Federal ministers mark Sisters in Spirit Day, reiterate commitments to action on MMIWG2S+
Ottawa — On October 4, ministers Rebecca Alty, Mandy Gull‑Masty, Rechie Valdez and another federal minister released a joint statement for Sisters in Spirit Day and the National Day of Action for Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women, Girls and 2SLGBTQI+ people.
The statement, issued from Traditional Unceded Algonquin Territory, honours those who have been lost and reiterates the government’s pledge to work with survivors, families and Indigenous communities on prevention, supports and accountability.
The ministers noted this year marks the fifth anniversary of the Federal Pathway to Address Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women, Girls and 2SLGBTQI+ People and summarised progress across community safety, culture and language, health and wellness, justice and policing, and shelters and housing.
Recent investments described in the statement include $300,000 to Giganawenimaanaanig for work toward a Red Dress Alert pilot in Manitoba; $2.6 million to the National Family and Survivors Circle to support survivor‑centred implementation of the Calls for Justice; and more than $978 million to support 46 existing shelters, expand violence‑prevention programs and establish 92 new emergency and second‑stage shelters — including the Satuivik shelter and transitional housing project in Pivurnituq, Quebec.
The ministers also pointed to a federal commitment of $607.4 million over four years to continue implementing the National Action Plan to End Gender‑based Violence, on top of a $539.3 million investment made in 2022.
The statement emphasises that continued, Indigenous‑led work with survivors, families, communities and governments is needed to end this violence.
Support is available 24/7 through a national crisis and mental‑health line at 1‑844‑413‑6649, and through MMIWG health and cultural support services.
Image source: CIRNAC.
Source
DNA coverage was developed from verified reporting and publicly available information. CIRNAC.