ISSUE: Violence Against Aboriginal Women
Background:
The deconstructing of Aboriginal women’s roles began with contact. Traditional ways of governance were systematically dismantled and women’s societal positions fell from being central to community decision making to that of near exclusion. A history of discriminatory policies has institutionalized the subjugation of Aboriginal women in Canada.
Fast Facts:
- Violence occurs in many forms including physical, mental, emotional and spiritual violence. Lateral violence is an outcome of colonialism that has had particular negative effects on Aboriginal women.
- Aboriginal women experience disproportionate rates of violence, as seen in the high rates of incarceration, abuse, victimization, marginalization, discrimination and racism.
- Systemic issues compound Aboriginal women’s negative experiences with the judicial, political, social and administrative systems of both Canadian and Aboriginal societies.
- Aboriginal women living both on and off reserve are often reluctant to report violence to police because they fear that their complaints will not be taken seriously.
Recommendations:
A. That all levels of government in partnership with ALL National Aboriginal Organizations take immediate action to address the underlying root causes of violence against women.
B. That the federal and provincial governments provide ALL National Aboriginal Organizations with necessary and equitable funding capacity to educate .the Canadian public about issues affecting Aboriginal women with an emphasis on violence.
C. That ALL National Aboriginal Organizations be included in ALL short-, medium- and long-term planning and implementation strategies associated with the National Aboriginal Women’s Summit.
D. That the federal government takes immediate steps to eliminate discriminatory legislation such as the Indian Act.
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For further information, please contact:
Al Fleming
Director
Public Affairs
613-747-6022 (office)
613-867-8696 (mobile)
al@abo-peoples.org
