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The Women's Rights Cause
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Loading...Justice for Murdered and Missing First Nations Women
They gathered from First Nations communities along the Highway of Tears, the road leading from Prince George to Prince Rupert in central British Columbia. They beat drums as they marched and carried pictures of their missing and murdered loved ones, all Aboriginal women who had disappeared without a trace.
Her voice choking with emotion, one woman sobbed, “My little girl said, ‘Don’t worry. I’ll be home.’ And she blew me a kiss, and she said, ‘I love you.’ That was the last time I seen my little girl.”
The year was 2006, and the families were marching to Prince George to demand justice for their lost family members. In the five years since, though more women have disappeared, not one case has been solved. In September 2011, Wally Opal, head of the B.C. Missing Women Commission of Inquiry, traveled the highway, meeting with communities whose daughters, sisters and aunts were among the victims. The terrible question hangs over their losses: Would the RCMP have acted swifter and more diligently had the women been white?
Karen Whonnock, of B.C’s Moricetown band, told the inquiry that RCMP officers stop vehicles to check on seat belts or look for illegally caught fish, but they never stop vehicles when an Aboriginal woman goes missing. A CBC news story quotes her: “It really states…illegal fish is a higher priority than a native life.”
Read more: aboriginal, canada, first nations, unsolved murders, violence against women
Photo from marbla123 via Flickr Creative Commons
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+ add your ownThis is indeed a tragic event. Women world wide are raped, enslaved and murdered. What about the 100,000,000 missing women and girls in Southern Asia? I get the impression that males world wide have been told that women are nothing more than animals worth no more than used furniture or an old pair of shoes. THIS HAS TO STOP!!
Yes, trafficking and murder of women happen everywhere, but the differential between an unknown figure between 600 and 4200 is downright criminal in and of itself. Let's go Canada.
Shame on the RCMP for not investigating these murders. Wanted to go to Canada, but probably won't now that I've read this.
Humanity and its terrible fear of difference, its terrible desire of control and the ensuing guilt.
The neverending story.
Despite of the naming Native Canadian "Aborigens" let's sign the petition. But it would look better without, and much more respectful.
The tribes of these persons too could be told... My tribe's French and you wouldn't believe how proud of it I can be in E.U.
;-)
Mitakuye Oyasin!
Regardless of a person's status in life, all need to be treated equally. This is disgusting - they should be ashamed for not helping anyone in these circumstances. Blessings to all the lost souls and their families.
sorry state of affairs...i agree, if there is money in the family, or the news people get ahold of it, then there seems to be more action.
I have wondered about the Picton case for some time. I have always felt that there was more than one serial killer loose at the time that Robert Picton was hunting. In fact I wonder if Picton acted alone at times.
Secondly there are all those murdered women around Edmonton that have been going on for years. I know that they caught someone but I doubt he was responsible for them all.
First Nations women are vulnerable but so is anyone who lives the high risk lifestyle that many of them do.
Lastly, when you are on First Nations land it is up to their constabulary to police it and to bring to justice the perpetrators of violence against women. Off First Nations Canadian jurisprudence or lack thereof prevails.
I have wondered about the Picton case for some time. I have always felt that there was more than one serial killer loose at the time that Robert Picton was hunting. In fact I wonder if Picton acted alone at times.
Secondly there are all those murdered women around Edmonton that have been going on for years. I know that they caught someone but I doubt he was responsible for them all.
First Nations women are vulnerable but so is anyone who lives the high risk lifestyle that many of them do.
Lastly, when you are on First Nations land it is up to their constabulary to police it and to bring to justice the perpetrators of violence against women. Off First Nations Canadian jurisprudence or lack thereof prevails.
While I agree that women and first nations women in particular are marginalized and often can become overlooked, I do ask (back to the original question)are the RCMP purposely neglecting these missing persons cases or are they prohibited from investigating because it is taking place on First Nations lands?
Aboriginal women are disproportionately more likely to be victims of human trafficking than other women in Canada. Joy Smith, MP for Manitoba, on her website : joysmith.ca is working hard to establish a national action plan in Canada to help fight human trafficking (something already promised by Prime Minister Harper). Please visit her website and learn more about this issue. Joy Smith has been recognized by Native Elders and Chiefs as a women who has not only been active in helping return young women back home, but in educating the general public and native communities of the dangers of human trafficking. Please take the time to visit her website or call her office for more info.
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