Photo: The Canadian Press
Cora Morgan, Defender of the First Nations Family for the Manitoba Chiefs’ Assembly.
Frontline workers are calling for more support for indigenous peoples after an analysis by Statistics Canada found that women of first nations, Inuit and mestizos were more likely to suffer physical or sexual violence in their lifetime if they were in state care such as children.
A recent report by Juristat said that 63 percent of indigenous women had experienced violence and almost half – 46 percent – had experienced sexual violence.
The analysis found that 81% of indigenous women who were in the child protection system had been physically or sexually assaulted during their lifetime.
Darlene Okemaysim-Sikot is co-chair of Iskwewuk E-wichiwitochik, which means “women walking together” in Cree. The Saskatoon Group has been supporting the families of missing women for nearly two decades.
Okemaysim-Sikot has talked to many women about how violence has permeated their lives as children in care.
“Their experiences of trauma and violence began at a young age, were taken away from their families and then placed in foster homes for violence,” she said.
The analysis says that violence in general is linked to the historical and continuing trauma of “colonization and related policies aimed at erasing indigenous cultures and dismantling indigenous families and communities”.
Certain characteristics in a person’s life increase the chances of experiencing violence, in particular being cared for as a child.
Indigenous women were almost six times more likely than non-indigenous women to be in the care of the government as children, the report said.
Across Canada, 52.2% of children in foster care are natives, although they make up about 7.7% of the total child population.
There are about 10,000 children in Manitoba alone. About 90 percent are locals. This province is called the zero of the crisis with the missing and killed indigenous women.
Cora Morgan, a defender of the family of the first nations of the Manitoba Chiefs’ Assembly, said detaining a child was inherently an act of violence.
“The most violent act you can do to a woman is to steal her child.”
The national investigation into missing and murdered indigenous women and girls has heard from many people who have experienced violence and loss of identity while in care. They also shared how they were significantly injured when their own children were taken away.
The final report of the investigation linked the national crisis to the child protection system.
Hilda Anderson-Pierce is chair of the National Circle of Families and Survivors. It brings together indigenous women from different backgrounds to develop a national plan in response to the inquiry.
“This publication underscores the urgent need for immediate action by all governments to prevent further violence against women, girls and (LGBTQ) indigenous peoples,” Anderson-Pirz said in an email.
Anderson-Pierce said there was evidence that many indigenous women and girls who went missing or were killed were taken from their families as children, resulting in trauma and destabilization, which led to greater likelihood of experiencing violence.
In 2020, the homicide rate of indigenous women was more than five times higher than that of non-indigenous women.
That same year, the federal government passed legislation to review the welfare of children, giving local groups jurisdiction over their own children. Many indigenous nations and other indigenous groups create frameworks for power over services for children and families. A handful already have jurisdiction.
The Canadian government has a responsibility to ensure that indigenous families do not suffer, Anderson-Pierce said.
“Systems need to focus on broader goals of wellness, healing and helping families rebuild relationships, culture and language, not children’s interventions,” she said.
The Statistics Canada report found that other characteristics, including housing damage and insecurity, were also associated with a higher likelihood of violence for Indigenous women.
In addition, indigenous women were more than twice as likely to report that they had little or no trust in the police compared to non-indigenous women.
Okemaysim-Sikot said she was encouraged that there were changes at every level to make women safer.
But, she said, more needs to happen.
“Tragedy still happens every day.”
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