Rachelle Venne speaking at the June 3, 2022, media conference. (Photo: Government of Alberta)

By Chris Brown

Province creates premier’s council in response to MMIWG national inquiry

Jun 3, 2022 | 4:01 PM

EDMONTON, AB – The Government of Alberta has established a new premier’s council to guide the province’s response to the National Inquiry on Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls (MMIWG).

The council will report to the premier and identify the gaps that need to be addressed to eliminate violence against Indigenous women, girls, and two-spirit, lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, questioning, intersex, asexual (2S+), and other gender-diverse people. The MMIWG Council will include Indigenous women and have a five-year mandate.

Rachelle Venne was co-chair of a group that presented 113 Pathways to Justice: Recommended Actions of the Alberta Joint Working Group on Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls.

“Today, with the announcement of the Premier’s Council and a roadmap, Alberta will now have a mechanism to assist with implementation of systemic changes required to ensure the safety of Indigenous women, girls, and 2SLGBTQQIA+ people,” says Venne.

Four pathways for action are laid out in the MMIWG Roadmap:

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• Community connections, healing, and cultural supports
• Education, economic independence, and infrastructure
• Community wellness and improving the justice system
• Accountability to and inclusion of Indigenous women and girls

Rick Wilson, Minister of Indigenous Relations, says, for far too long, Canada has failed Indigenous women, girls, and 2S+ peoples.

“Today, we will remember, listen to the voices of survivors, families and community members, and will act to make Alberta safer for all who call this province home,” says Wilson. “It’s not just up to the government: we all have a role in putting an end to the systemic racism that contributes to this ongoing tragedy. I call on everyone in Alberta to help us walk this path together.”

Alberta has already enacted legislation modelled after Clare’s Law, creating a Public Safety Indigenous Advisory Committee and funding more Indigenous learner spaces at post-secondary schools to increase safety and economic opportunity among the Indigenous population.