Story shared by Hayley Roulstone
Following the National Day of Action for Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women, Girls, Two-Spirit and Gender Diverse People on October 4 the momentum and importance of acting on the calls to justice outlined by the National Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls remains urgent and daily. The National Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls Final Report was published in 2019 following nearly four years of engagement and research. This Indigenous-led scholarship was motivated by the plaguing discrimination and violence against Indigenous women, girls and Two-Spirit People across Turtle Island. The passing of the Indian Act in 1876 formalized and legalized systemic violence towards Indigenous women.
For example, Indigenous women were stripped of their Indigenous “status” and benefits when they married “non-status” men (Native Women’s Assocation of Canada (NWAC), 2024). The learned misogynistic values became upheld in community, and in 1985, amendments to the Indian Act re-instated status to women who had “married out” and recognized that bands have the right to determine their own membership. As a result, many Indigenous women and their children who were living on reserves lost their benefits or have been denied membership. Furthermore, research done by the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights and the United Nations Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination Against Women “have found that sex-based inequities within the Indian Act have contributed to the crisis of missing and murdered Indigenous women in Canada” (NWAC, 2024). The violence, discrimination and marginalization faced by Indigenous women, girls, and Two Spirit People must be addressed in all institutions across Turtle Island. Reclaiming Power and Place: The Final Report of the National Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls produced 231 Calls to Justice, to emphasize promoting authentic representation, supporting advocacy efforts, educating about true histories, and strengthening anti-discrimination policies in all sectors.
The Calls to Justice were created with input from the distinctive perspectives of First Nations, Inuit, Métis, and 2SLGBTQQIA People. The Final Report also integrates many of the Principles of UNDRIP, such as Articles 3 and 4; that Indigenous Peoples have the right to self-determination and Indigenous Peoples, in exercising their right to self-determination, have the right to autonomy or self-government and means for financing their autonomous functions. All industries are called upon to answer the Calls to Justice. For example, Extractive and Development Industries are called on to prioritize the safety, security, and equitable benefits for Indigenous women, girls, and 2SLGBTQQIA people in all stages of project development. It urges that gender-based socio-economic impact assessments be addressed before approving projects. Impact-benefit agreements must include provisions for the safety and equitable inclusion of Indigenous women and 2SLGBTQQIA individuals. The Report also calls for further inquiries into the link between resource extraction and violence against these communities, and for expanded social infrastructure to support affected communities.
At Rise, we are committed to responding to the Calls to Justice from the National Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls by embedding Reconciliation into our practices and supporting Indigenous communities through concrete actions and partnerships. We are committed to embedding the Calls to Justice into producing Truth and Reconciliation Action Plans, beginning with Call to Justice 1.1, which guides us to be educated and aware in supporting our clients’ to be educated and aware about missing and murdered Indigenous women, girls, and 2SLGBTQQIA People. In line with Call to Justice 1.8, we honour days of remembrance and action for MMIWG2S+ through thoughtful communication, both internally and externally. Our commitment extends to Call to Justice 2.2 by offering learning and development sessions that foster language revitalization, place-keeping, and knowledge-sharing and earlier this year, built out a session focused on Indigenous Matriarchy and Leadership. Through our Rise Impact Program, Rise has funded NWAC and women’s health services such as the Fernie Women’s Resource Centre, Awo Taan Healing Lodge Society, and Call Auntie Clinic responding to the Call to Justice 3.2, “to provide adequate, stable, equitable, and ongoing funding for Indigenous-centred and community-based health and wellness services that are accessible and culturally appropriate, and meet the health and wellness needs of Indigenous women, girls, and 2SLGBTQQIA people” (The National Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls, 2019). Additionally, our support for the Victims of Homicide Support Society aligns with Call to Action 3.4, ensuring that survivors of trauma related to MMIWG2S+ receive accessible and holistic care.
Moving forward, governments, industries, and communities must take collective responsibility in implementing the 231 Calls to Justice. We encourage all organizations—businesses, non-profits, and government entities alike—to align their efforts with the Calls to Justice and take meaningful action wherever possible. The systemic challenges identified in the National Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls require more than acknowledgment; they demand real, transformative steps that prioritize Indigenous rights, inclusive decision-making, and a commitment to addressing the root causes of violence and discrimination.
The image above is of the Star Blanket community art piece by The Saa-Ust Centre, found in The Reclaiming Power and Place Report – learn more here.
Resources:
“Inherited Discrimination: The Legacy of the Indian Act”, Native Women’s Association of Canada (2024)
“Indian Act Status Inequities” Native Women’s Association of Canada (2021)
“Reclaiming Power and Place” Final Report, The National Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls (2019)