For centuries Aboriginal people have been considered less
than lower class citizens. Many Aboriginal people live well below the poverty
line. Reserves are poorly built and have issues that begin from the root and
affect the plant as well as the whole crop field.
Since first contact, there have been issues between
Aboriginal people and non-Aboriginal people. Some of the people to suffer these
disputes were Aboriginal women.
There are more Aboriginal women that go missing than any
other cases in Canada. Aboriginal women are a majority of those numbers. These
women are taken from their homes, their lives and families. These women almost
always never return. It is a heartache that isn’t heard throughout the country
either.
Many people do not know the alarming number of which
Aboriginal women contribute to the missing women’s list. Some people just simply don’t care. Others
just don’t know because there is minimum to no coverage of these missing women;
sometimes when the women do turn up, it is far too late to save them.
This article talks about a woman who participated in the
National Aboriginal Women’s Summit. She speaks of how she was disappointed with
how the summit went. The premiers and other government officials that attended
couldn’t do anything for these women and organizations that also attended. She
speaks of how these government officials seem like they merely attend because
it looks good on paper to others. These government officials don’t help in any
way to help these women find justice.
This is another article regarding the National Aboriginal
Women’s Summit. This article focuses more on the lack of co-operation from the
federal and provincial governments. The federal government didn’t attend the
summit at all. It is also the Crown’s responsibility to defend Aboriginal
people throughout Canada. The one thing that would truly help these
organizations attain the support needed to make a difference would be a public
inquiry. Although some provinces receive minimum support from the officials of
those provinces, there are few that are moving forward. One of these
progressing provinces is Manitoba. Manitoba now has a police task force
dedicated to investigating both missing and homicide Aboriginal cases.
“Aboriginal
groups have said they want the inquiry to examine two specific areas: 1) how
police investigate missing persons and homicide cases and; 2) the effect
poverty and socio-economic factors have on aboriginal women.” (Picard, 2012)
This last article is from the first day of the two-day
event. The woman being interviewed is a victim of having a missing loved one.
The woman speaks of how it is upsetting to not know what happened to her loved
one and how officials aren’t doing anything about it. She along with others
speaks of hopefulness for the rest of the event. One of those hopeful wishes
was that the families of victims could speak freely at the event; sadly this
wish was not met.
These families put themselves out there seeking help and
support from provincial and federal officials. Seeking help from police and
other officials that are meant to protect and defend the people of this country.
When these families’ cries are met with nothing but silence or excuses it makes
this battle harder. Fortunately for the families, it also builds their determination
and fuels their passion for justice.
Natascia, L. (2012). National aboriginal women’s summit disappoints indigenous groups. Halifax media co-op, Retrieved from http://halifax.mediacoop.ca/story/national-aboriginal-women’s-summit-disappoints-ind/14093
Picard, A. (2012). Too many aboriginal women have died. it’s time for action. The globe and mail, Retrieved from http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/national/too-many-aboriginal-women-have-died-its-time-for-action/article4961973/
Rollason, K. (2012). Missing aboriginal women a tragedy. Winnipeg free press, Retrieved from http://www.winnipegfreepress.com/local/missing-aboriginal-women-a-tragedy-176914611.html
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