Community Engagement &
Research Initial Results
Alberta Victims Services
Policy and Program Development Branch
Alberta Justice and Solicitor General
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ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
• Participating communities across the Province:
Chateh
Piikani
Saddle Lake Cree Nation
Bushie
Blood Tribe
Samson Cree Nation
Fox Lake
Ermineskin Cree Nation
Sturgeon Lake Cree Nation
Lac La Biche Lethbridge
Valleyview
Edmonton
Grande Prairie
Fort McMurray*
Wabasca/Big Stone Cree Nation
• Victim Service Units: Mackenzie, Rainbow/Assumption, Lac La Biche, High
Level, Lethbridge (City and RCMP), Ranchlands, Valleyview, Blood Tribe,
Grand Prairie, Fort McMurray, Maskwacis, Wabasca Regional
• RCMP KARE, RCMP K Division
• Municipal and Tribal Police Forces in Alberta
• ACT, CEASE, SNUG, IAAW
• Aboriginal community members
• Justice Canada
• Alberta Victims Services
• The countless other individuals and organizations that have contributed
their wisdom and expertise to this initiative
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“One woman goes missing, then
another, then another.
For a long time only those who
know and love them
pay attention.
Until the numbers start to
add up.”
- Finding Dawn
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What is the Missing and
Murdered Aboriginal
Women’s Initiative?
Research based initiative with the
goal to develop:
An Alberta Victim Services
Service Delivery Framework
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Objectives
• Establish base line data
• Identify any geographical
considerations
• Identify existing & needed support
resources
• Identify system gaps
• Examine current laws & policies
• Engage with Aboriginal communities
about their cultural safety needs
• Disseminate information
• Develop the framework
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Methodology – Guiding
Principles
• Respect
• Consent
• Responsibility
• Gender-Based analysis Plus (GBA+)
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How was the Research
conducted?
Two main activities:
• Literature review
• Mixed methodological study
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Literature Review
• Inform issue
• Provide themes
• Indigenous research
methodology
• Design of data collection
instruments
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Mixed Methods Study
• Participant Questionnaire
• Stakeholder engagement
• Community engagement
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What We Heard
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Root Causes:
Thoughts from Participants
Poverty
Family
Breakdown
Addictions
Lack of
identity/
culture/ self
worth
Sexism
Lateral
Violence
Intergenerational
Trauma
Domestic
Violence
Racism
Human
Trafficking
Sex Trade
Gang
involvement Involvement
How does this connect?
•
•
•
•
•
•
Isolation (geography)
Lack of housing
Lack of specialized shelters
Difficulty accessing counselling
Transportation challenges
Employment shortages/ living in
poverty
• Women/girls leave their communities
with no knowledge of city life
• Child Welfare involvement
• Transience
Lack of Awareness
Societal
• racism/sexism pervasive regarding Indigenous
women
• assumptions, myths and stereotypes
• lack of understanding of historical context/roots
• harmful language compounds trauma/increases
risk
Indigenous Communities
• little knowledge of colonization and its impacts
• assimilation policies, residential schools, 60’s
scoop
• traditional values, beliefs & ways of knowing
• lateral violence
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System Challenges
• Resources
• Police Response
• Need for safety planning
• Need to consider cultural safety when delivering
services to Indigenous people
• Rural-urban migration of Indigenous people
• Connection to human trafficking?
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How important is it to have culturally
sensitive & relevant services for
Indigenous victims of crime?
120
108
100
80
60
42
40
20
3
4
Not at all
Somewhat
Important
7
1
0
Important
Very Important
Unsure
Non-Applicable
Supporting Families of Missing
and Murdered Indigenous
Women (and Girls)
Specific ideas from Participants
Supporting Families – Promising
Practices
• Better understanding of what support is
needed by the families when they have lost a
loved one
• Dedicated resources: homicide & missing
• Consistent referrals to victim services
• Partnerships between service organizations
(KARE/Metis Child & Family Services)
• Written statements for media – focus on the
person not the lifestyle choices, provide
opportunities for understanding
Need for Enhanced Service
Provision identified
• Community building
– Presentations/education on related
issues
– Youth engagement strategy
• Continuity of service
• Crisis support teams
• Prevention activities
Other Strategies to Decrease
Risk
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Increase street/structural safety in communities
Comprehensive early intervention programs
Other training – eg. “Moving to the city” education
Governance support – Chief and Council, and
population as a whole
Increased human services staffing
Youth centres, more shelters
Improved access to all service providers
Community crisis lines
Safety Strategies
–
–
–
–
Toolkits (ID kits, contact information)
Self defense
Establishing a “contact schedule”
Community patrols
What’s next?
• Community dissemination events
• Resource Guides & Directory
• Provincial Framework
• Policy/Legislative review
• Missing Persons Policy for
Victims Services
• Annotated Research Bibliography
Elder's Meditation
"We must have respect and understanding for women
and all female life on this Earth which bears the
sacred gift of life."
Traditional Circle of Elders. ONONDAGA
At a gathering of Native Elders we were told that many
men of today had lost their ability to look at the Woman in a
sacred way. They said we were only looking at Her in a
physical sense and had lost the ability to look at Her
sacredness. They said the Woman has a powerful position
in the Unseen World. She has the special ability to bring
forth life. They told us to start showing Her respect and to
look upon her in a sacred manner. We must start this today.
Grandfather, show me how to see in a sacred way.