Message from the Executive Director – The Native Women’s Resource Centre of Toronto …

“Indigenous Women are mothers, daughters, aunties, and sisters. They are leaders, protectors, warriors, life-givers, beautiful, artistic, strong, proud, ground-breaking and they are recalling their spiritual power. Indigenous Women are SACRED.”

Indigenous women are 12 times more likely to be killed than any other women in Canada. Indigenous women make up 50 percent of Human Trafficking victims yet only 4 % of Canada’s population. Indigenous women experience spousal violence at a rate 3x higher than non-Indigenous women. Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls (MMIWG) and the national inquiry report demonstrates that deliberate human and Indigenous rights violations and abuses are the root cause behind Canada’s staggering rates of violence against Indigenous women, girls, and 2SLGBTQQIA people. MMIWG is genocide and started with first contact and the intent to eliminate the community, destroy the family and “kill the Indian in the child” Systemic and structural racism, and Canada’s disregard for Indigenous women’s lives continue to contribute to and perpetuate the harm that Indigenous women face which too often, ends in death. On the front lines of our community, we continue to see the consequences of residential schools, first contact, systemic racism, over-incarceration, and the destruction of our sacred land.

We see the systems that continue to fail the women and will continue to cause harm … systems that are not inherently ours and were designed with the intent to eliminate the community. NWRCT’s response to offer healing to the community starts with access for the women, led by women, and through this, the family and community. Every response to the community must be led by an Indigenous community with ceremony culture at its forefront.

Indigenous community deserve a seat at the table as the table is formed, and our counter parts must align their paths with ours to walk side by side. This project was meant to highlight the darkness that still plagues our city and society to highlight the significance of the work and the women proclaiming the response they know is needed.

We acknowledge and give thanks to IRIS, Doris Rajan, and her amazing team who has worked with NWRCT over many years. Their support, and efforts are rooted in reconciliation and the leadership they give to the community is an example of how meaningful engagement should occur. Denia Anderson-Dornan, Project Coordinator who diligently met the community where they were at, to capture important conversations, we value you.

To the community who shared their stories, wisdom, and spirit we aim to continue to honor you and raise your voices. We thank you and may this project serve you and future generations to come in a good way.

Your fearlessness, your strength and beauty do not go ignored.

Pamela

Executive Director, Native

Women’s Resource Centre Toronto