Harper Conservatives continue to ignore missing and murdered Aboriginal women and girls

Posted April 21, 2010 By móniyáw

I am not a supporter of Conservative, Liberal, NDP, or Green political parties. If the Liberal party is going to put out a statement like this, then hopefully when it comes time for them to be in office they can walk-the-walk as well. – moniyaw

OTTAWA – A report released today that links social and economic inequities with the nearly 600 missing or murdered Aboriginal women should be a wake-up call to Stephen Harper, who has so far ignored calls for an inquiry and scrapped the Kelowna Accord that would have addressed many of those inequities, Liberal MPs said today.

“This is a government that has treated Aboriginal people like second-class citizens, first by cutting important social programs contained in the Kelowna Accord, and then by refusing to call a full investigation into missing women and girls,” said Liberal Status of Women Critic Anita Neville.

“We have called on this government time and again to take action on improving the living conditions for Aboriginal Canadians and to investigate missing and murdered Aboriginal women and girls,” added Liberal Critic for Aboriginal Affairs Todd Russell. “But our voices, and those of our First Nations, have fallen on deaf ears.”

The Native Women’s Association of Canada’s latest report, “What Their Stories Tell Us,” states that as of March 31, more than 582 Aboriginal women and girls have gone missing or been found murdered in Canada since 1970 – an increase of 60 reported cases from last year.

Along with highlighting the socio-economic inequities between Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal women, it also reveals that Aboriginal women experience much higher rates of violence.

Hon. Anita Neville (Winnipeg-Centre-Sud)

The Liberal Kelowna Accord sought to improve the socio-economic conditions of Aboriginal Canadians by closing the gap in education, skills development, health care, housing, access to clean water and employment.

“Across this country, Aboriginal women and girls are disappearing at an alarming rate, with many instances going unreported,” added Mr. Russell.  “The Government of Manitoba took the lead last year by coordinating a provincial investigation. But human trafficking crosses provincial and territorial boundaries, and to get to the root of this serious issue requires federal government leadership.”

Last May, the Liberal Opposition called on the Harper government to conduct a government-funded, public investigation into how and why the number of missing and murdered women and girls from Aboriginal communities is so high. Last summer, the Manitoba government established a task force to review cases involving missing and murdered women in the province.

“This week is National Victims of Crime Awareness Week and the Harper Government has not uttered one mention of the Aboriginal women and girls who are victims of these crimes,” concluded Ms. Neville. “For a government that claims to be tough on crime, justice for these women is out of reach.”

The original page is here.

Categories: Crime, Women
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Wowzer! Beautiful Ashley Callingbull running for Miss Universe

By móniyáw

Ashley Callingbull is a 20 year old university student currently enrolled at Concordia in Edmonton, Alberta and is working towards her BA of Drama.  She was born and raised in Enoch, Alberta, and has lived there most of her life.  Her dreams in life are to work with underprivileged children teaching and mentoring, using her talents of acting, dancing and singing.

. . .

She is an incredibly outgoing and unique person, and wishes to bring this to this years competition.  She hopes to become the first Cree Miss Universe Canada and open up the world to seeing another very beautiful side of our amazing country.

Follow the link here and give Ashley your support.

Categories: Arts, Women
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Government needs to take a stand and protect Aboriginal women at risk

Posted March 24, 2010 By móniyáw

The head of a national Aboriginal women’s group urged a police task force looking at the deaths of missing and murdered high-risk Manitoba women to review suspicious deaths as well.Jeannette Corbiere-Lavell, president of the Native Women’s Association of Canada (NWAC), was in Winnipeg on Tuesday to speak about violence against women.

RCMP headquarters in Winnipeg and the Winnipeg Police Service announced a seven-officer joint task force this August, bolstered by two civilian analysts. It’s reviewing 84 unsolved deaths and missing persons cases where foul play is suspected, dating back to 1926.

The task force does not have a mandate to examine deaths that are initially classified as suspicious but are not ultimately determined to be homicides.

For example, the task force is not examining the April 2009 death of Nicole Daniels, 16, who was found in a Transcona parking lot with a condom in her pocket and high amounts of alcohol in her system.

. . .

The organization estimated as of November 2008 there were 510 cases of missing or murdered Aboriginal women and girls, and put that number at more than 520 by early this year.

Corbiere-Lavell said leadership of Native communities – who are mostly men – must treat the issue of violence against women as a governance issue, not a social problem.

She said violence against First Nations is not simply an “internal problem” for the community.

The limited scope of the task force makes sense when you consider there is a larger problem that goes beyond Winnipeg and Manitoba. The government needs to take action and begin working to protect Aboriginal women at risk in Canada. From the short sentence given to Nicole Daniels above, the reader might decide this is the story of a teenager who drank too much, but the real story is much more disturbing and begs the question: why are the authorities not investigating the case of Nicole Daniels as murder? A young girl of 16 years is found dead, bruised, with large amounts of alcohol in her system and the authorities say the case is closed? Why does the Winnipeg Free Press feel it is necessary to mention that Nicole had a condom in her pocket?

