Statement: Honouring Missing & Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls October 4, 2013 Share Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share on Reddit Share on LinkedIn Email For Immediate Release October 4, 2013 OTTAWA – The Aboriginal Peoples’ Commission released the following statement today to honour Missing & Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls: “Today, more than 200 Sisters in Spirit (SIS) vigils will be held in communities across the country to honour more than 600 Missing & Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls and their families. The Aboriginal Peoples’ Commission stands firmly with the Native Women’s Association of Canada (NWAC), the Assembly of First Nations (AFN) and the countless families and relatives across the country as they march to bring awareness to this national tragedy and to honour those who have been taken at the hands of violence. It was former Prime Minister Paul Martin’s Liberal government, which in 2005, committed more than $5 million over five years to Sisters in Spirit through the NWAC. Their research determined that there are a staggering 600+ Aboriginal women and girls presumed missing and/or murdered across Canada. To put this into perspective, if the same percentage of non-aboriginal women in Canada were missing or murdered, the number would now be well over 19,000 people. Liberals have a long advocated for a national public inquiry into the issue of Missing & Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls. This year, we continue that work alongside Dr. Carolyn Bennett, the MP for St. Paul’s and Liberal Aboriginal Affairs Critic, as she worked to establish the special Parliamentary Committee to investigate the issue. Liberals recognize that more must be done. The Aboriginal Peoples’ Commission encourages Liberals across Canada to join with Sisters in Spirit in honouring those lost and we will continue working to end this national disgrace.” For more information on a SIS Vigil near you, please visit: http://www.nwac.ca/2013-vigil-locations – 30 – For more information on the Aboriginal Peoples’ Commission, please contact: Kevin Seesequasis Vice-President (Communications) Contact Us