The Native Women’s Association of Canada says the federal government has made little progress in the past year on its action plan to end violence against women, girls and people of diverse gender identities indigenous.
There have been funding commitments, but little has been done to directly support victims and families, according to an analysis released Friday by the association.
The National Action Plan was at the top of the 231 Calls for Justice made by the National Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls in its final report three years ago.
The association was one of the groups working with Ottawa on the plan, but walked away saying the exercise was fundamentally flawed and politically charged.
The National Circle of Families and Survivors participated in the development of the plan and members of this group are expected to speak later on Friday.
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is scheduled to meet with victims and participate in a private ceremony in the National Capital Region.
The Native Women’s Association of Canada monitored the commitments made by the government in its plan and evaluated their implementation.
Progress has been made over the past 12 months on some actions, but little or no progress on others, the organization says.
“Today we see the sad results of the government’s weak response to crimes committed against women, girls and people of diverse gender identities, said CEO Lynne Groulx. The National Action Plan, as written, was in fact a recipe for inaction, and the people represented by our organization are paying the price.”
The federal government has committed to providing funding or increasing existing funding in four areas: culture, health and well-being, human security, and justice.
Work to do
Ottawa released its own progress report on Friday. In it, the federal government documents the work carried out between April 1, 2021 and March 31, 2022, in each of these areas as well as a fifth called “organizational capacity and coordination”.
Ottawa says there has been progress in each area, but recognizes there is still work to be done.
He says he has supported more than 410 Inuit, Métis, and First Nations Indigenous language and culture projects serving urban Indigenous populations.
Nineteen Aboriginal organizations received money for projects and services that support the healing process of families and survivors.
In the area of justice, Ottawa says it supports Indigenous-led efforts to address systemic discrimination and the overrepresentation of Indigenous people in the justice system.
The federal government has previously said a strategy is being developed to ensure policymakers have the most accurate and culturally appropriate data.
On Friday, Ottawa acknowledged that there have been improvements on that front, but that many challenges still remain.
The report says more work needs to be done in several areas, including oversight and accountability, programs for Indigenous youth, and public awareness campaigns that honor Indigenous women, girls and LGBTQ people.
But according to Ms. Groulx, there is a gap between what is done at the federal level and assistance to local communities. She believes more money needs to go directly to frontline service workers.