Thank you for listening to Depiction's Media Radio. Welcome to Policy Rights to show
about government policy and human rights. Welcome back to Policy Rights Here in Depictions
Media Radio. I'm your host, Michael Cloggs. We're gonna hear today from
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau about well Dave is UH he is signed an agreement with
UH with Iceland over trade issues and other things that Iceland and Canada have in
common, and they need to need need the agreement so that they can work
together to figure out how all that's going to come about. UM. We're
also going to hear from anton Antnio Guerreres as he's talking about UM how we
need to UM to celebrate what it is that the UN peacekeepers actually do and
how we need to how they actually help spread some peace and what and what
is important to the United Nations as a global peacekeeping organization, What is important
for them to do the important work that they do, and how they actually
help try to smooth the waters in different areas of our world. We're also
going to hear UM from the Minister of Justice UH for for Canada as he
is talking about UH the missing and murder Indigenous women and new funding that is
going to come about to actually try to hunt and figure out where some of
these people are and how it extends to also UM Indigenous men who have disappeared,
and they're trying to figure out what actually happened to these people and how
they disappeared, as well as they're trying to write some of the wrongs from
the government standpoint, how they can how they can fix some of this UM
And while we're in Canada, UM we're also going to hear about what's happening
with the wildfires as um Nova Scotia is reporting a series of wildfires. And
on our Twitter account if you go to follow us Depictions Media on Twitter,
that we did um repost something on Twitter. It was a dash cam showing
some of the actually as somebody who was driving it was, I mean,
what they were seeing as they were trying to escape a fire. So a
lot happening in our in our world right now and a lot of a lot
of things that we need to need to do in order to help people live
better. And that's part of the point of reporting what it is that we
do UM. Well, while we're at this, we're also also UM there
is an they're going to be a segment on this about um Alberta they're coming
into into their vote and how the campaign is actually panning out. And there's
a lot of a lot of issues going on in Alberta, and and we
hope that the people Alberta actually get some of those things solved with the election
that is up and coming. So let's start the show off with statement from
Justin Trudeau and their political leader from Iceland. United Nations speace keepers are the
beating heart of our commitment to a more peaceful world. For seventy five years,
they have supported people and communities rocked by conflict and approval across the globe.
Today, on the International Day of United Nations peace Keepers, we honor
their extraordinary contributions to international peace and security. Since nineteen forty eight, more
than two million peace keepers have served in seventy m missions, helping countries navigate
the difficult path from war to peace. They're also critical to the protection of
civilians caught up in the chaos of these deadly conflicts, providing a lifeline of
hope and help in some of the most dangerous contexts imaginable. In carrying out
this essential work, many peacekeepers have paid the ultimate price. More than four
thousand, twenty peace keepers have lost their lives serving under dun flag. We
stand in sympathy and solidarity with their families, friends and colleagues, and will
forever be inspired by tells selfless devotion to the cause of peace. Today,
more than eighty seven thousand peace keepers from when of the twenty five countries serve
in twelve operations. They face rising global tensions and divides, stagnating peace processes,
and more complex conflicts. Despite these obstacles and working with a wide range
of partners, peacekeepers persevere to people living under the shadow of conflicts. Our
teams have bluel Let's represent hope, thespis keeper support humanity that us always support
and recognize them. It's very, very Right off the top, I do
want to say a few words about the wildfire situation Nova Scotia. I spoke
with two of our MP's this morning and expressed our support the fact that we're
going to be there for the people to Nova Scotia as they deal with these
terrible wildfire. As I knew of, Minister Blair has been engaged throughout the
weekend with his Kevin Garts. I will be hopefully speaking with both Premier Houston
and their Savage a little later today to express the federal government will be there
to support anyways we can as people are dealing with some pretty terrifying situations and
will always be there to try and help make sure that nobody and nobody gets
hurt in these in this very very difficult moment. Drew Toba extreme name a
proof pap for Updicus Je pap and nodpt Smith Consumes and Neustra Blair. I
don't think Para see season one for Susie, and I think tuskinness is as
good Paploqueen news Houston, who there Savage ptas that pleb z me who cutomunsashk
vernmoin very clop of amy. I think tuskin this is clo asil me and
smania Um. It is an explorable of pleasure to welcome President Johannerson here or
to Ottawa. The goody. It's so good to see you. It's a
great opportunity for us to talk about the many, many things we share in
terms of values, priorities and emphasis on ployment and emphasis on oceans, progressive
values that put our citizens at the center of everything. We do also a
lot of questions around security. Iceland as a strong NATO member and a key
geographic location where there's lots to talk about in termsive Arctic sovereignty and security as
well, So many things to speak about and very much look forward to to
this conversation during hopefully seal that a year of please known the disianed. There's
apportunity batly the Clima Docil, the security don Arctic in the those who are
quite as sifety using Tami. Thank you very much, Priminister. Is a
pleasure on the honor to be here and I will only mention, like you
did, our best wishes to those in Nova Scotia fighting the wildfires. We
in Iceland know that nature can be rough and challenges made meet us and best
wishes to those fighting the wildfires and people who have had to evacuate their homes
and hope that everything goes well. We plan to be in Nova Scotia tomorrow
and in Halifax and in Saint John's in Evenland following day and then in Toronto,
so it's going to be a busy visit full of opportunities to discuss and
confirm our share and the guilts and interests, and I couldn't be happier with
the with the reception I had received. I know it's a ciche, but
Canadians are the most polite people in the world, So thank you very much.
