(File photo/ paNOW Staff)

By Nigel Maxwell

MMIWG

PAGC calls on government to help families with missing loved ones

Jun 12, 2019 | 3:17 PM

A spokesperson for Prince Albert Grand Council (PAGC) says there needs to be immediate support from government to help the families searching for missing loved ones.

The comment from Shirley Henderson with the Women’s Commission, comes in response to the release of the final report on Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls (MMIWG). Henderson told paNOW there has been no support in the past from either the provincial or federal levels of government to assist with search efforts.

“I know when Happy Charles disappeared, they had no food, they had nothing at all for the searchers so Prince Albert Grand Council kicked in and bought food for them, and water, and other supplies,” she said.

The final report from the inquiry commission contained over 200 recommendations for government, police and other agencies to follow. Henderson said in addition to direct financial assistance to the families, she would also like to see funding provided for the hire of a search coordinator, as well as training programs.

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“Like where do you start looking when someone disappears? You just don’t know what to follow up at all,” she said.

Grand Chief Brian Hardlotte has pledged to hold the Federal government to the recommendations of the report.(Submitted photo/ Tina Pelletier)

Prince Albert Grand Council advocates on behalf of 28 northern Saskatchewan reserve communities under the umbrella of 12 First Nations. In a statement, Grand Chief Brian Hardlotte said PAGC is committed to promoting gender equality and a basic principle that all women in First Nations communities shall be treated with respect, dignity and free from violence.

“They are life givers and nation builders. Yet our women face incredible systemic and social challenges exacerbated by poverty and associated symptoms of genocidal oppression in a country that purports to support international human rights,” he said

Hardlotte added that the final report on MMIWG reinforces PAGC’s position that women in their communities face a long history of marginalization in Canada.

“Currently, the Women’s Commission has minimal funding support for governance, operations, and culturally sensitive community-based projects. This is unacceptable in a country that could serve as a model in other parts of the world that face the same type history and reconciliation efforts,” he said.

Hardlotte explained it’s important that the Women’s Commission obtains long term core funding that is adequate, predictable, and sustainable, to build capacity among women in PAGC communities through training, education, and participation in projects that promote equality, healing, wellness, and safety.

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nigel.maxwell@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @nigelmaxwell