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AFN Press Release

Assembly of First Nations National Chief Marks National Day of Remembrance and Action on Violence Against Women, To Appear Before Special Parliamentary Committee

OTTAWA, Dec. 5, 2013 /CNW/ - Assembly of First Nations (AFN) National Chief Shawn A-in-chut Atleo, together with AFN Alberta Regional Chief Cameron Alexis, will appear this evening before the Special Parliamentary Committee on Violence Against Indigenous Women, established to propose solutions to the root causes of violence against Indigenous women and girls.

"This committee can play a critical role in demanding that the federal government show real action and investments in the safety of Indigenous women and girls, some of the most vulnerable citizens in this country," said AFN National Chief Shawn Atleo, who is also meeting today with the Hon. Stephen Blaney, Minister of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness.  "While I look forward to appearing before the committee, it must not be overlooked how essential it is for the committee to hear directly from the families, victims and support workers impacted at the community level.  AFN has been and will continue to press for this, and we understand the committee will hear from families next week."

AFN Regional Chief Cameron Alexis, who leads national efforts for the AFN in community safety and policing, said, "While we do not need another report or study to show the urgent need for action, our hope is that the recommendations of this committee will echo those of First Nations, including the call for a National Public Commission of Inquiry, as well as support for a First Nations driven national action plan to end violence."

In February of this year AFN acknowledged all-party support for the development of the Special Parliamentary Committee.  National Chief Atleo and AFN support the call for a National Public Commission of Inquiry and the National Chief has urged Parliament to be fully inclusive of the voices of Indigenous peoples in order to bring forward solutions and the action urgently needed to address violence and the root causes and conditions.

Tomorrow, December 6, will mark the National Day of Remembrance and Action on Violence Against Women in Canada, recognizing the anniversary of the murders of 14 young women at l'École Polytechnique de Montréal in 1989.

"On a day that we remember and honour young women whose lives were tragically cut short by violence, we look to the future of our daughters with strengthened purpose to work together and take every opportunity to ensure all Indigenous women and girls are able to fulfill their hopes and dreams without fear of violence," said National Chief Atleo.

Community safety and policing will be a topic of discussion during the AFN Special Chiefs Assembly taking place at the Hilton Lac Leamy in Gatineau, QC December 10-12, 2013. For more information and an agenda of the AFN SCA visit http://www.afn.ca/uploads/files/13-12-01_sca_draft_agenda.pdf.

For more information on First Nations efforts to end violence, including a draft National Action plan visit http://www.afn.ca/index.php/en/policy-areas/i-pledge.-end-violence.

The Assembly of First Nations is the national organization representing First Nations citizens in Canada. Follow AFN on Twitter @AFN_Comms, @AFN_Updates. 

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National Chief Atleo makes emotional plea to committee on violence against indigenous women

