A Voice for Indigenous
Women's Issues
Missing & Murdered Indigenous Women & Girls (MMIWG)
WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW
ONWA recognizes and honours families of Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls
Ontario’s Strategy:
ONWA's Report:
Community Resources:
National Action Plan
MISSING AND MURDERED INDIGENOUS WOMEN, GIRLS, AND 2SLGBTQQIA+ PEOPLE NATIONAL ACTION PLAN
Ontario's Strategy
Pathways to Safety
ONTARIO’S STRATEGY IN RESPONSE TO THE FINAL REPORT INTO MISSING AND MURDERED INDIGENOUS WOMEN AND GIRLS (2021)
“As the bearers of the future generations of our peoples, Indigenous women, mothers, are physically and symbolically the source of resistance against those who would see us disappear.” – Dr. Dawn Lavell-Harvard, Board President, ONWA.
With the truth uncovered and the government respecting the recommendations of Indigenous women, the plan is a solid foundation for lasting change. The Ontario government’s plan outlines six key areas where action is needed.
Placemat
OVERVIEW OF ONTARIO’S PATHWAYS TO SAFETY REPORT
The Indigenous Women’s Advisory Council has developed a placemat that is a companion to Ontario’s Response. The placemat illustrates the structure and recommendations of Ontario's MMIWG response, while also incorporating cultural elements.
DOWNLOAD the placemat in:
Pathways
BASED ON ONTARIO’S PATHWAYS TO SAFETY REPORT
Pathway to Safety and Security
We begin in the East by creating safe spaces for Indigenous women, girls, and 2SLGBTQQIA+ persons by identifying systemic change. Ontario will support Indigenous women to lead what is needed to increase safety and healing. Key Initiatives, such as addressing social and economic marginalization, will act as protective factors against the violence faced by Indigenous women, girls, and 2SLGBTQQIA+ persons.
Pathway to Health and Well Being
We move to the South and we restore Indigenous wellness practices and ways of being by applying an Indigenous Gender-Based Analysis that leads to action and change. Ontario’s actions and initiatives seek to promote community-led renewal and restoration of health by including Indigenous women and 2SLGBTQQIA+-centered approaches to the health system delivery. This includes programs and services to improve access, promote safety, and increase culturally relevant and appropriate treatment and mental health services across Ontario.
Pathway to Justice
In the West, we work together to reclaim our rights and affect systems change to ensure justice for all. Ontario will focus on systems-wide transformation informed by Indigenous perspectives and structural change in priority areas including justice, policing and child welfare.
Pathway to Culture
From the North, we take action to continue the work of reclamation, to ensure our identity is recognized. Respecting cultural rights means renewing honour for Indigenous women - it means celebrating and embracing women, girls and 2SLGBTQQIA+ persons as sacred and valuable. Initiatives that seek to promote healing by supporting the restoration, reclamation and revitalization of Indigenous languages, cultures and identities are key.
ONWA's Report
"Indigenous women must not go missing from the National Action Plan."
(Cora McGuire-Cyrette, Executive Director, ONWA)
Reconciliation with Indigenous Women
CHANGING THE STORY OF MISSING AND MURDERED INDIGENOUS WOMEN AND GIRLS (2020)
ONWA's Recommendations for the National Action Plan to Address Violence Against Indigenous Women and Girls.
This report embodies critical recommendations that must be integrated into the national Action Plan to address violence against Indigenous women and girls. Indigenous women are at the center of our families and communities. We need to be at the center of the National Action Plan.
13 Recommendations
FROM THE RECONCILIATION WITH INDIGENOUS WOMEN (2020) REPORT
For decades now, ONWA has worked to end violence against Indigenous women. Our recommendations are well-informed, prioritize the health, safety, and well-being of Indigenous women and their families, and seek to ensure that no additional harms will come to Indigenous women.
Theses recommendations were developed by combining research, community submissions, and ONWA’s expertise:
(Click the recommendations title to view the full details.)
Indigenous Gender-Based Analysis
VISUAL REPRESENTATION
ONWA’s Indigenous Gender-Based Analysis (IGBA) provides a deeper understanding of issues facing Indigenous women and the multiple systems we navigate. ONWA identified 28 systems from listening to Indigenous women as the experts in their lives. All of the systems have embedded systemic racism and perpetuate violence against Indigenous women.
ONWA’s IGBA is built from an analysis of existing anti-violence work ONWA undertook over 50 years. It is designed to identify and eliminate factors that create any form of violence against Indigenous women.
This graphic is a representation of the 28 systems and our roles and responsibilities based on teachings from the turtle.
It starts with an understanding that we are ALWAYS moving in a direction – forward, backwards or sideways. When we are in balance as Indigenous women, we can be guided by Creator and culture.
The turtle’s head represents Creator’s purpose for us. Every Indigenous woman has a purpose and gifts to fulfill that purpose.
The turtle’s tail represents community needs. Each Indigenous woman is intended to use her gifts to contribute to her community’s restoration and maintenance of balance.
The turtle’s feet represent the four roles Indigenous women need to maintain:
-
Self – Our role as strong and healthy Indigenous women in the world.
-
Family – Our role to restore and maintain a strong and healthy Indigenous family.
-
Community – Our gifts and skills to rebuild and restore Indigenous communities. Our organizations can sometimes be our community.
-
Nation – Our gifts and skills to rebuild and restore Nations (Indigenous, First Nation, Provincial, National)
The turtle’s shell represents the 13 Grandmother Moons, each moon corresponding with a key recommendation.
