Knowledge Resources & Publications

Webinar: Taking Action for Justice: Steps to Addressing Systemic Violence toward Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women, Girls, and Gender-Diverse People Amidst a Delayed National Action Plan

July 2020

Overview

In December 2015, the Government of Canada launched the National Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls (MMIWG). Its final report on June 3, 2019, Reclaiming Power and Place: The Final Report of the National Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls, includes 231 individual Calls for Justice directed at governments, institutions, social service providers, industries and all Canadians. Development and implementation of a MMIWG National Action Plan by the Federal Government, has been delayed.

In this webinar held on July 7, 2020, we discuss key findings from the Final Report and concrete recommendations for the Government of Canada’s National Action Plan, informed by the Native Women’s Association of Canada’s (NWAC) National Roundtable on MMIWG held in January 2020. While the establishment of a National Action Plan has experienced delays due to first, the federal election and now, a global pandemic, we are in an even worse crisis. Violence against Indigenous women and children does not stop because of a global health pandemic, in fact, there is troubling evidence supporting quite the opposite. The pandemic is worsening violence against Indigenous women and Indigenous families and communities cannot wait any longer. This presentation focuses on how the Federal Government can act immediately to ensure full involvement of Indigenous women, girls, Two-Spirit, and gender diverse people, as stated in the National Inquiry’s Final Report.

Speakers

Candice Shaw is NWAC’s Policy Director of Gender Diversity and Social Inclusion. She is of Métis and Oji-Cree ancestry and is completing a PhD (ABD) in Sociology at McGill University. Candice works on NWAC’s Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls policy area as well as files pertaining to the inclusion of Indigenous women, girls, and gender-diverse people in Canadian Disabilities Legislation, Indigenous youth gender advocacy, and Two-Spirit LGBTQ+ policy areas.

Christian Pascal Boucher MBA, MPA, is Senior Director, Policy & Government Relations at Native Women’s Association of Canada. Seasoned and passionate executive with over twenty years of Government of Canada and consulting experience working in a number of fast-paced and influential environments, including with Deputy Minister’s and Minister’s Offices, and central agencies. Unwavering abilities to develop bridges with a large array of internal and external stakeholders, negotiate government relations at all levels, and work towards goals, both as a highly collaborative team member and individually.

Christian Pascal Boucher has significant experience leading complex initiatives, strategies and change in a large organization and multi-issues environment. His key area of expertise are: policy and program development, corporate management including governance, strategic planning, HR and financial management, and Communication including Public Opinion Research. I particularly value getting the job done but also thinking outside the box to resolve a problem. I get very proud building productive teams, healthy workplace and making work fun.

From Little White Buffalo Kwe of Bear & Loon Clan, Roberta Oshkawbewisens is an Odawa/Ojibawe Nookamis, from Wiikwemikoong, Manitoulin Island, Ontario. Born and raised with many siblings and cousins, being taught by grandparents, parents, aunties, uncles about life with our land. She is a proud mother and grandmother, aunt, relative, dancer, bundle carrier, educator, and believes in her traditions as she is guided through the stages of life by grandmothers and grandfathers.

Elder Oshkawbewisens has worked with individuals, groups, organizations, political leadership, providing guidance in progressing through trauma and other life events with ceremony. She has also spent time with Women’s Organizations and Committees across Canada (coast to coast) in various ways when requested, worked in Education at various levels as Student /Advisor Support, Traditional/Cultural Teacher, and Grandmother. Roberta has worked in and with Friendship Centres, Healing Lodges/Centres and travelled across Canada as Trainer/Facilitator. She is presently a Grandmother with NWAC & the Resiliency Centre and a resource for U.I.O., C.O.O., and A.F.N. Roberta enjoys and values full heartedly her involvement with First Nation, Metis, Inuit People and the work she does.

Suggested Reading

Reclaiming Power and Place – Executive Summary of the Final Report of the National Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls

Webinar Resources