Northern Manitoba NDP MP Niki Ashton was in La Ronge Friday gaining feedback from Aboriginal stakeholders on how to combat violence against women.

Ashton tabled a private member’s bill last year that calls on the Harper government to put forward a national action plan to address violence against women.

She says missing and murdered Aboriginal women is a serious issue in Canada and she wants input from northern communities.

“I’ve asked people who are involved with the issue of violence against women to share their thoughts about this motion and about the need for a national action plan, the need for a national inquiry and I will be taking that feedback with me back to Parliament,” she says.

Ashton adds the recent vicious assault against a homeless woman in Prince Albert drives home the point of how serious an issue violence against Aboriginal women continues to be.

“I realize the issue of missing and murdered Indigenous women is especially close to those of us that live in the north. Too many families have been torn apart by this tragedy, many communities continue to suffer the trauma as a result.”

She says the Harper government has been very resistive to call a national inquiry into missing and murdered Aboriginal women in spite of repeated calls.

Ashton adds there are many similarities in terms of the issues that affect her riding of Churchill, Manitoba and the Desnethe-Missinippi-Churchill River riding.

Her private member’s bill has not yet reached first reading.