Statement By Lorraine Whitman, President Of The Native Women’s Association Of Canada, On The Death Of Chantel Moore

June 5, 2020

I am horrified to learn that a young First Nations woman named Chantel Moore was killed this week by police in Edmundston, New Brunswick.

My heart, and the hearts of all Indigenous women of Canada, go out to her family and the loved ones she leaves behind. Another young First Nations child will grow up never knowing her mother.

We, like all Canadians, await the results of the investigation in this case to find out what went wrong, and to learn if Chantel’s loss could have been prevented.

What we do know, even before that investigation is concluded, is that there is a lack of health, wellness and safety supports for Indigenous women who move to cities across this country.

We do know that there are a disproportionate number of First Nations, Metis and Inuit women who are murdered or go missing year after year.

We do know that the first-year anniversary of the report of the National Inquiry into the Missing and Murdered Indigenous women came and went this week without a promised National Action Plan from the federal government to address the violence.

And we do know that the violence continues.

It’s time to take action. We have to move to stop the violence. We cannot have another mother, daughter, sister or auntie murdered.

We mourn the loss of Chantel, and all of our other Indigenous sisters who have died too young. And we pray for her family members and friends, and other families like hers, who have been devastated by this ongoing tragedy.

Media Contact:

For information, or to arrange an interview, contact:
communications@nwac.ca
343-996-4565

Pour obtenir plus d’information ou prendre des dispositions pour une interview, contacter:
communications@nwac.ca
343-996-4565