Community efforts to address MMIWG incomplete without political action, Indigenous advocates say

Advocates in London, Ont., say grassroots efforts by Indigenous-led organizations have created awareness around the Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls (MMIWG) crisis, but inaction from politicians remains a barrier to achieving true progress. 

Monday marked five years since the final report of the National Inquiry into MMIWG was delivered to Prime Minister Justin Trudeau in Gatineau, Que., on June 3, 2019. It concluded the MMIWG crisis amounts to a genocide.

"Unfortunately, with the amount of time that's passed, I haven't seen as much of the progress that I would have expected," said Frances Elizabeth Moore, an Anishinaabe educator from the Timiskaming First Nation. 

"Governments of all levels are just not responding to the crisis with the urgency or commitment that we need to see change for Indigenous women, girls, two-spirited and gender-diverse folks. We should be seeing fewer MMIWG, however the rates are constantly increasing."  

The report contained 231 calls for justice aimed at all levels of government and sectors in society, including police, health providers, the justice system and media.

But a progress report issued by the Assembly of First Nations found only two of those calls for justice have been fully implemented, and most have shown minimal or no progress.

Moore believes a national plan needs to be implemented that focuses on transparency and accountability from those in power, and oversight bodies that enforce the government's role in upholding Indigenous people's rights.  

A national Red Dress Alert, such as the one being piloted in Manitoba, could be a step in the right direction but it's important for both politicians and communities to engage with these recommendations and systems in a meaningful way, Moore said, adding that it shouldn't just be the responsibility of Indigenous people to call for such action. 

"Government inaction [in searching landfills for MMIWG] has set a very dangerous precedent for those seeking to harm us, they essentially have a blueprint for what they can do," she said.  

Sustainable funding needed

Ottawa has committed more than $2 billion to respond to the inquiry's calls for justice. However, precarious funding for programs and services directly addressing the crisis further puts Indigenous women and girls at risk for violence, said Andrea Jibb, director of housing and healing at Atlohsa Family Healing Services. 

Jibb wants to see sustainable funding that can support women and families in crisis and survivors of violence, she said.  

"We have very long wait-lists in our women's supported housing, and we are seeing girls come at a younger and younger age to our shelters in demand for our services. In many ways things are just escalating," said Jibb, a member of the Métis Nation of Ontario.  

Jibb pointed to SafeSpace London, which recently lost extended funding that would've allowed the agency supporting women in crisis and sex workers to run overnight beds until July. She's also concerned about a provincially funded anti-human trafficking program that will lose funding in March 2025. 

"Where are women supposed to go if they don't have these services or safe places they can access basic needs or beds?" she said. "They're experiencing homelessness or forms of human trafficking and there's just no place for them to go." 

Jibb is impressed by the allyship of local first responders and community groups who continue conversations around MMIWG and want to learn more about how they can help Indigenous communities, but it's at the systemic level where most barriers exist, she said.  

"It's heartbreaking for our sisters and the violence they have endured, so I'm hopeful for the work that is being done on the ground by frontline, grassroots services, but I'm less hopeful with initiatives that are being led by various levels of government, because we've seen time and again that women's safety is not being prioritized."