Public Library and Women's Memorial March Committee to present panels from the Women's Memorial March Quilt.

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Offers services and cultural support to families and survivors of MMIWG. It is operated by the Vancouver Aboriginal Community Policing Centre.

Recommended Books

Highway of Tears

McDiarmid, Jessica

Call Number
362.88082 M13h
Publication Year
2019

Unbroken : my fight for survival, hope, and justice for Indigenous women and girls

Sterritt, Angela

Call Number
970.2 S839u
Publication Year
2023

Keetsahnak: Our Missing and Murdered Indigenous Sisters

Anderson, Kim & Campbell, Maria & Belcourt, Christi

Call Number
362.8292 K268a
Publication Year
2018

Forever Loved: Exposing the Hidden Crisis of Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls in Canada

Lavell-Harvard, D. Memee (Dawn Memee), & Brant, Jennifer

Call Number
362.8292 F71L
Publication Year
2016

Obstruction of Justice: The Search for Truth on Canada's Highway of Tears

Michalko, Ray

Call Number
362.88082 M62o
Publication Year
2016

Stolen Sisters: The Story of Two Missing Girls, Their Families and How Canada Has Failed Indigenous Women

Walter, Emmanuelle

Call Number
362.8292 W23s
Publication Year
2015

Remembering Vancouver's Disappeared Women: Settler Colonialism and the Difficulty of Inheritance

Dean, Amber

Call Number
362.88082 D28r
Publication Year
2015

Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women in British Columbia, Canada

Inter-American Commission on Human Rights

Call Number
362.8292 I61m
Publication Year
2014

Those Who Take Us Away: Abusive Policing and Failures in Protection of Indigenous Women and Girls in Northern British Columbia, Canada

Rhoad, Meghan

Call Number
323.490971 H91t
Publication Year
2013

Torn From Our Midst: Voices of Grief, Healing and Action From the Missing Indigenous Women Conference, 2008

Anderson, A. Brenda & Kubik, Wendee & Hampton, Mary Rucklos & University of Regina. Canadian Plains Research Center

Call Number
362.88082 T685a
Publication Year
2010

Blueprint for An Inquiry: Learning From the Failures of the Missing Women Commission of Inquiry

Bennett, Darcie & British Columbia Civil Liberties Association & Pvot Legal Society & West Coast Women's Legal Education and Action Fund & British Columbia. Missing Women Commission of Inquiry

Call Number
363.2336 B65b
Publication Year
2012

Forsaken: The Report of the Missing Women Commission of Inquiry

British Columbia

Call Number
362.8292 B8624f
Publication Year
2012

Recommended DVDs

Finding Dawn

Christine Welsh and National Film Board of Canada

Call Number
362.8292 F49w1
Publication Year
2006

Highway of Tears: Assimilation - No, Integration - Yes

Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy

Call Number
305.8 H63o
Publication Year
2006

Stolen Sisters

Antonio Hrynchuk and Angie Tate

Call Number
362.88082 H87s
Publication Year
2007

Survival, Strength, Sisterhood: Power Of Women in the Downtown Eastside

Alejandro Zuluaga, Harsha Walia and Downtown Eastside Power Of Women Group

Call Number
305.409711 S96z
Publication Year
2011

Digital Library Resources

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General Reference Subject Icon

CBCA is a Canadian-focused database that offers access to newspapers, magazines, scholarly journals and reference sources. *Also suitable for research at the elementary, high school and undergraduate levels.

Access:
Everywhere for Vancouver residents
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Newspapers and Magazines Subject Icon

Full-text access to over 500 BC and major Canadian daily newspapers. Some titles go back as far as the 1970s.

Access:
Everywhere for Vancouver residents

Northwest History Index

This card index in Special Collection provides access to the Northwest History Collection, a heritage collection covering the early history and exploration of British Columbia and the Pacific Northwest.

The collection includes:

  • magazine and newspaper articles
  • pamphlets
  • books
  • chapters in books
  • many other resources

As of August 1998, no new material has been added to the Northwest History Index. It is continued by the British Columbia Index.