We just like you a lot like Nurcy will goodle loaded, Good afternoon
everyone. Let me first begin by acknowledging that we are gathered on the traditional
territorial to the Algonquin Initiative EGG and I am very pleased today to be joined
by my colleagues from Nova Scotia and New Brunswick Members of Parliament le nadab By
Callaway, Darren Fisher and the Fillmore, Jamie him Bautiste, Jenica Atwyn,
Wayne Long and Cody Blois. There are currently active wildfires in British Columbia,
Alberta and the Northwest territories Saskatchewan, Manitoba and Ontario, as well as Do
Brunswick, and we are very concerned about the fires that we have seen develop
over the past few days in Nova Scotia, particularly on the weekend and over
the next week. Our data shows that fire risk will remain very high or
even extreme for the northern prairies. For North northeastern British Columbia, the southern
parts of the Northwest Territories well in to the weekend. On Saturday, we
approved an extension request from the Province of Alberta. There are now currently over
two hundred Canadian Armed Forces members currently deployed in the province supporting response efforts and
logistics. Additional federal supports from the original request for federal assistance will continue to
be provided as previously arranged under the respective mandates of the various federal departments engaged,
including the RCMP, Transport Canada, p hack E, SDC, and
Indigenous Services Canada. And today, the matching campaign for the Province of Alberta
and the Canadian Red Cross has raised a total of twenty one point three million
dollars with federal and provincial matching. As I mentioned earlier, we are following
the wildfire's impacting other provinces and territories closely, and we stand ready with federal
support if and when requested. Earlier today, I spoke to Minister John Lore
in Nova Scotia and Mike Sabbats, Mayor of Halifax last night in order to
offer our support directly and our officials at the Government Operations Center are fully engaged.
I also had a conversation earlier this morning with Rick Perkins down in Shelburne
County about some of the fires impacting in the communities he represents. We know
that several thousand Nova Scotians have been displaced, and I want to take the
opportunity to acknowledge the Nova Scotians, as we might expect, have opened up
their hearts and their doors to allow their fellow citizens in in this extremely difficult
time. As well, we also know just proportionally First Nations are often impacted,
and for example, the Ganadai First Nation in Nova scotiation evacuation order for
twenty of their residents yesterday evening. They have now been all relocated and everyone
is safe and no further support as being requested by the community at this time.
I've spoken to my colleague, Minister Hyde's office and they have been in
touch with the Assembly First Nation Regional Chief prosper this morning, and Indigenous Service
Canada is coordinating closely with officials on the ground to mobilize all resources needed through
the Emergency Management Assistance Program. Well, our greatest relief is that so far
there have been no casuals who reported in this fire season. We are reminded
the last week firefighter Frankie bo serious injury in Alberta reminds us of the incredibly
dangerous work there are first responders are undertaking. Our thanks, as always go
out to the firefighters, first responders, search and rescue personnel and the incredible
community volunteers who are working to manage these fires and to support Canadians who have
been forced to evacuate their homes and their communities. Are now turned to my
Parliamentary Secretary Stefani is on to provide remarks in French. Thank you. Thanks
Minister vojvatus Comnzi Lemnes Blair and Alberta and Saskatchewan, Manitoba Atario he knew some
extrez and md Mount cool Prussian extreme, the Prairie noptanic, the world no
lament Prussian, don't sam zunt the pug mount Mount Canadians on Tactu Elma province.
