City Hall -- LNN

By Connor Gunn

MMIWG recommendations presented to city council

Sep 29, 2020 | 12:09 PM

LETHBRIDGE, AB– The Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls (MMIWG) presented their draft recommendations to Lethbridge City Council on Monday (September 28).

Over 1,000 pages of recommendations and next steps were given to councillors for their viewing.

The Review Committee agreed with the Seven Principles of Change identified in the MMIWG Final Report.

They identified other important considerations that should guide the City of Lethbridge in its work to display the group’s message.

Some of their recommendations include:

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• Create a commitment to capacity building for Indigenous peoples, including Indigenous women, girls, and 2SLGBTQQIA peoples.

• Avoid tokenism and activities that minimize or make superficial the findings of the National Inquiry

• Honor publically the Indigenous women, girls, and 2SLGBTQQIA peoples who have been victims to violence, and their families

• Create opportunities for and empower allyship

• Clearly communicate how the protection for Indigenous women, girls, and 2SLGBTQQIA peoples benefits all Lethbridge citizens

• Ensure a long-term commitment of resources and to learning by elected leadership and staff

• Embrace local knowledge, history, and expertise

• Ensure the voices of those persons identified in the Calls continue to be heard and involved in the implementation of recommendation

More specific recommendations they say could happen soon are:

• Exploring adoption of UNDRIP;

• Advocating for Indigenous Women’s Emergency Shelter;

• Formal commitments to relationships with Blackfoot First Nations

• Expand scope of Transits “Eyes in Motion” program;

• Remove barriers to Fee Assistance Programs; • Develop a “Reconciliation Ally Toolkit”;

• Review Bylaws and Policies to ensure Indigenous peoples are not targeted; and

• Create a monument or legacy to honour Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls.

Indigenous relations coordinator Pamela Beebee, says it could be immediate to see some of these actions take place.

“I think some of them will be months, some of them could be immediate obviously providing support to families that were impacted by violence that you could do immediately.”

The report will be talked about at a future council meeting.

The full report can be viewed at this link.