TORONTO (Reuters) - The Canadian government said on Thursday it would direct more resources to First Nations police and address systemic racism in the justice system and law enforcement to tackle violence against indigenous women, but gave no time frame for achieving its "transformative changes."
Two years after the National Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls issued 213 calls for justice, the national action plan to address the violence, racism and disproportionate deaths of Indigenous women and girls in Canada has been released, outlining both short-term priorities and years-long commitments for change.
Posted: Jun 03, 2021 3:51 PM ET | Last Updated: June 3
Pam Palmater, originally from Eel River Bar First Nation, says the use of the word evergreen in relation to the MMIWG national action plan signifies the lack of a plan. (Lisa MacIntosh)
Indigenous women s organizations and advocates say the newly released national action plan to end violence against Indigenous women and girls is not an adequate response to the crisis. This is not a national action plan, Pamela Palmater, chair in Indigenous governance at Ryerson University in Toronto told CBC News.
The plan, co-developed between federal and provincial governments, the National Families and Survivors Circle and several Indigenous partners, was released Thursday, the second anniversary of the final report of the National Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls.
The federal government is set to release its national action plan Thursday in response to the national inquiry into missing and murdered Indigenous women and girls' findings and its numerous Calls for Justice.
The Native Women's Association of Canada is releasing its own action plan Tuesday in response to the final report of the national inquiry into missing and murdered Indigenous women and girls.