As First Nations mark Red Dress Day, a day to raise awareness for missing an murdered Indigenous women and girls, the Federation of Sovereign Indigenous Nations has updated and launched a new declaration to assert more protections for all forms of violence faced by First Nations People.
“We are calling on all levels of Government and our First Nations Institutions to adopt and uphold the Declaration to ensure we are reclaiming power and place,” said Vice-Chief Aly Bear. “We need our society, institutions, and workplaces to be safe spaces where we no longer live in fear for ourselves and our family’s safety daily. We need to have these standards upheld so we are given the respect and dignity owed to put an end to the ongoing violence inflicted daily.”
The FSIN is calling for the implementation of the 231 Calls to Action contained in the final report issued by the National Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls.
“Our First Nations Women and Girls must be protected from the unacceptable levels of violence experienced in Canadian society and our communities,” Chief Bobby Cameron said. “The time has come to acknowledge the truths and findings in The Final Report of the National Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Women and Girls and to strive to create safer communities for all, through education and awareness.”
Sask. lawmakers are expected today to debate the declaration.
NDP MLA Betty Nippi-Albright explained there are actions the province can adopt to make change. “The call upon all levels of government to adopt principles of change, including a focus on substantial equality and human and indigenous rights are a decolonization approach, an indigenous led solutions, recognizing distinction, cultural safety, and adoption of a trauma informed approach,” explained Nippi-Albright.
Red Dress Day, which started in 2010, encourages people to wear a red dress or display it, as it acts a symbol to raise awareness to the violence Indigenous women face daily.