National Inquiry into MMIWG
On December 8, 2015, the federal government announced the National Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls (MMIWG) as a key government initiative to end the disproportionally high levels of violence against Indigenous women and girls.
The inquiry was also the Government of Canada's response to Truth and Reconciliation Commission Call to Action #41, which states,
"We call upon the federal government, in consultation with Aboriginal organizations, to appoint a public inquiry into the causes of, and remedies for, the disproportionate victimization of Aboriginal women and girls."
The goal of the Inquiry was to investigate and report on the systemic causes of all forms of violence against Indigenous women and girls and to examine the underlying social, economic, cultural, institutional and historical causes that contribute to the ongoing violence and particular vulnerabilities.
On August 24, 2016, Manitoba joined other provinces and territories in participating in the Inquiry as a way to advance reconciliation and support the families of missing and murdered Indigenous women and girls.
The National Inquiry released its Final Report on June 3, 2019 in Gatineau, Quebec. The report, entitled Reclaiming Power and Place: The Final Report of the National Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls is the product of a great deal of work involving the participation of thousands of people from across Canada.
The Final Report lists 231 Individual Calls for Justice in four areas, including:
- Calls for Justice for All Governments
- Calls for Justice for Industries, Institutions, Services and Partnerships
- Calls for Justice for All Canadians
- Calls for Justice specific to Inuit, Métis, and 2SLGBTQQIA+
The Final Report of the National Inquiry is a significant milestone that will be vital to Manitoba as it works with federal and Indigenous partners to address the systemic causes of violence against Indigenous women, girls and gender-diverse people.