Call for international action - 4th October

Call for international action with indigenous women from Quebec and Canada

All together, October 4th, 2014!

WHY SHOULD WE MOBILIZE ON OCTOBER 4th ?

Denounce the disappearance and murder of Indigenous women in Canada

In 2010, the Native Women's Association of Canada (NWAC) had gathered data on the disappearance and death of over 580 Indigenous women and girls in Canada over the past 20 years. A recent study (May 2014) of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police of Canada (RCMP), identified 1,017 cases of Indigenous women murdered between 1980 and 2012 and 169 cases of missing Indigenous women since 1952, actual numbers are much higher that the available data.

Indigenous women make up to 16% of female murder victims and 11% of the missing women, while they account for only 4% of all the women in Canada. 1,186 missing and murdered Indigenous women is the proportional equivalent of 35,000 Canadian women, or 8,250 women from Quebec. The silent disappearance of so many Indigenous women is a consequence of the colonialism process that threatens cultures, languages and well-being of the Indigenous communities. The introduction of patriarchal laws marginalizing Indigenous women in their own communities and throughout society, has led to a situation where Indigenous women suffer from vulnerability (homelessness, poverty, addictions, loss of identity, abusive relationships, etc.). They are five times more likely than non-Indigenous women to suffer from violence, which continues because of patriarchy and colonialism.

Why are Indigenous women exposed to so much violence?

Indigenous women in Canada were historically devalued, not only for being Indigenous, but also simply for being women. It is important to recognize the effects of colonialism. These still exist and continue to affect Indigenous girls and women. By understanding the intergenerational effects of colonialism, we can begin to address the issues and create a better future for Indigenous girls and women.

Colonialism led to construction of the image of Indigenous women as "squaws" - dirty, obscene, uncivilized and sexually deviant, which men would use to absolve themselves for sexual assaults on Indigenous women.

Canada has put in place policies leading to what can be described as cultural genocide because they were used to threaten the Indigenous traditions and culture. These include the removal of thousands of children from their families and placed in residential schools or white adoptive families in order to be assimilated. Such practices took place during the twenty-first century, but extended into the 1990s and had a disruptive effect on the roles, values and traditions within Indigenous families and increasing rates of depression, alcoholism, violence and suicide in Indigenous communities, exposing women and girls to a greater risk.

Today, many Indigenous women and girls are forced into situations or coping strategies that increase their vulnerability to violence, such as hitchhiking, drug addiction, homelessness, prostitution and other forms of sex work, involvement in gangs or abusive relationships. Many of them are also more at risk of violence due to high unemployment rates stemming particularly from racial prejudices that persist against Indigenous peoples.

Demand a national inquiry to analyze and eradicate this phenomenon

Quebec Native Women (FAQ) and the Native Women's Association of Canada (NWAC), demand a national inquiry, accompanied by an action plan. This is urgent and imperative! These atrocities can no longer continue, the victims’ families defend their right to seek truth and justice.

Systemic factors that promote the disappearance and murder of Indigenous women need to be properly identified, as well as processes and policies responsible for maintaining the status quo - and subsequent damage to Indigenous women and girls - be disclosed. Recommendations and MEASURES for change are needed to improve the safety of women and girls in all Indigenous communities in Canada.

A comprehensive national public inquiry into violence against Indigenous women and girls in Canada would provide assurance to Indigenous peoples that all levels of government recognize the seriousness of the issue and are committed to end the cycle of violence. It would also raise awareness of the human rights crisis in Canada, many Canadians are unaware of this issue. The inclusion of Indigenous families in the process of a national public inquiry, from planning to the post- report implementation will be paramount to the success of this activity and ensure that the voices of families are heard. It is also essential that this investigation enables Indigenous women's groups to be heard, given the amount of information they have collected over the years.

WHY IS YOUR SOLIDARITY NEEDED?

