On October 15, 2024, the Indigenous Women’s Justice Team hosted an update on the Indigenous Women’s Justice Plan (IWJP).
The update included an overview on the Indigenous Women’s Justice Plan: Final Draft, as well as the progress on the plan since the release earlier this year and what to expect upcoming.
Please find answers to questions submitted to the team regarding the IWJP below. We welcome you to provide feedback via the QR code at the end of the webinar or submit additional feedback or questions to the team at: [email protected]
Why is 2S+ added into the IWJP?
We are inclusive and aware of the many intersections of identity, the inclusion of 2S+ both respects and uplifts all Indigenous peoples throughout the IWJP.
In including 2S+ throughout the plan and through specific engagements with 2S+ individuals, we understand that we need to be considerate of the inclusion of all identities. To also recognize that 2S+ have diverse needs that need further research with development of their own justice plan.
With more effective and sustainable solutions that address the root causes of injustice and inequality faced by 2S+ that is led and created by the 2S+ community.
What Calls for Justice from the MMIWG National Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls is included in the plan?
In alignment with Strategy 11 of the BC First Nations Justice Strategy, there was a call to develop the IWJP in 12 months and to include consideration of the MMIWG2S+ National Inquiry’s 231 Calls for Justice.
Through in-depth analysis of the Calls for Justice, we also reviewed the Red Women Rising Report, and the Highway of Tears Symposium, including them in the Final Draft as well. The 15 Strategies and 42 Lines of Action within the IWJP encompass the steps that need to be taken by the government to end the genocide of Indigenous women, girls, and 2S+.
Knowing how important it is to include these recommendations into our plan, the IWJP is meant to be used as a platform to develop and contribute to concrete action while elevating the advocacy and work at the grassroots level that continues to pave the way for justice for Indigenous women, girls, and 2S+. It is not meant to replicate the work these advocates have already done.
What steps did you go through to ensure the voices of Indigenous women, girls, and 2S+ peoples were at the centre of the plan?
It was absolutely essential for us that throughout all stages of the development of the IWJP, we have Indigenous women, girls, and 2S+ at the center of this plan.
Phase one saw the construction of the Guiding Draft, we reviewed many reports and recommendations that arose from the unwavering efforts of those who have fought tirelessly to raise awareness of MMIWG2S+ led by Indigenous women, girls, and 2S+ that resulted in the hundreds of recommendations that elevated and guided our Draft.
Phase two we visited 17 communities across BC and held 3 virtual engagements where Indigenous women, girls, and 2S+ from all walks of life shared their voices, lived experience and passion on what justice looks like for them.
During the final stages of the development of the IWJP Final Draft the collective voices of Indigenous women, girls, and 2S+ who participated in the engagements were thoughtfully and sensitively integrated into the “Final Draft” along with the Calls for Justice, Red Women Rising, and Highway of Tears Symposium recommendations, representing a concrete action plan for the Province of BC that comes directly from Indigenous women, girls, and 2S+.
What services do your Indigenous Justice Centres offer to support MMIWG2S+ and Indigenous women, girls and 2S+ peoples?
In 2023 we piloted our very first “Aunty” position at the Prince George IJC.
The “Aunty” position was created specifically for our Indigenous women, girls and 2S+ and their families, to offer support and act as an advocate.
This includes help navigating colonial systems, filling out paperwork, connecting to supports and resources as well as a contact who can help when a loved one goes missing and/or is found murdered. Because this position is so new the job description is evolving and will change dependent on area and need.
Another Aunty position was filled at the end of last year in Merritt, BC and we are hoping to continue to have these positions throughout all of our Indigenous Justice Centres.
Is this Plan going to sit on a shelf and collect dust like many other plans? When will we see action and implementation?
Working toward action and implementation of the IWJP, the Women’s 2S+ Team and BCFNJC started liaising with ministries and branches of the provincial government to identify how each group is involved in each of the IWJP’s 15 strategies and 42 lines of action after the 3rd annual justice forum in 2024 and following an informational plenary session and six breakout sessions which included discussion with the over 500 attendees to provide feedback. The Women’s 2S+ Team held 28 initial meetings with provincial groups.
The next steps include (this webinar) inviting interested individuals to learn about the IWJP. The Women’s 2S+ team have a plan of developing 42 implementation plans for each line of action. This is not a process that can be completed quickly and to consider all the steps involved with the interested parties moving toward the same goal of improving access to justice for Indigenous women, girls, and 2S+. In early 2025, or by spring of 2025, the Women’s 2S+ team hope to have all relevant people and implementation plans, or even just skeleton implementation plans, to begin laying the groundwork of actioning the strategies and lines of action.
