Statement by Congress of Aboriginal Peoples
National Chief Patrick Brazeau on the
National Day of Remembrance and Action
On Violence Against Women
(December 6th, 2007 – Ottawa, ON) Today, Canada’s Aboriginal community is united in grief, sadness and sorrow. Over the past many years, approximately 500 Aboriginal women have gone missing from their families and communities. Many have had their lives taken from them in acts of calculated, senseless and needless violence.
No one needs to tell us of the harrowing impact these acts have had upon us. We feel it every day in our hearts, our minds, our souls, and to the very depths of our beings.
There can never be any acceptable explanation nor adequate reason to understand why such senseless acts befall our Sisters, Daughters and Mothers. Each and every one of these lives remains precious and rare in our sight.
Each of these souls remains worthy of our prayer, our tears and our unending sorrow. Each of the lights that were their beings, continues to shine on in our collective and personal memories.
While remembrance of these sad realities is not a time for partisan politics, I feel I have a responsibility and a moral obligation to call on governments of all jurisdictions to deal with this crisis – for that is exactly what it is – a very real and pressing crisis.
We need greater protection for our Aboriginal women. We need better investigation and more vigorous prosecution of those who perpetrate these heinous crimes.
And, we need every Canadian citizen, every reporter in the Canadian media and every community activist in this vast land of ours to say ENOUGH – and put an end to the killings.
I am the proud Father to two young Aboriginal girls. And, I will forever be the proud son of my late Mother, who taught me to love, respect and defend women, regardless of race, circumstance or station in life.
In this spirit of love and respect, we must put an end to racial discrimination and misogyny (or hatred for women). Both are far too prevalent in this country and it must come to an end.
In terms of giving Aboriginal women the dignity they so rightfully deserve, we must improve social services and begin to seriously respond to the very real needs of Aboriginal women.
And, we must begin to provide adequate financial resources directly into the Aboriginal community to the ultimate benefit of Aboriginal women and their children.
The fundamental answer to ending the plight of Aboriginal women is not about politics – it’s about people. Governments not only have a fiduciary responsibility to Aboriginal women, they have a moral obligation as well, to do the right thing.
This is more than an issue of jurisdictional wrangling; it really is a matter of life or death.
The killings must stop. The disappearances must stop. The neglect and lack of care must stop. What must not stop is our memory of our fallen and missing sisters, daughters and mothers -- and our determination to not rest until we have dealt with the root causes of the problems that rob us of our loved ones.
I dedicate to do whatever I can to effect change. I will not rest until the souls of our departed Aboriginal women can rest in peace, in the knowledge and belief that their passings have not been in vain. We owe them this, and so much more.
Let us, in solidarity as an Aboriginal community, treasure the memory of these women. They were and remain still, valued members of our communities. Their loss will not be forgotten, since in the end, their absence is a loss for all of Canada.
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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
