Missing And Murdered Indigenous Women And Girls Progress Report Released
The Government of Saskatchewan has highlighted its contribution to the release of the 2022 Progress Report on the Murdered and Missing Indigenous Women and Girls and 2SLGBTQQIA+ People National Action Plan.
The 2022 Progress Report commemorates the third anniversary of the Inquiry’s Final Report. The Progress Report details the steps provinces, territories the federal government and community partners are taking to address the Calls for Justice from the National Inquiry.
Since the release of the National Inquiry, the province has put policies and training in place to ensure officials within the justice system and policing are aware of Indigenous history and the impact of inter-generational trauma. In 2022-23, the Saskatchewan Police College appointed its first Indigenous Director and hired its first Indigenous female training officer. The College also includes Indigenous presenters and perspectives in its recruit training program.
The 2022-23 budget includes an investment of $800,000 for community-led Indigenous projects, $400,000 of which is directed specifically at issues raised in the National Action Plan for Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls through the Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls Community Response Fund.
Equal access to employment and education is a key factor in addressing issues that affect Indigenous women and girls. In 2021, Saskatchewan signed the Canada-Saskatchewan Canada-Wide Early Learning and Child Care Agreement. Under this agreement, the province will work throughout 2022-23 to engage with First Nations and Métis organizations to develop a plan for a coordinated early learning and child care system that reflects the needs of First Nations and Métis peoples in Saskatchewan.
Saskatchewan took numerous steps in 2022-23 to raise awareness about missing persons and interpersonal violence, including commemorating Missing Persons Week and Red Dress Day this past May as part of its membership in the Saskatchewan Missing Persons Partnership. The province’s Face the Issue campaign, designed to raise awareness and start conversations about the reality of interpersonal violence, also concluded its second phase in the spring of 2022.
The 2022-23 Progress Report on the National Action Plan can be found at https://mmiwg2splus-nationalactionplan.ca.