For immediate release
December 16, 2021

Treaty Five Territory, Thompson, MB – At the November 16-18, 2021, Manitoba Keewatinowi Okimakanak (MKO) Inc. Chiefs in Assembly, the leadership committed to and adopted four nation-directed resolutions mandating MKO and the Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls (MMIWG) Liaison Unit to ensure the 2021 Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women, Girls, and 2SLGBTQQIA+ People National Action Plan: Ending Violence Against Indigenous Women, Girls, and 2SLGBTQQIA+ People (National Action Plan) is implemented and realized in the Province of Manitoba.

Hilda Anderson-Pyrz

Hilda Anderson-Pyrz delivers a presentation at the MKO Chiefs Assembly in November 2021

These resolutions include:

  • Support for a Leadership Gathering to End Gender-Based Violence and Restore Matriarchal and Gender Roles as Integral to Nationhood
  • Support for the Development of a Plan to Transfer Manitoba Justice Victims Services Specific to the MKO Region to the Manitoba Keewatinowi Okimakanak Inc. Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls Liaison Unit
  • Support for a Regional Gathering of Service Providers Related to Missing and Murdered First Nations Women, Girls, and 2SLGBTQQIA+ People
  • Support to Develop a Decolonized Province-Wide First Nations Gender Equality and Gender-Based Curriculum for all Grades and Enhance Access to Prevention Programs and Services for First Nations Girls and 2SLGBTQQIA+ Peoples

 

“I honour the Chiefs in Assembly for putting their trust in the Unit. This heart work will build on the critical and important accomplishments to date to address and end gender-based violence against Indigenous women, girls and 2SLGBTQQIA+ people,” said Hilda Anderson-Pyrz, Director of the MMIWG Liaison Unit. “Our Unit looks forward to the full engagement of impacted families and survivors and 2SLGBTQQIA+ people and leadership for guidance in creating Indigenous-led distinction-based solutions and services that will reflect northern, remote, isolated communities, on reserve, off reserve and urban perspectives. We also look forward to building relationships and partnerships with other governments, the public and frontline service deliver organizations.”

 

“I look forward to the strategic outcomes and recommendations from the work ahead to contribute to reclaiming and restoring our nationhood, matriarchal and gender roles, and self-determination with the full implementation of our Treaty, inherent, constitutional and human rights,” said Grand Chief Garrison Settee. “MKO and the MMIWG Liaison Unit will partner with leadership, governments, service providers, and families and survivors of MMIWG and 2SLGBTQQIA+ people, who will be centered in work to end this tragedy. I anticipate commitment from the governments to help fund and partner with us in the actions ahead.”

 

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For more information: 

Melanie Ferris, MKO Communications
Cell: 204-612-1284
Email: [email protected]  

MKO resolutions: You can download a PDF copy of all resolutions made at the November 2021 Assembly here.

 Background:

This National Action Plan was released on June 3, 2021, in response to the National Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls Final Report, which identified 231 Calls for Justice. The Calls for Justice provide Principles for Change to guide interpretation and implementation, including Indigenous-Led Solutions and Services and Distinctions-Based approaches.

 

For more information please see: