The government of Prince Edward Island is committed to coordinated action to prevent and address violence against Indigenous women and girls says Transportation, Infrastructure and Energy Minister Paula Biggar, Minister Responsible for the Status of Women.The Minister joined Inuit, Metis, and First Nations leaders, families of missing and murdered Indigenous women and girls, Premiers, and federal, provincial and territorial Ministers in Winnipeg for the 2016 National Roundtable on Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls (MMIWG) hosted by Manitoba Premier Greg Selinger. Together, they agreed to action-based collaboration outlined in the document: ‘2016 National Roundtable on Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls: Outcomes and Priorities for Action to Prevent and Address Violence Against Indigenous Women and Girls’.

Minister Biggar represented Premier Wade MacLauchlan, Minister Responsible for Aboriginal Affairs at the meeting.

“I was deeply touched by the honesty and courage of the family members who shared their experiences with us. These stories will guide and inspire our work as we continue to act collaboratively on the elimination of violence against Indigenous women and girls. Together we can break the cycle of violence and begin a journey of healing and reconciliation,” said Minister Biggar.

Agreement was made to collaborate on priorities in three theme areas: prevention and awareness; community safety; and culturally relevant policing measures and justice responses, and builds on commitments of the 2015 Roundtable held in Ottawa.

Nationally, Indigenous women are three times more likely than non-Indigenous women to be victims of violence. Indigenous women make up 16% of all female homicide victims, and 11% of missing women, even though Indigenous people make up 4.3% of the population of Canada.

-30-