Federation of Sovereign Indigenous Nations of Saskatchewan (FSIN) Vice-Chief Aly Bear is calling for real action from the government to protect the province’s Indigenous people.
This means that when someone goes missing and an investigation is not properly carried out, then [une] wife, our child who could have been saved is not saved just because of this lack of awareness
says Aly Bear
This is the same call made by the official opposition critic for first nations and Métis relations, Betty Nippi-Albright.
Both women are calling on the province to recognize the disproportionate levels of violence that Indigenous peoples face and to stand in solidarity with them by adopting a declaration.
This statement will reflect the 231 recommendations of the National Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls.
” We Indigenous women experience disproportionate levels of violence that are all too often the result of government inaction. He does not intervene. A failure to stand up for those who need it most. »
For MP Nippi-Albright, it is important for the Government of Saskatchewan to commit to ending systemic racism and violence against Indigenous women and girls and Two-Spirit people.
She invites elected officials to take action and not be satisfied, she says, with a simple speech on the situation.
Society as a whole needs to wake up and recognize that when it comes to Indigenous women, we don’t get the attention that non-Indigenous women get when they go missing or are murdered, and we need to change that.
she points out.
A position relayed by Aly Bear who denounces a lack of awareness when it comes to a missing Aboriginal woman or girl.
The government promises to act
Saskatchewan Premier Scott Moe says his government discussed the final report of the National Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls. It does not exclude the possibility of working with the FSIN regarding his request.
When the FSIN asked us to take a look at this statement, we very quickly looked at all five articles of this statement.
he says.
And I think there are articles that the government can most certainly support […] This deserves a debate in this legislature
argues Scott Moe.
The FSIN emphasized the need to implement the 231 Calls for Justice from the report.
” We call on the Province of Saskatchewan, as well as our own First Nations institutions, to adopt the First Nations Women’s Declaration so that we can protect our people. »
Aly Bear indicated during the press conference that it is time to create an application, which would be used by indigenous peoples to send their own Amber alert.
She was referring in particular to the 5-year-old boy, Frank Young, missing since April 18 in the Cree Nation of Red Earth.
At this press conference, the two women were accompanied by the families of the missing or murdered Aboriginal women and girls.
This is the case of Loretta Henderson, the mother of Krista Kenny who went missing in 2009. Even though it’s been 13 years since his disappearance, it’s still just as difficult. Every day we talk about her, we always mention her because she was my only daughter.
Several activities were organized in the province to mark the National Red Dress Day
In Saskatoon, a commemoration was held at the Student Center Gordon Oakes Red Bear from the University of Saskatchewan.
With information from Sasha Teman, Jérémie Turbide and Laura Sciarpelletti
Reference-ici.radio-canada.ca