Tories Accused Of Shutting Down Sisters In Spirit

Tories Accused Of Shutting Down Sisters In Spirit

Thursday, November 04, 2010 at 15:45

It appears a lead organization in Canada when it comes to awareness of missing and murdered Aboriginal women has an uncertain future.

Liberal MP and Aboriginal Affairs critic Todd Russell says continued funding for Sisters In Spirit has conditions on it.

Russell says not only is Sisters In Spirit being required to change its name, under terms of a new funding agreement the group can’t dedicate any program resources to data collection or advocacy.

NDP Status of Women critic Irene Mathyssen says the important research Sisters in Spirit has done may now be lost, and the government needs to explain how this data will be protected.

NDP Aboriginal Affairs critic Jean Crowder says Sisters in Spirit showed the gaps in reporting and investigations into missing and murdered women and “their reward is to be shut down”.

The Native Women’s Association of Canada say it is meeting this weekend to develop a strategy to renew Sisters In Spirit funding through the federal office of the Status of Women.