Resiliency Lodge Policy and Research

Our goals are to:

• Develop concrete actions to end the cycle of violence affecting Indigenous communities–particularly violence that may lead to the disappearance or death of Indigenous women, girls, Two-Spirit, transgender, or gender-diverse people.
• NWAC will not wait any longer to address the ongoing genocide against Indigenous women, girls, 2SLGBTQQAI+ people. Action from the federal government, or lack thereof, has been extremely disappointing thus far. NWAC is taking matters into its own hands and has established its own Action Plan with concrete and actionable steps toward violence prevention.
• Advocate on behalf of Indigenous women, girls, Two-Spirit, transgender, and gender-diverse people to provide families and communities with adequate, long-term funding for healing and support services, which can ultimately foster strength and build resilience.

Summary:

Rooted in Canada’s history of colonization, Indigenous women, girls, Two-spirit, transgender, and gender-diverse people in Canada face higher rates of violence than non-Indigenous women. Once held in high regard as leaders and givers of life, Indigenous women are now devalued because of their race and gender. This has led to disproportionately higher rates of experienced violence, spousal assault, family violence, and sexual assault toward Indigenous women, girls, Two-Spirit, transgender, and gender-diverse people.

NWAC is the leading voice against the ongoing genocide of Indigenous women, girls, Two-Spirit, transgender, and gender-diverse people. NWAC first started lobbying the federal government in 2002 to address systemic violence against Indigenous women and girls. Our Sisters in Spirit project created the first and only databases of MMIWG2S+ in Canada, listing 582 cases of missing and murdered Indigenous women and girls. NWAC recently established another initiative: Safe Passage, which offers a holistic, national database, with dedicated research and educational tools. NWAC continues to support and advocate on behalf of Indigenous women, girls, 2SLGBTQQAI+ people and their families, who have lost loved ones. However, the list of missing and murdered Indigenous women, girls, and 2SLGBTQQAI+ people continues to grow.