Canada is finally investigating murders of First Nations women
- Text by Adam White
- Photography by David Locke
After years of anger and protest, the Canadian government has finally addressed the murders of indigenous Canadians. Members of Canada’s First Nation communities made up a quarter of all Canadian homicide victims in 2014, despite forming just 4% of the country’s population. On December 9, the new Liberal government led by Justin Trudeau announced they are launching a much-demanded inquiry into what has become a national crisis.
According to a 2014 report by the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, an estimated 1,200 Native women and girls went missing or were murdered between 1980 and 2012, though it is widely believed actual numbers are much higher. A Toronto Star investigation this year also revealed that half of the murdered women did not know their killers, which suggests targeted killings.
The murder of indigenous Canadians, known as the First Nations, has long been an unspoken emergency in the country, granted little in the way of mass publicity. That is until the murder of 36-year-old Cindy Gladue, a sex worker found dead in the bathtub of a motel in 2011. One of the few Native murders to gain high-profile coverage in the country, the man initially charged with her murder was acquitted in March of this year by a jury of nine men and two women, none of whom were indigenous. This followed a trial marred by controversy and accusations of corruption and disrespect during the investigation.
The Gladue case quickly led to an outpouring of protest led by the No More Stolen Sisters campaign, launched by activists determined to bring justice to victims and curb the systemic devaluing of indigenous life.
Rebuilding the relationship between Canada’s First Nations and those in power was one of new Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s major political pledges on the campaign trail, and said in a speech to community leaders, “It is time for a renewed, nation-to-nation relationship with First Nations peoples, one that understands that the constitutionally guaranteed rights of First Nations in Canada are not an inconvenience but rather a sacred obligation.” The country’s prior Conservative government widely resisted launching a special inquiry into the murders, despite mounting uproar.
Trudeau has announced that the size and scope of the inquiry will be personally shaped by First Nations representatives along with the families of the many victims. Perry Bellegrade, the national chief of the Assembly of First Nations, responded with relief to the announcement. He told CBC News, “After years of denial and deflection, it is my hope we can make real strides in achieving justice for families and achieving safety and security for all our people.”
Enjoyed this article? Like Huck on Facebook or follow us on Twitter.
You might like
Ra’ed Khan and the tireless work of Road to Freedom
Hurriyah — Having been providing frontline aid and support to refugees for over a decade, a new book featuring poetry by Omar Mooro traces the story of the NGO. In this chapter extract, founder and music executive Ra’ed Khan explains its origins.
Written by: Isaac Muk
‘Baking Street’: Activists rename Tube stations in heatwave protest
‘Heatwave, sponsored by Shell’ — The protest comes as the UK recorded the hottest day in June ever recorded at 36.7C.
Written by: Ella Glossop
An intimate window into New York’s ’70s lesbian scene
We Others — An exhibition at The Photographer’s Gallery combines Donna Gottschalk’s unearthed photographs of LGBTQ+ activists and friends, along with Hélène Gianneccini’s written histories.
Written by: Miss Rosen
The Pope has declared holy war on AI
The New Butlerian Jihad — In his first encyclical letter, Pope Leo XIV addressed the increasing pervasiveness of artificial intelligence as a threat to the already fragile structures of society. Newsletter columnist Emma Garland makes sense of it all.
Written by: Emma Garland
On the frontlines of Britain’s ’80s protest movements
Protest and Equality — Against a backdrop of Thatcherism, hospital closures and global conflict, photographer Sarah Saunders was a documentarian of the long decade’s effects on society, as well as the communities actively resisting it.
Written by: Miss Rosen
6 years on from George Floyd, how much more accessible is the outdoors for People of Colour?
Second Nature — A new report by The Mix Global highlights continued barriers that marginalised folks face when exploring nature, despite attempts at greater representation. Phil Young takes stock of how far we’ve come.
Written by: Phil Young