The logistic contributing the funy com priviewed respective the vermin Stary organ is Federo
not LAC transpar Canada, La SPC, s DC Service in Canada, La
Rouge Canadian point war million, the zelemines Gasso contribution federal, provincial, don't
know province it did it war in tournamount the date federal leminis door Savage Alifax
so mobi dissi ester. Thank you very much and as as we have all
strongly indicated, we will do everything we can to support the people of Canada
as they are being impacted by this extremely challenging wildfire season. Will working very
closely in collaboration with our provincial, territorial and municipal partners right across the country.
UM, and it is frankly in all hands on deck response UM to
the challenges that people are facing. We'll happily take any questions briefly because we
have to go back into the house. You talk about about wearing out the
resources, I mean where not even at the end of May. We've been
fighting these fires for six weeks or longer now they seem to be getting worse.
You're concerned about wearing out the number of resources we have before the summer
is over. Yeah, I think it's important to acknowledge the incredible work that
are particularly our firefighters have been doing right across Canada. We have seen people
mobilizing from across the country to fight wildfires in Alberta and Northwest territories, and
now those fires are now impacting right across the country. All those people have
been doing extraordinary work, but they have been working almost NonStop. Even the
firefighter crews that are currently battling fires in Nova Scotia, some of them have
been on those fires and on that scene from the very outset of this event
and haven't had an opportunity to take a break. So of course we're concerned.
It's one of the reasons we recognize that it's important to make sure that
we can mobilize those resources from across the country, and important work has been
done in moving firefighters from places that where they have not been required to other
places where they have, particularly in Alberta. We've also made efforts to recruit
and bringing firefighters from other countries who who are providing assistance. But quite frankly,
the fire season that Canada is facing right now is extremely challenging, and
we recognize there is a need for more trained firefighters. It's one of the
reasons we've made it. We're making an investment in training a thousand additional firefighters,
but in fact, the reality is those firefighters are required now and I
am very concerned for the health safety of all the people that are doing this
in party an important job for us who have lost their homes so far on
the fires and news homes are threatened in Nova Scotia New Brunswick. First of
all, I would strongly encourage every month to listen very carefully to any of
the warnings being issued by local officials when they are asked to evacuate, that
they should be prepared to do so quickly and to make sure that they have
the essentials and things that are very important to them so that they can leave
quickly in response to those evacuation orders. But I also want to provide them
with reassurance that the Canada and our provincial and territorial partners will be there in
support of those individuals who have lost their homes and been so significantly impacted by
these events. Will work very closely with the province to help rebuild those communities
have been destroyed, in those homes that have been destroyed, We'll be there
to make sure that we help people who are going to new or home.
Good morning, Bojo. My name is Gary and and the Sangari and I'm
the Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Justice an Attorney General. Thank you for
joining us this morning for this very important annascement Merci de New Jordi poor set
the nons in Portan. I acknowledge with gratitude that we're gathered on the traditional
and unseated territory of the Algonquin and Isonomic nation. Today. We have with
us the Honorable David Lameti, Minister of Justice, an Attorney General of Canada,
the Honorable Mark Miller, Minister of Crown Indigenous Relations, Hildam Anderson Peers,
Chair of the National Family and Survivor Circle, and Elder Clandet Commando.
We'll have the opportunity to hear short opening remarks, then we will go to
a question and answer period. I would now like to turn to Elder Clandet
Commander to open the event. Quekakina, me kiba Oma and Ishnabayeki. Greetings
to everyone on behalf of the Algonquin nation. We welcome you to this beautiful
homeland of the Algonquin people. I am standing here today with my sister Hilda.
We're gathered here today for a very important reason, a very important good
news story I'm very honored to be here to give words of a blessing,
to give words of a greeting, and also to give words of a prayer.
