The Government of Canada is partnering with the province of Manitoba to launch a red dress alert system that would inform the public when an Indigenous woman, girl or two-spirited individual goes missing. The Red Dress Alert system aims to prevent deaths and increase safe reunions by sending out amber-like alerts.
The announcement of the alert system was made one day prior to Red Dress Day, a national day of awareness for missing and murdered Indigenous women, girls and two-spirited peoples.
Leah Gazan, a member of the parliament for the Winnipeg Center, believes that while this is a step forward in the MMIW movement, there is still work to be done.
According to Statistics Canada, the homicide rate for Indigenous women and girls is six times higher than that for their non-Indigenous counterparts. This information comes from reports published by the organization. The national inquiry released its findings five years ago, revealing that Indigenous women, girls, and two-spirited individuals are 12 times more likely to go missing or be murdered. These statistics highlight a pressing issue that demands immediate attention and action.
Community members and elders from reservations across Manitoba and Canada believe that the alert system could help reduce the risk of homicide for Indigenous women, girls and two-spirited peoples.
Manitoba’s minister for women and gender equity Nahanni Fontaine, explains that government officials are taking action to show Indigenous women, girls and two-spirit people that they matter.
The Manitoba pilot is to be designed and led by Indigenous peoples and is expected to help inform an eventual national alert system. The alert project will be funded through money set aside in this year’s federal and provincial budgets.
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