Laura Beaulne-Stuebing, iPolitics, December 6

Things shifted quite a bit in the committee room when MP Cathy Mcleod brought up the story of CJ Fowler, a 16 year old girl from B.C.'s Gitanmaax First Nation. Fowler's body was found on Dec. 5, 2012 and her murder is still unsolved. AFN National Chief Shawn Atleo, and a few others from the AFN as well as Jeffrey Cyr from the National Association of Friendship Centres, were speaking to members of the special committee on violence against indigenous women, which convenes on Thursday evenings. Fowler's name came up near the end of the question-and-answer portion of the meeting. Atleo, who hails from British Columbia and remembers consoling and supporting Fowler's family a year ago, had to take a moment. He struggled to speak, and a fellow witness, Charlene Belleau, patted him on the back in comfort. The room was nearly silent. "I know that the family is going through ceremony tonight," he finally said. "Charlene and I were with the family... we were with them the day they went in to identify the body." "We're talking about real people, right across this entire country. And absolutely this is emotional, so we emote," he continued. "This is not just an intellectual conversation that we're having, and it should be emotional to say we have a shared obligation." In his opening statement, Atleo brought forward four requests to the committee - immediate actions he says the committee needs to put into motion to create change. Those actions, he said, include: launching an open, public inquiry into missing and murdered aboriginal women; creating a national action plan with clearly articulated goals; immediately increasing investments to front-line services such as shelters, and; focusing on violence prevention in both urban and remote communities. This isn't the first time - and probably won't be the last - that Atleo has pushed for a national public inquiry. The AFN and other organizations have been calling on the federal government for years to take a lead and get to the bottom of what many say is one of Canada's greatest shames. "What has prevented us from moving forward in the past? Has it been cost, has it been negligence or has it been an oversight?" Atleo asked. "The children, families and communities that have been indelibly marked by violence deserve answers and accountability towards the future - a commitment that we will all strive to achieve safely." "I believe you have a unique and powerful role and I urge you to use it for the best outcomes," he said to the committee. Despite Atleo's words, the federal government remains skeptical about launching such an inquiry. Atleo noted that in his Crown-First Nations meeting with Stephen Harper last January, the prime minister said he'd not seen any evidence that an inquiry into missing and murdered aboriginal women would make a difference. Atleo, of course, doesn't believe this to be the case. The committee on violence against indigenous women was struck last February, after a motion put forward by Liberal MP Carolyn Bennett received support from all parties in the House of Commons. Although everyone involved wants to see the committee make positive changes, it's been rife with problems ever since it began - problems ranging from the time it meets on Thursday evenings, to deciding who to call in to appear as witnesses, to witnesses getting frustrated over its lack of progress, to the fact that it only has a one-year mandate, which may not give members enough time to do the work they need to do. The general idea is that after the year wraps up, committee members will put their heads together and write a final report, including in it recommendations for the federal government. Whether the recommendations will include launching a national public inquiry - although committee witnesses have said such a thing is essential - remains unclear. Some might believe an inquiry is only about looking into the past, but this isn't so, Atleo said Thursday. It's about the current, tragic situation, he added - aboriginal women and girls are going missing now, at 2 to 3 a week. And then of course, there are the stories of so many families - like CJ Fowler's - who are waiting and waiting for answers. "This has to change," Atleo said. "You as a committee hold in this room incredible responsibilities and opportunities... to say to Canada, we are going to be open and accountable." We are a first world country, Atleo said, with a tragedy of "just incomprehensible levels." "It's time that we just, as a country, acknowledged this, accepted shared responsibility for it and developed an approach that is led by, rightfully so, the federal government." As the clock ran out, and the hour neared 8 p.m, Atleo made one final remark to the members of parliament sitting at the table in front of him. "I know this is a struggle for Canada to really reflect on," he said, "But it's a moment where Canada can demonstrate leadership." He continued, "Indigenous rights are human rights. And for us to shine as a champion for human rights around the world, this work has to happen right here and right now."

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AFN Press Release

December 6, 2013

Assembly of First Nations National Women's Council Honours and Remembers Women Lost to Violence, Urges Action Towards Community Safety

(Ottawa, ON) - The Assembly of First Nations (AFN) National Women's Council released the following statement today marking the Montreal Massacre and the National Day of Remembrance and Action on Violence Against Women in Canada.

The Assembly of First Nations National Women's Council recognizes the anniversary of the tragic murders of 14 young women at l'École Polytechnique de Montréal in 1989. On behalf of First Nations women across Canada, we continue to call for concrete action and immediate investments to ensure safety and security for all women and girls.

Today we honour the young women lost far too soon in Montreal, and the many other women in this country whose lives have been cut tragically short and all those who remain missing. We celebrate their lives and their contributions to their families and communities. In their names and in their honour, we commit ourselves and our work to ending violence and creating safe homes and communities for all women, particularly the most vulnerable.

Today we stand with Indigenous and non-Indigenous women across Canada and demand that the Government of Canada commit to taking real steps to address violence against women. Today we reiterate the need for a National Public Commission of Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls and call for collaboration with Indigenous women and representative organizations to develop and implement a National Action Plan to end violence.

Today we say clearly again that we are ready to do the hard work of creating change so that not one more daughter, sister, mother or auntie becomes victim to violence. We strongly urge the Government of Canada and all Canadians to join us in our efforts to achieve safety and security for women and girls in this country.

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Contact information:
AFN Women's Council Chair Therese Villeneuve (867) 446-6318