THE IBA CALLS ON THE WINNIPEG POLICE SERVICE TO IMPLEMENT AND HONOUR THE MMIWG CALLS FOR JUSTICE

If you are affected by MMIWG, are in distress, and require immediate emotional assistance you can call the National 24/7 MMIWG crisis line at 1-844-413-6649.

OTTAWA, ONT – The Indigenous Bar Association in Canada (the “IBA”) is deeply saddened by the recent news of four Indigenous women who have lost their lives at the hands of an alleged serial killer in Winnipeg, Manitoba. The IBA sends heartfelt condolences to the families and communities of the late Marcedes Myran, Morgan Beatrice Harris, Rebecca Contois, and the unidentified woman being referred to by the Indigenous community as Mashkode Bizhiki’ikew – Buffalo Woman.

 The remains of two of these Indigenous women are believed to be in a landfill north of Winnipeg; however, the Winnipeg Police Service has chosen not to conduct the search because of the challenging environment. These repeated failures by the Winnipeg police send the message that Indigenous women and girls do not matter. This is entirely unacceptable.

The IBA calls upon all governments to fully implement the 231 Calls for Justice found in the Final Report of the National Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls (the “MMIWG”) and highlights the need to urgently implement and support the Calls for Police Services found in Calls to Justice 9.1 through 9.11. Specifically, Call to Justice 9.4 states that “We call upon non-Indigenous polices services to ensure they have the capacity and resources to serve and protect Indigenous women, girls, and 2SLGBTQQIA people.”

Law enforcement must do better in supporting the families and communities of Indigenous women and girls. The Winnipeg Police Services’ budget was increased by $7 million this year to a total of

$320 million. These abundance resources should be used to mitigate the never-ending violence against Indigenous women and girls and implement the Calls to Justice. The Federal Government also has a role in providing resources to support Indigenous families when in times of crisis. All governments must take action to ensure the ongoing acts of violence against our matriarchs ends.

 The IBA is a national non-profit association comprised of Indigenous lawyers (practicing and non- practicing), legal academics and scholars, articling clerks and law students, including graduate and post-graduate law students. Our mandate is to promote the advancement of legal and social justice for Indigenous Peoples in Canada and the reform of laws and policies affecting Indigenous Peoples.

For more information, please contact IBA President Drew Lafond (dlafond@indigenousbar.ca), or visit www.indigenousbar.ca.

If you are affected by MMIWG, are in distress, and require immediate emotional assistance you can call the National 24/7 MMIWG crisis line at 1-844-413-6649.