As we come together as brothers and sisters, let us remember all of
our relatives, our relatives of those that have faced the violence, our relatives
of the murder and missing Indigenous women, girls, boys, men, and
two spirited people. We honor our relatives and we ask the Creator to bless
the families. We say chi megwedg gishemin a domegwich kinakiego gichimgwegon jey nongu me
gwedge gisjimina domigwegionjy o jey nitchkiwe duc gijimin a do nibuk. Send them on
jay kokina nibuk, send them, mushkaoiziwin nibuks send them nibak cowin Nibuk.
Send them bimadsuwin and abegis kishemina dooe dukuishnong oenji kokina nongo mush schwambun. Creator,
we come together and we thank you for the beauty of life, and
we ask Creator that ye our prayers for all our families all our communities,
to keep them safe and to keep them strong. And Creator, today I
ask that this blessing that you continue to bless everyone, that good words will
be shared, wisdom will be shown, and Creator, we thank you for
the love that you've given us. And may our prayer show the love that
we have for all of our families and communities and the victims of violence,
and Creator heal them and keep them safe. Chi me Aguage and Creator,
we also ask that everyone who is listening to this announcement will understand and have
compassion and feeling in their hearts and that this is so important that justice and
healing is for our families, and we know Creator that through our prayers and
our faith, good change will come. Chi me Agage, thank you,
Megwige make which messi boku. Thank you Elder Commando for starting us off in
a very good way. I will now turn it over to to Hilda Anderson
Peers, who will say a few words. Henderson Peers, good morning everyone.
I'm Hilda Anderson Peers. I'm the chair of the National Family and Survivor
Circle. I would like to acknowledge that we are on the traditional unseated and
unsurrended territory of the Innishanabe Algonquian people. I would also like to acknowledge the
families of missing a murdered Indigenous women, girls, men and boys, and
two US lgbt QQIA plus people and survivors of gender and race based violence across
Canada who continue to demand justice in the Canadian wide emergency for mm IWG to
S plus. Lastly, I would like to acknowledge Elder Claude at Commanda for
her beautiful prayer and her beautiful words this morning. It's always important that we
center the work and the opportunities in a good way, in a kind way
as well. And I lastly, I would like to acknowledge Minister Lamtian Minister
Miller and I was told I could call him Gary because I can't pronounce his
last name, the Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Justice, an Attorney General
of Canada. The National Family and Survivor Circle contribution to the National Action Plan
of MMIWG to S plus identified the need for long term political and financial commitments
to concrete measures by those with obligations to implement the two hundred and thirty one
calls or Justice and address the genocide against Indigenous women, girls and two s
LGBTQQIA plus people. Today's funding announcement is welcomed as it represents a critical step
to building sustainability for services and supports for families of MMWG to S plus,
families of men and boys, and survivors of gender and race based violence.
This funding will support Indigenous lead culturally safe and trauma informed, family and victims
centered approaches. Individuals and families must be able to access services and supports regardless
of where they lived, and this is really critical because we know in remote
and isolated locations opportunities to access services and supports are minimal, and we need
to build pathways for communities to be able to build capacity and deliver services directly
in community as well. Equally important to identifying concrete actions to achieve the transformed
Canada envisioned in the National Action Plan on MMWG to S plus and the transformative
changes promised in the Federal Pathway is how to effectively implement them so that the
impact is spelled on the ground by families of mm IWG two S plus and
survivors of gender and race based violence. As a contributing partner to the National
Action Plan and the Federal Pathway. The National Family and Survivors Circle calls for
funding announced today and other related funding going forward to require collaboration with an inclusion
of grassroots, Indigenous women, girls and two s lgbt qqi A plus people,
and groups and families of mmiwgs MWG two S plus from conception of the
initiative to reporting on its progress and impact. We also call for funding proponents
to be required to already have in place formal policies and mechanisms for the prevention
and protection of Indigenous women, girls and twos lgbt q qqia plus peoples against
all forms of violence. Indigenous women, girls and twos lgbt qqia plus people
must feel safe in all spaces, provide services and supports, and it's critical
that actions and investment result in systemic changes to address the root causes of the
genocide against Indigenous women, girls and twos lgbtqqia plus people. This is why
we also call for the documentation, sharing, and utilization of lessons learned and
best practices of funded initiatives to inform systemic changes. This is how immediate actions
can turn into long term sustainable solutions. Collaborative relationships by all levels of government,
including Indigenous governments, are critical for the successful implementation of the two hundred
and thirty one Calls for Justice. The National Action Plan on MMIWG tows plus
and the Federal Pathway centering of families of MMWG twos plus survivors of gender and
race based violence and Indigenous Women girls and twoslgbt qqia plus people must be maintained
as a guiding principle for the implementation of the two hundred and thirty one Calls
Justice, the twenty one Quebec Quebec Calls for Justice and addressing the genocide of
Indigenous Women, Girls and to us lgbt qqia plus people. As a chair
of the National Family and Survivor Circle, I appreciate the invitation to participate in
today's announcement and look forward to timely, regular and resourced inclusion of family members
of MMIWG tows plus, survivors of gender and race based violence and Indigenous women
girls and to us lgbt qqia plus people across Canada by the federal government and
all others with obligations to implement the two hundred and thirty one calls for justice.