• Because your Canadian, Indigenous and non-Indigenous sisters need your support

• Because we need to put international pressure on the Canadian government

• Because the recommendations made by the UN are not be enough if they are not backed up by the voices of women worldwide

NWAC has brought the issue of the murdered and missing Indigenous women and girls to the attention of several international organizations. Following these calls for help in 2011, the UN Committee on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW) called on the Canadian government to conduct a national public inquiry into the disappearance and murders of Indigenous women of Canada. In 2013, this request was renewed by James Anaya, Special Rapporteur of the United Nations on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, during his visit to Canada.

However, the recommendations from international organizations have not been enough to convince the Canadian government to launch this investigation. It is time for things to change and for this reason, Indigenous and non-Indigenous women in Canada need the support of women around the world to increase pressure on the government. The power of a militant network from civil society such as the World March of Women will be to demonstrate to governments and the public that no matter where we live on the planet, there are thousands who decry the exploitation of women’s bodies and the oppression that our sisters must endure in the name of sexism, patriarchy, colonialism and racism.

We cannot wait! You have to convince the Canadian government that the whole world is watching. And for that,

your voice will make a difference!

We invite you to SIGN OPEN LETTER to the Canadian government to conduct a national public inquiry (see attached letter).

Send letter to the following address:

Stephen Harper

Premier Ministre du Canada

80, rue Wellington, Ottawa (Ontario) K1A 0A2

Send a copy by email: cqmmf2015@ffq.qc.ca or to the address:

Fédération des Femmes du Québec

110 rue Ste-Thérèse, bureau 309 Montréal (QC) H2Y 1E6

HOW WILL THE VIGIL ON OCTOBER 4TH TAKE PLACE

● In Canada

The October 4th commemoration began in 2006 when Bridget Tolley, fearing that people would forget what happened to her mother Gladys killed in 2001, took the initiative to organize a vigil on Parliament Hill in Canada to honor her mother and 500 other missing Indigenous women and girls across the country...

On October 4th, on the occasion of the Day of Remembrance for missing and murdered Indigenous women, vigils are being organized to denounce the indifference, calling upon the Canadian government to hold a national inquiry and engage all citizens of the world in the struggle for decolonization. These vigils will take the form of rallies in dozens of cities and towns in Canada. Candles will be lit in memory of the missing and murdered women and speeches will be delivered by Indigenous women. The aim is to highlight a problem that affects all of Canada, but also for women from around the world to put pressure on the Canadian government to act now so that policymakers address these murders and disappearances, and finally build a social transformation movement.

● Worldwide

In 2015, we, the World March of Women, will take back the streets for justice in this world. We will be thousands to march in cities and towns across Quebec and the world in a broad popular feminist movement. We will increase our resilience to take control our bodies and our lands from capitalism, patriarchy and colonialism.

Since the theme of the World March of Women in 2015 will focus on body control and territories and that this topic is at the heart of the struggles of Indigenous women, it seems essential that relationships of solidarity be built between Indigenous women and non-Indigenous women from around the world at the beginning of preparations for the World March of Women 2015.

That is why we request the solidarity of all, by the action below.

WHAT YOU CAN DO!

● In September and October : send your picture

To participate in the Day of Solidarity of October 4th, wherever you are in the world, send us a picture of you with a candle to add to our vigils. Send your photo to the address cqmmf2015@ffq.qc.ca stating your name and where the photo was taken (city + country) or post your photo directly to Facebook and Twitter with the hashtag #SISvigil

● After October 4th: discover the faces of women in solidarity around the world You can visit the gallery of women’s portraits in worldwide solidarity, who will be photographed with their lighted candles and will be available online on the website of the World March of Women of Quebec www.mmfqc.org and the WFQ and MMF’s Facebook pages. Join thousands of women in Canada who will gather on October 4th and light candles in dozens of cities and towns.

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For further information please contact:

Alice Lepetit at Women’s Federation of Quebec, alepetit@ffq.qc.ca

Isabelle Paillé at Quebec Native Women, non-violence@faq-qnw.org