You can read the full story about the task force here and learn more about Nicole Daniels here.

Categories: Crime, Women, Youth
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Family of murdered Tanya Brooks asks anyone with information to tell the police

Posted March 9, 2010 By móniyáw

Tanya Brooks

Brooks’ family gathered at the Mic Mac Friendship Centre on Gottingen Street yesterday, only a few blocks away from where Brooks’ body was found on May 11, 2009. They traveled from the Millbrook First Nation to a press conference to mark International Women’s Day, and to call attention to the over 500 aboriginal Canadian women who are missing or have been murdered.

Brooks’ sister, Maggie Brooks, expressed her frustration that no one is in custody for the killing.

“As of today with the Halifax Regional (Police) there has been no arrests made in her murder,” she said. “We urge anyone who has, or may have any information that has not already spoken to police to please come forward.”

Cheryl Maloney, president of the Nova Scotia Native Women’s Association, said the statistics of murdered and missing aboriginal women in Canada is evidence of unfair and unequal treatment.

“Aboriginal women are five times more likely to die violently,” Maloney said. “Aboriginal women need to be full partners… in the battle against violence, poverty, and discrimination.”

[...]

Read this article here.

Categories: Crime, Women
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Dogs used in search for Highway of Tears victim

Posted March 3, 2010 By móniyáw

PRINCE GEORGE, B.C. — Police were using search dogs and a backhoe Sunday in their continued hunt for the remains of a young Alberta woman who went missing more than seven years ago along British Columbia’s Highway of Tears.

RCMP were also searching for a mystery man, who they say could help them discover what happened to Nicole Hoar, a 25-year-old treeplanter from Red Deer, Alta., who disappeared near Prince George in central B.C. in 2002.

Police late last week descended on a two-hectare rural lot in the small lumber town of Isle Pierre, about 50 kilometres northwest of Prince George in central B.C. — a property once owned by a convicted murderer.

RCMP Cpl. Annie Linteau said Sunday that police had nearly finished their search at an unauthorized dumping area near Prince George but were awaiting the results of some tests before moving on.

“We’ve completed the search of the [dump] site,” Linteau said. “We’re just following up because there was a vehicle of interest at that location and we’re just continuing to examine the vehicle forensically and determine who the owner is and if there’s any relationship between the vehicle and our investigation.”

Two dogs were searching the Isle Pierre property Sunday while a backhoe was digging in the back corner of the rectangular plot of land.

Linteau said even if RCMP locate Hoar’s remains Sunday, they would likely not publicize the information until materials were analyzed in a police lab. RCMP are still seeking tips from the public on Hoar’s disappearance.

[...]

Some bloggers have commented that perhaps the Highway of Tears is only a part of a larger area, and one or more individuals are kidnapping women across North America. The RCMP and various local law enforcement groups need better financial support to build databases and coordinate their efforts.

Read the entire story here.

Categories: Crime, Women
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Throne Speech draws attention to slain, missing aboriginal women

By móniyáw

Wednesday’s Throne Speech took direct aim at Canada’s national epidemic of missing and murdered aboriginal women, saying the government will address the “disturbing number of unsolved cases” in a “pressing criminal justice priority.”

It’s a huge step forward, said Assembly of First Nations Chief Shawn Atleo, and it comes on the heels of two decades of advocacy and numerous calls to action.

The speech committed the government not only to work with aboriginal leaders to settle ongoing land claims, but also to improve water treatment on reserves, tackle gender inequalities and make education a priority – issues the Assembly of First Nations has been lobbying for as a vital investments in the country’s native communities.

It’s a stark contrast to last year’s Throne Speech, whose only mention of Canada’s aboriginals was in reference to protecting vulnerable populations and working with multiple levels of government.

[...]

Read the full article here

Categories: Crime, Culture, Women
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CSFS Wants Response For Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Women

Posted February 27, 2010 By móniyáw

Carrier Sekani Family Services Wants Response to Year Old Letter Requesting an Inquiry into Missing and Murder Women on the Highway of Tears

PRINCE GEORGE, BC, PRESS RELEASE–(Marketwire – Feb. 25, 2010) – Executive Director Warner Adam of Carrier Sekani Family Services (CSFS) has sent another letter to Premier Gordon Campbell and Attorney General Michael de Jong requesting an inquiry into the missing and murdered women on the Highway of Tears. The letter comes as follow up to a letter sent last April 20, 2009 to Premier Campbell and then Minister Wally Oppal from CSFS Highway of Tears coordinator Mavis A. Erickson. Erickson’s letter has not received an answer and it is coming up to the one year anniversary of the letter being sent. Executive Director Adam wants an answer to whether there will be an inquiry into the missing and murdered women on the Highway of Tears.

