Stating that commemoration is a powerful way to honour truths, support healing, create awareness, and advance reconciliation, the federal government says it is investing over $13 million in over 100 commemoration initiatives from coast to coast to coast to help honour the lives and legacies of missing and murdered Indigenous women and girls.
That includes LGTBQ and Two Spirit people.
In a news release, the feds state that they recognize they cannot fully address the systemic causes of violence against Indigenous women, girls and LGBTQ and Two Spirit people without acknowledging the past.
Maryam Monsef, Minister for Women and Gender Equality, announced the funding Tuesday.
The Liberal government states that this responds to the National Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls’ (MMIWG) interim report, issued in November 2017, and stems from a Call for Proposals launched by Minister Monsef under the Commemoration Fund in February 2019.
The National Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls submitted its Final Report on June 3, 2019.
The government says it is carefully examining its findings in order to establish a holistic and effective path forward.
As a next step, the feds will be reviewing and bring forward a National Action Plan to address violence against Indigenous women, girls and LGBTQ and Two Spirit people.
“Our government is listening to survivors and families who have told us that in order to move forward meaningfully, we must also pause to remember and honour those who are missing and whose lives have been lost,” Monsef stated “That is what we are doing by supporting these commemorative projects across Canada – ensuring that we will never forget our sisters in spirit and that we can prevent such tragedies in the future.”