Resources

In 2014, the Quebec Native Women’s association was granted a small amount of money from the Quebec Ministry of Justice to work on the issue of MMIW in the province. Before moving forward though, our organization insisted that the question of MMIW in Quebec had not yet been documented, and needed to be in order to insure appropriate and adapted intervention. As such, the organization hired an Indigenous research assistant, and together, Annie Bergeron and Alana Boileau interviewed over fifty people to explore the matter of MMIW in the French speaking province.

Frontline workers, justice file holders, First Nations police, and MMIW family members alike highlighted the importance of understanding the complexity of the MMIW issue and its roots in the history of colonization; the existence of family violence in Indigenous communities that has to be recognized and fought against, but also contextualized and understood; the challenges of working in one’s own community and the lack of adapted services and material for social workers and others; the tense and loaded relationship between Indigenous people and the police; and lastly the need for better support for MMIW families.

The ”Stand with us” report ends with five courses of action: (1) supporting women and their families; (2) favouring collaboration between service providers; (3) educate and raise awareness about Indigenous women and their history; (4) focus on solidarity and mutual aid; (5) develop participative prevention and intervention strategies against violence.
 

For any additional information please feel free to contact:
 
Alana Boileau
Justice and Public Security Coordinator
E-mail: justice@faq-qnw.org
Quebec Native Women Inc.
Business Complex, River Road
C.P. 1989, Kahnawake (Québec) J0L 1B0
Tél. | Tel. : (450) 632-0088 #226
Toll free : 1-800-363-0322 #226
Fax: (450) 632-9280
www.faq-qnw.org