In the meantime, Last week Minister of Aboriginal Relations and Reconcilliation George Abbott said “no” to an inquiry into the missing and murdered aboriginal women in BC. During question period Thursday February 11th Minister Abbott said that “the police investigations into the individual cases would be sufficient.” Adam’s response to Minister Abbott is “That is unacceptable”.

According to Adam “It is obvious that the RCMP will never solve some of the cases that have seen a considerable time lapse since the first disappearance. It has been 41 years since the first Indigenous woman associated with the Highway of Tears cases went missing. Many people involved including police officers will have retired and undoubtedly paperwork has been lost and evidence misplaced in these cold cases. This is why CSFS and other First Nations groups in Canada continue to ask for an inquiry. As noted by Adam “With 137 missing and murdered Indigenous women. In Canada it is believed that there are 520 missing and murdered Indigenous women and that is a low estimate.”

Adam continued in his statement, “To date the United Nations Periodical Committee and the Committee to End Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW) have asked Canada to have a full inquiry into the missing and murdered women in Canada. So far the calls have gone unheeded by both levels of Government in Victoria and Ottawa. Examining the cases and showing respect for women missing and murdered would demonstrate the commitment to recognition and reconciliation adopted by the federal and provincial governments, and provide tangible evidence of the commitment to the philosophies engendered by the Prime Minister through Canada’s residential school apology.”

A time line of one year for a response is not indicative of recognition and reconciliation and the letter requesting an inquiry is worthy of a response from the Provincial Government.

Categories: Crime, Women
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Funding doubles for Highway of Tears investigation, but is it enough?

Posted February 26, 2010 By móniyáw

VANCOUVER – An investigative police team probing the murders or disappearances of 18 young women in northern B.C. has increased it budget to $3.6 million this year, up from $2.1 million spent in previous years, police announced Thursday.

The announcement came after members of the E-Pana investigation team spent most of the day Thursday meeting in Surrey with family members of the 18 women who were murdered or went missing along highways in northern B.C. and the Interior.

“The RCMP is fully committed to pursuing each of the identified investigations in order to bring successful conclusion to as many of the investigations as possible and closure to the families” Vancouver RCMP Chief Supt. Richard Bent said in a prepared statement after the meeting.

He assured the victims’ families that the RCMP is committed to catch “the person or persons responsible for their loved ones disappearance or murder.”

18 young women go missing along the Highway of Tears, but how many more cases could be related across Canada? Does the RCMP receive the necessary funding to develop tools in order to properly track and coorelate missing persons across the country?

Read the full story here.

Categories: Crime, Women
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Murder a hooker: Humour or poor taste?

Posted February 11, 2010 By móniyáw

Earlier today I came across a truly disturbing Facebook group called “Killing Your Hooker So You Don’t Have to Pay For Her.”

The group’s picture (click here to see the picture, scroll down) was that of a man aggressively chocking a woman lying face down. I was shocked, especially when I saw that the group had over 22,000 fans.

Who were these people? Better yet who created the group and why? Did these people think this group was funny because violence against sex workers isn’t funny? It’s actually a real problem that women around the world face every day.

In fact, this problem is so real that a national day of recognition – International Day to End Violence Against Sex Workers – has been created to call attention to the heinous violence committed against sex workers across the globe. Each year on December 17th sex workers and their allies hold candlelight vigils to remember those murdered and raise awareness of the hate crimes committed against sex workers every day.

Women who enter the sex industry do not do so by choice. Poverty, inadequate education, gender inequality, a lack of other economically viable job options, and a host of other complex reasons often leave them with no other alternatives. Society, however, paints a different picture of sex workers – often calling their character or morals into question instead of recognizing the various reasons that put them in this dangerous position.

[...]

Is this dark humour or poor taste? Dark humour ofttimes provides a mirror for society to examine an issue that is uncomfortable or difficult to face, but in this case it sounds like the humour is at the expense of a particular group. What do you think? Decide for yourself by reviewing the full article and links from here.

(Personally I prefer the type of dark humour illustrated by this link. — moniyaw)

Categories: Culture, Women

Advocates disappointed Women’s Memorial March takes back seat to Olympics

By móniyáw

In the shadow of Olympic hoopla are the city’s numerous activists and advocates who are vying for a piece of international media attention.

Even with an estimated 10,000 media representatives in Vancouver for the 2010 Games, getting their attention isn’t always easy.

Dalannah Bowen, an advocate for the cause of the missing and murdered women of the Downtown Eastside, discovered that quickly Wednesday morning at a poorly attended press conference about the Women’s Memorial March held annually on Feb. 14.

“There were a number of press conferences this morning and three this afternoon. So the competition is stiff right now,” Bowen acknowledged.

[...]

Search Google for “Olympics raising awareness”, and you will find a number of good causes presented by athletes and teams who are doing their part to help. Among all of the various individuals and groups attempting to raise awareness, it tends to be the large commercial companies that raise the most awareness. The plight of missing women from the Downtown Eastside is an issue that needs greater awareness, but I suspect in this case the Olympics will be more detrimental than helpful to this cause. Read the full article here.

Categories: Crime, Women