Thank you very much, Miss Madame Anderson Pearce. Now it's my pleasure
to invite the Honorable David Lamette, Minister of Jesse US in the twenty General
of Canada, to say a few words quite quay. Hello. First which
Elder Commander for the insight you share with us today, and thank you for
opening this event in a good way. And thanks to both of you,
Hilda and Elder Commander, for your time this morning. I two want to
acknowledge with gratefulness that were gathered today on the traditional and unseated territory of the
Algonquinano Snabig Nation. Thank you again, Elder Commander for helping us to respect
those protocols. Thanks Gary Parliamentary Secretary for being our MC today and thanks Mark
Millard for being at this announcement. Hilda as as as mentioned, is the
chair of the National Family and Survivors Circle and she's here with us this more
for this announcement. But she's not alone. I too would like to acknowledge
all the members of the National Family and Survivor's Circle who have been able to
join us virtually from across Canada. It's an honored privilege to share this announcement
today with you. Your leadership and your advocacy on behalf of Indigenous victims,
survivors and families is a big reason why we are here today. Lane nacional
so le fam le file person l j bette plus desperu a sassine de cri
Clerma Kennedy lan nature elsla vallance clea nacion lesuit elimi continue to sub lanquettism systemic
a individual andrere parley victim Eli surviva dat criminel alemisc disperu assassin name appoint a
plugier's up stack system take a structure effect lexis an stem discriminale a downdoad sector.
The report called for new practices and new partnerships across the justice system and
at the community level to improve access to culturally grounded support and assistance for First
Nations, Inuit and Mate who are victims and survivors of crime. It's clear
that we need new ways forward. We need for people to be able to
act to have increased safety and protection, improve access to justice, respect rights
and support, healing from the after aftermath of harm and victimization. And the
new ways should be Indigenous led, sustainable and responsive violance conteur le family person
l jib to keep plus atone in a tap empertan deceassorrekli victim leesviva atok don
i axe ad sutilma adepti etena conte de tromatisma. So this brings me to
today's announcement. Through Budget twenty three twenty twenty three, our government is providing
ninety five point eight million dollars over five years and then twenty point four million
dollars annually on an ongoing basis to support Indigenous families in accessing information about their
missing or murdered loved ones. This money will also be used to enhance the
availability and accessibility of culturally grounded services and support for Indigenous victims and survivors of
crime. Specifically, the investment includes thirty seven point three million dollars over five
years and then seven point seven million dollars annually to ensure that the critical services
provided by Family Information Liaison Units or filus to families of murdered Indigenous people continue
to be available for as long as they are needed. Normal worries about the
funding being sunseted, the funding is there twenty million dollars over five years,
and then four point one five million annually to ensure that families of missing and
murdered Indigenous people have access to Indigenous lead community based supports to assist them with
their grief and their healing journey. And finally thirty eight point six million dollars
over five years and then eight point five million annually to support a wide range
of Indigenous lead and co developed activities to support and assist Indigenous victims of crime
and survivors of violence across Canada. Vente evanier not contribuison o plan daccion de
lan nacional, la voi no gao metro lance a family file person, the
elbe q plus acton the de Justis Canada and virtue la feder also consant system
do justice plus a cuisif if you representative system. He respect april and clu
fam leffie le person the lbe Q plus so I include laxi service par e
poole cut alma adapte ta conte traumatism set vestis illustrate. He sends creo sid
and implement de la lapel cartla commission verte. He create a service ed program
at the Captain Financy Uncle Abrasion Attack Specific MA PULL Victim Aton. There's money
means that the Indigenous community organizations and agencies will have sustainable resources to design,
develop, and deliver the supports needed for victims and survivors in their communities.
