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Missing Women's Ceremony
Statement by Kukdookaa Terri Brown
President, Native Women's Association of Canada
April 12, 2002
I first want to send my sincere condolences to all the families who lost a cousin, an aunty, a sister, a daughter, and a mother. Second I want to thank all of you who have come out today to honour the spirits of the women and families. Without the many dedicated people working to assist the families and the police, we would not have seen the justice being exercised today. I applaud the Family Haven tent for being there and assisting family members.
The Native Women Association of Canada does not wish to stop the progress into the on-going investigation. We want to see justice run its course. We applaud the long hours the police have spent on the investigation. We hope that more clues will surface which will lead to the other missing women. Any assistance from the public will help families such as Ernie Crey to find their lost loved ones. Should you have any information that could assist in the investigation we urge you to come forward. Your assistance could help find the suspect to these hideous crimes.
Aboriginal women have been victims to such crimes for years, in Saskatchewan for example in 1992; Shelley Napope, Eva Taysup and Calinda Waterhen are all Aboriginal women who were victim of violence. In 1996 Indian and Northern Affairs Canada reported that, "Aboriginal women with status under the Indian Act and who are between the ages of 25 and 44 are five times more likely to experience a violent death than other Canadian women in the same age category. (Aboriginal Women: A Demographic, Social and Economic Profile, Indian and Northern Affairs Canada, Summer 1996)" The crime has not stopped and with approximately 1.5 million aboriginal people in Canada and half of that population being women, we have become prime targets and are the most vulnerable to such acts of violence. Today we see that more than half of the women missing from Vancouver's Downtown Eastside are aboriginal women. August 2001, in preparation for the World Conference on Racism I participated in a paper entitled. "Stop the undeclared war against aboriginal people." We found that killing and maiming of aboriginal women is not uncommon. Rather it is far too common to have women disappear, and killed without any investigation. We want to stop the undeclared war against aboriginal women. In the spirit of women, young, old, women of colour, white, native, we must work together in solidarity to find solutions for a better life for all women. We are calling on all national, provincial and local aboriginal organizations to take action on this issue. We must stop the violence.
For years, women organizations have been lobbying government to get more money for women's services and programs. We would like to see more funds donated by government, organizations, and individuals to assist in the war against sexual abuse and violence on women. If you have any further questions you can call the Native Women's Association of Canada at 613-722-3033 or email alarge@nwac-hq.org. Thank you for your time.
PRESS RELEASE
April 12, 2002
Over 50% of Missing Women Have Aboriginal Ancestry
A number of the women reported missing from Vancouver's downtown eastside were family and friends of member of the BC Native Women's Society members. A resolution was passed by the BC Native Women's Society and the Aboriginal Women's Council to support the families. This resolution was forwarded and passed on Sunday April 7, at the Native Women's Association of Canada (NWAC) national board meeting.
Kukdookaa Terri Brown, President of NWAC invited all the National Aboriginal leaders, several Aboriginal organizations, and family members of the missing women and other organizations to attend a traditional ceremony in honour of the missing women.
More than 50% of the missing women are Aboriginal. Ernie Crey of the Sto:lo First Nation, brother of Dawn Crey one of the women missing, has had discussions with Kukdookaa Terri Brown regarding the investigation. Terri Brown is in support to let the investigation progress and urges the public to assist the police as much as they can.
NWAC and other women organizations have been lobbying government to provide more funding for women's services and programs. "We would like to see more funds donated by government, organizations, and individuals to assist in the war against sexual abuse and violence on women."
If you have any further questions you can call the Native Women's Association of Canada at 613-722-3033 or email alarge@nwac-hq.org.
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