The provincial government has released a progress report on its response to the Calls to Action from the National Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls.
June 3 marked the fifth-year anniversary of the 241 Calls to Action from the national inquiry.
The 47 page, cross-ministry report, released by the province Thursday morning, details the areas the government feels it has invested in the calls to action.
The report highlights millions of dollars in investments the government has made toward Indigenous initiatives in the previous five years.
“This report provides an important overview, compiled by the Ministry of Justice, of the Government of Saskatchewan’s commitment and efforts to respond to the urgent and tragic issue of MMIWG,” Provincial Justice Minister Bronwyn Eyre said. “We are committed to continuing to engage with our Indigenous partners to provide culturally sensitive supports to families navigating the justice system and Indigenous-led programs that address root causes of violence.”
The province held an event Thursday morning announcing the progress report where several dignitaries and MMIWG families spoke.
FSIN Vice-Chief Aly Bear spoke passionately on the subject.
“We need to do better,” she said. “We shouldn’t be having press releases and inquiries, this shouldn’t be an issue in our society.”
Earlier this week, AFN National Chief Cindy Woodhouse said their has been promising steps forward on the calls to action, but called on all levels of government to recommit to implementing the Calls to Justice. A report by the AFN indicated that of the 241 Calls to Action only 2 have been completed.
At Thursday’s event, Metis Nation-Saskatchewan Child and Family Services Minister Kathie Pruden called on the government to introduce a Metis database for missing Indigenous people.
“Metis people remain virtually unacknowledged and invisibile in the work to date of all governments. Once again our Metis people remain the forgotten people,” said Pruden. “While we acknowledge the government there remains many unsolved cases.”
(Brian and Debbie Gallagher speak at an MMIWG event in Saskatoon. Photo by Joel Willick)
The last to speak at the event was Brian Gallagher. Brian’s daughter Megan went missing in 2020. Her body would be found two years later in the South Saskatchewan River and 9 people were charged in relation to her death.
Gallagher outlined the experience his family has gone through over the past four years.
“When I close my eyes I imagine what happened to Megan and it’s tough,” he said. “These are the nightmares I have to live with.”
The full report from the province can be found here.
(Top Photo – Provincial Justice Minister Bronwyn Eyre speaks at an event where the province announced its progress report on MMIWG. Photo by Joel Willick)