It will also enhance Indigenous led partnership building and collaboration with all levels of government.
When I look at the programs and organizations this investment is supporting, I
think it represents an important acknowledgement Indigenous agencies and organizations have the knowledge and the
expertise to help overcome the barriers that Indigenous people who are victims of crime face
when accept accessing services and supports. Indigenous agencies and organizations know what they need
from the justice system and what they need to assist victims in their healing journey.
So this simply is the best way forward in supporting First Nations, Inuit
and Mate victims and survivors of crime. To all victims and survivors, you
deserve to know that these important programs will be there for as long as you
need them. I hope this funding provides the certainty and the support that you
need and that you deserve Thank you Messi Megwitch, thank you miss LEMDI.
Now I would like to invite um Sir Mark Miller and to say a few
words, Thank you Gared David um the other clidit qua mercy Commander la reconnaissance
territorial limoudu verture. Um. I'll start off where Minister Lameti ended, which
is the fact that this announcement today talks about sustainable funding. Sustainable funding is
directly called for in the Final Report into Murder Missing Indigenous Women and Girls so
that survivors their families can have predictable, recurring funding to help them heal and
to help them get answers, whether it's closure or accountability. The conclusion of
the Final Report in to Murder, Missing Indigenous Women and Girls is pretty clear.
Failure to provide these funds in a systemic way, in an Indigenous led
way means that people continue to go missing and often turn up dead or in
the case of their families, and the survivors do not get the closure and
accountability that they are that is due, and in turn they become vulnerable and
are more at risk of turning up missing and often dead. So today's announcement
is UM is one that is very important for a particularly vulnerable group in society
that Canada has to protect, and failure to do so means that more people
die. Suva Le Community GBTQ on its own continues usual. The tragedy is
one that is continuing to this day and it's one that requires systemic action by
the federal government. So when we talk about good news announcements, I wouldn't
propose is that this is one where we start patting ourselves on our backs,
because the federal government has a hell of a lot more work to do,
and it's one that we're committed to do, but it's got to come in
ways where Indigenous, particularly survivor led initiatives are telling us what to do,
and not necessarily from the federal government from the top up. So today's announcements
will help people. They will help survivors, they will help their families,
and they were most often given them that sense of predictability that the precariousness of
prior funding has made them even more insecure about how they get further answers inclosure.
I had the chance last week of sitting down with some of the families
in Winnipeg who are searching for their loved ones in a dump and they are
the ones that need to be leading this conversation. That conversation is and remains
confidential but between us, but it's one that has to be led by survivors
and their families. Um there is a continuum here that is one that is
important to highlight that often we talk about the federal response to the Final Report
and to murder, missing Indigenous women and girls, and we look at tragedy
and look at tragedy based investments, but those investments often lead to tragic public
policy. Today's announcements is a concerted response to what the final Report said,
which is what we have to look at the spectrum of these investments and look
at them in a way that, yes, obviously driven by the ongoing tragedy,
but the systemic approach needed to help for healing, enclosure and accountability in
the long term. Sits In Belji pulled the jan to it gets his une
uncle lespoire Or continued the repond was a pell alais migu, thank you,
Messie Mark. We will now open the floor for a question and answers.
News alom it now Marseille period. I know mister Miller has to leave in
a few minutes, but um, please go ahead if you have any questions
or concerns. Good morning, Olivia Stepanovich, CBC News. My question is
for Ministers Lametti and Miller. The per of the announcement today is that these
expanded services now include men and boys, and I'm wondering if you can explain
why that is and what specifically this funding will be used for for men and
boys. Thank you, Olivia. It is true that we're expanding that the
the the funding for Respect with Respect other programs to help victims and survivors of
violence. It's recognizing that that men and boys can can be victims of of
violence, of the systematic racism that leads to the kind of violence that that
happens. UM. The main the main point of the funding is that we
try to help all victims UM but in particular through through the PHILO system or
we're specifically focusing on missing and murdered Indigenous women and girls. But yes,
there are there are some other victims who are men and boys, and we
need to be able to reach out and help. Already, some of that's
being done already on an ad hoc level by some of the PHILO units.
