New Report on Addressing MMIW in Quebec
In 2014, Quebec Native Women (QNW) was granted a small amount of money from the Quebec Ministry of Justice to work on the issue of MMIW (missing and murdered indigenous women) in the province. Before moving forward though, the organization insisted that the question of MMIW in Quebec had not yet been documented. QNW determined it needed to be in order to ensure appropriate and adapted intervention. As such, the organization hired an indigenous research assistant, Annie Bergeron, who together with Alana Boileau interviewed more than 50 people to explore the matter of MMIW in the French- speaking province.
Views Expressed by People Regarding MMIW
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 families of missing or murdered indigenous women.
Identified Actions on MMIW from an Indigenous Approach
The “Stand With Us” report ends with recommendations on actions to address issues concerning MMIW. The approach taken by QNW’s organizing efforts concerning MMIW from an indigenous viewpoint and also the recommendations of the report may be helpful for Indian tribes in the United States to consider in developing a tribal response. The report offers the following five courses of action:
- Support women and their families
- Favor collaboration between service providers
- Educate and raise awareness about indigenous women and their history
- Focus on solidarity and mutual aid
- Develop participative prevention and intervention strategies against violence
For additional information 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
Tel.: (450) 632-0088 #226
Toll free: 1-800-363-0322 #226
Fax: (450) 632-9280 www.faq-qnw.org
