Introduction
Canada, often regarded as a beacon of peace and human rights, harbors a deeply troubling and under-reported crisis: the ongoing violence against Indigenous women and girls. Since 1980, more than 1,100 Indigenous women and girls have been murdered or gone missing across the country, a grim statistic that was highlighted in a 2017 United Nations report. The issue came into the national spotlight in 2014 with the brutal murder of 15-year-old Tina Fontaine, whose tragic death became a rallying cry for justice and led to greater awareness of the systemic violence faced by Indigenous women in Canada. However, despite increased public attention, the crisis continues to reflect the deep-seated historical inequalities and systemic racism that have plagued Indigenous communities for generations.
Colonial Roots: A Legacy of Oppression
The violence faced by Indigenous women and girls in Canada is not a new phenomenon. Its roots can be traced back to the country’s colonial history, when European settlers arrived in North America and began to displace Indigenous peoples from their lands. This process of colonization involved not only physical violence but also the imposition of European cultural norms and values, which systematically devalued Indigenous identities and ways of life.
One of the most egregious examples of this cultural suppression was the residential school system, which operated in Canada from the late 19th century until the 1990s. Indigenous children were forcibly removed from their families and communities and placed in these government-funded, church-run schools, where they were forbidden to speak their languages or practice their cultural traditions. Many children suffered physical, emotional, and sexual abuse in these institutions, and the intergenerational trauma caused by this system has had lasting effects on Indigenous communities, contributing to social and economic disparities that persist to this day.
The colonial government’s policies also targeted Indigenous women specifically, undermining their traditional roles as leaders and caregivers within their communities. The imposition of European gender norms, which placed women in subservient roles, eroded the matriarchal structures that had been central to many Indigenous societies. This marginalization of Indigenous women created a context in which they became more vulnerable to violence, a reality that has persisted into the present day.
The National Inquiry: Exposing the Crisis
The crisis of missing and murdered Indigenous women and girls gained national attention in the early 21st century, culminating in the establishment of the National Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls in 2016. This inquiry, initiated by the Canadian government in response to pressure from Indigenous advocates and human rights organizations, sought to investigate the systemic causes of violence against Indigenous women and to recommend measures to address the issue.
The inquiry’s final report, released in 2019, was a damning indictment of Canada’s historical and ongoing treatment of Indigenous peoples. It concluded that the violence against Indigenous women and girls constituted a form of “genocide,” rooted in colonial policies and practices that have dehumanized and marginalized Indigenous peoples for centuries. The report identified several key factors contributing to the crisis, including poverty, systemic racism, inadequate access to social services, and the overrepresentation of Indigenous children in the child welfare system.
One of the most significant findings of the inquiry was that the justice system in Canada has consistently failed Indigenous women. Law enforcement agencies have often been slow to investigate cases of missing and murdered Indigenous women, and many families have reported being treated with indifference or outright hostility by police. This lack of accountability has allowed the violence to continue unchecked, perpetuating a cycle of harm that has devastated Indigenous communities.
Tina Fontaine: A Symbol of a Broken System
The murder of Tina Fontaine in 2014 became a symbol of the crisis facing Indigenous women and the broader failings of the Canadian justice system. Tina, a 15-year-old girl from the Sagkeeng First Nation, was found dead in Winnipeg’s Red River, wrapped in plastic and weighted down with rocks. Her death shocked the nation and brought attention to the vulnerability of Indigenous girls, many of whom, like Tina, come from marginalized and impoverished backgrounds.
Tina had been in the care of Child and Family Services (CFS) at the time of her death, a system that has been widely criticized for disproportionately apprehending Indigenous children and placing them in often unsafe environments. In the months leading up to her murder, Tina had repeatedly fallen through the cracks of the social services system, despite numerous red flags indicating that she was in danger. The failure of CFS to protect her, combined with the slow and inadequate police response, highlighted the systemic neglect faced by Indigenous children in Canada.
Tina’s death sparked nationwide protests and led to the creation of the “Drag the Red” campaign, in which volunteers began searching Winnipeg’s rivers for the remains of other missing Indigenous women. Her case also became a catalyst for the National Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls, which was launched shortly after her murder.
Despite the attention Tina’s case garnered, the justice system failed her once again when her accused killer, Raymond Cormier, was acquitted of second-degree murder in 2018. The acquittal outraged Indigenous communities and their allies, who saw it as yet another example of how the Canadian legal system devalues the lives of Indigenous women. While Cormier’s acquittal may have been based on the lack of direct evidence, the broader issue of systemic racism and neglect within the justice system remains unaddressed.
The Impact of Systemic Racism
Systemic racism is a key factor in the violence against Indigenous women and girls in Canada. Indigenous peoples have long been marginalized and discriminated against in Canadian society, and this marginalization has had far-reaching effects on their access to education, employment, healthcare, and housing. Indigenous women, in particular, face multiple layers of discrimination based on both their gender and their ethnicity, making them more vulnerable to violence.
The lack of adequate social services and support for Indigenous communities further exacerbates the problem. Many Indigenous women live in poverty and face barriers to accessing healthcare, housing, and employment. This economic marginalization makes them more vulnerable to exploitation and abuse, and the lack of support services leaves them with few options for escaping violent situations.
The overrepresentation of Indigenous people in the criminal justice system is another manifestation of systemic racism. Indigenous women are disproportionately incarcerated, often as a result of poverty, addiction, and trauma stemming from their experiences of violence and discrimination. At the same time, the justice system has consistently failed to hold perpetrators of violence against Indigenous women accountable, further entrenching the cycle of violence.
Moving Forward: A Call for Justice and Healing
While the National Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls brought much-needed attention to the crisis, the recommendations made in the final report have yet to be fully implemented. Indigenous advocates and human rights organizations continue to call on the Canadian government to take concrete action to address the root causes of violence against Indigenous women, including systemic racism, poverty, and the lack of adequate social services.
Healing from the legacy of colonial violence will require more than just symbolic gestures or piecemeal reforms. It will require a fundamental rethinking of Canada’s relationship with its Indigenous peoples, one that prioritizes reconciliation, justice, and the empowerment of Indigenous women. This means not only addressing the immediate crisis of violence but also tackling the broader systemic issues that have made Indigenous women so vulnerable in the first place.
Conclusion
The crisis of missing and murdered Indigenous women and girls in Canada is a stark reminder of the country’s colonial past and the ongoing legacy of violence and discrimination faced by Indigenous peoples. The brutal murder of Tina Fontaine brought national attention to the issue, but much work remains to be done. To truly address this crisis, Canada must confront its history of systemic racism and colonial violence and work towards creating a future where Indigenous women and girls are safe, valued, and empowered.