But this is just making sure across the board that we are baking in the
resources so that the resources themselves are not in question, that they will be
there for as long as victims need them. I think there's a there's a
greater question in society that we have to ask when we talk about and my
WG people tend to close their mind and say, this is only about Indigenous
women and girls in the LGBTQ community, and I think that is some willful
blindness when we forget about the role that men play in perpetuating the violence in
society. We talk about the Moosehide campaign, which specifically deals with that point.
The fact that men and boys are abused makes them more susceptible to be
themselves abused and abused and go missing. I went to a community list time
last year where the list of their people missing was close to fifty percent men.
So this is something that is tangible and measurable, and it would be
it would be wrong to preclude access to services to men and boys because this
is an important part of that conversation. I think it also aligns us with
our partners in the US who are thanks to the new administration and Secretary Holland
taking a keener interest in my WG, and they specifically refer to the importance
of including men and boys, and as we seek to align our positions and
actually learn from each other and what we need to do to protect peoples that
we have both mister for generations, I think it's important that we do align
some of the some of the policy. So that's perhaps the reason for that
Olivia people to clarify how much is going towards men and boys? Okay,
And as a follow up, can we hear from Hilda about what you think
of this funding and if you believe it goes far enough? I think,
you know, considering you know, the violence that we experience as Indigenous women,
girls and two Sprutan gender diverse people, and the alarming rates of Indigenous
women, roles and two spirit and gender diverse people who experience violence and who
require supports and resources, I think the funding is a major step in the
right direction, but we all know that it's not enough. That we will
need a lot more funding, you know, to address the systemic and structural
racism you know that perpetuates the violence that we experience. So I think today's
announcement is an important step in the right direction, but we know that we
will require additional funding to be able to provide the adequate supports and resources that
are so desperately needed on the ground. But I you know, commend the
ministers for making the announcement today and you know, committing the money that's so
desperately needed. Phrasing you didn't maybe ten National News. This question is also
for Miss Anderson Pursu. I was wondering if maybe with the feedback that you
do get from survivors and their family, um, what do they tell you
are the gaps? I guess that they need to help them at least move
towe closure that they're not that they don't have enough funding for they're unable to
do at this time. Sorry, could you repeat your questions because there's some
background. I was wondering, what when you're talking to survivors and families on
the ground, what sort of feedback to get from them that's missing in terms
of allowing them to close the gap. I guess and they're healing and things
like that that they don't maybe have money to do right now that they that
they would like to do. You know, I think with today's announcement,
it has addressed a lot of the gaps that have been identified by survivors and
victims who we experience violence or who have lost a loved one to homicide.
You know, for the services to be indigenous led rooted in Indigenous ways of
knowing, being and doing, and you know that are that provide like land
based healing opportunities and connection to the culture, the language, and the identity
as Indigenous people are It's really critical and like today's announcement is providing pathways to
be able to do that important work on the ground, to be able to
connect with family members and survivors and too, spirit and gender diverse people who
are looking for those opportunities to be centered as victims and as survivors of gender
and race by violence where it's you know, connecting to who they are as
Indigenous people. Okay, And just as a follow up, I guess for
either yourself or mister Lamedi, what you mentioned that or the announcement mentioned that
some of this money can be used or could be used for finding out more
information about someone that's gone missing that people have been unable to obtain I guess
through their regular channels of police things like that. So could you maybe specify
how that might work for somebody that wants to get more information and how they
may use this money to get that information. Well, I think you know,
when you have lost your loved one to homicide or you of a loved
one who's missing, those answers are critical. You know, they bring a
form of healing. And I don't like to say closure, you know,
because when you lose a loved one, you never have closure. There's always
a piece of you that is unhealed or you know, so I always like
to say some form of peace that you're seeking. I think it could provide
depending on, you know, what the nature is of the loved one who's
been missing or who has died as a result of a homicide. I would
say that, you know, it could involve the potential of hiring a private
investigator, because I know this has been repeatedly shared with me when I was
the director of the MMWG lias On Unit. You know, with the gaps
in policing and responses and other mechanisms that are you know, out there that
are not necessarily responding in the way that families and victims are looking for supports,
it could also potentially, you know, support legal advocacy too, So
there's many ways that it can bring support. But I know those were to
key things that I heard a lot of when I was on the ground about
having you know, the access to legal but also access to hiring a private
investigator. But I'm not sure what the parameters are of the funding and the
call for proposal at this point. So you know, those are two critical
things that I've heard repeatedly on the ground. Okay, thank you, thank
you. I'm not sure if we have anyone on the line. If not,
I would like to invite our elder to give us some closing prayers.
All come together, let's all stand together. It's important that we stand together
to honor, to honor our women, to honor our men, to honor
our girls and our boys, and to honor our relatives, two spirited and
honor everyone. It's so important that this work that needs to be done,
the healing and the justice, it is a responsibility for everyone in this country,
for our women, our girls, our men, and our boys and
two spirited people. We deserve the right to live freely and to live in
safety and in respect. Let us put our hearts, our minds and our
spirit together as one, and let us offer a prayer that the Creator he
will embrace every one of our families and our relatives at this time who are
healing, healing from losing a loved one, and that losing a loved one
is a grief that will always be in one's art forever. But our love
and our prayer will comfort, will comfort the families, and our love and
our prayers will also bring healing and justice for those of our relatives that have
suffered this injustice, this violence, those that are missing, and those that
were murdered, and they are in that spirit world, and they need to
know that we feel for them and that we love them, and we pray
for them, and we say to the Creator as we thank them for the
beauty of life and for his love and bringing us here to day together.
We know that there's a lot of work that needs to be done, but
we must begin this work with a good heart, with a good spirit,
with a good mind and a good voice. And we have seen that goodness
that has shared here to day, and we must give thanks to the Creator
and to all our ancestors, and we must give thanks to all our relatives
who are in the spirit world, and we must give thanks to one another
and those that lead the front lines to help the families of m M I
w and too spirited. So we say thank you Creator, chimigwedgu j nongung
ki chimigwedge jo jiki ni nim awin Nybooks send them gisjimin a Donnybooks send them
mushkawiziwin Nybooks send them in a bomdzuwana shishnongumnongum shiwabung kichi megwich kishimin a do kichim
igwaj nijenwandagna kichi me egwech kukumi sag kichim igwach meshumsag kichi megwag o jikizagie doing.
Creator, we come together with that one heart, one spirit, one
voice, and one mind, and we thank you Creators. We thank the
grandmothers and the grandfathers of the four directions who have come into the circle.
Creator. We thank our ancestors, and we thank you for here in our
prayer and our gratitude for the love and the kindness that we shared here today.
And Creator, we ask that you bless each and every one of us
to continue doing this fundamental work that needs to be done for justice to prevail,
for justice to be given, for healing, for healing, Creator,
healing is so important, and it is through love and prayer that we will
see the reflections of life, the reflections of justice and the reflections of healing.
So Chi may wedge kijimina domigwachunji kinii name me awen. We thank you
Creator for hearing our prayer. Megwich, thank you. As we say in
our language and in our prayers, there is no word for good bye.
But I stand here at my sister Hilda, and I stand here with friends
and colleagues, and what we say to you as the agwam is in no
whitchkiwe dog nigowabmen. And until we see each other again, may God bless
you and we will come together in a great circle. Let us walk that
road together in peace, in love and kindness to heal. Ji Maywich,
thank you, Agwitch, Thank you for listening today. And I want to
stress that it is important to keep up with the information that is going out
to us. That we need to keep on top of the issues that are
happening in our community and pay attention so that when it comes time to vote,
when it comes time to maybe voice an opinion to elected officials or in
public, that we know exactly what is going on and how we can be
helpful to all of those who are around us, that we're not just sitting
there complacent and expecting someone else to fix the problem. That we are active
in the problem solving ourselves. It is our community and we need to take
hair of it. So with that, thank you for listening to policy and
Rights here in Depictions of Media Radio. I've been your host, Michael Clogs,
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us m H. The show has been produced by Depictions Media. Please contact
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