Sisters in Spirit 2014: Time for Action on Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women

The Canadian Labour Congress (CLC)  will mark October 4, 2014 as a day to honour and remember the lives of the many missing and murdered Indigenous women and girls, and to once again urge the federal government to hold a National Inquiry.

The CLC has encouraged its members to support and attend vigils and events being held across the country. Barbara Byers, Secretary-Treasurer of the CLC, believes that, “together the labour movement, Indigenous groups, workers, and allies of Indigenous communities will fight for the families of the victims to have closure and justice that they deserve and is long over due”.

Since 2005, many families and allies of the missing and murdered women and girls have called on the federal government to hold a national public inquiry to examine the causes of the disproportionate number of Indigenous women who have gone missing or are murdered, and to identify solutions. Instead of bringing justice to Indigenous communities across the country, the Conservative government has consistently refused to honour the wishes of the families and call an inquiry. Instead, funds have been diverted into the criminal justice system or services to victims with no clear evidence that funding will reduce violence.

The CLC has launched a petition to demand justice for the close to 1200 documented deaths and disappearances of Indigenous women and girls over the past thirty years. We encourage Canadians to sign and share.

Over the past decade, Sisters In Spirit vigils have evolved into a movement for social change for all people of Canada and the world. This October 4th, find a way to be a part of this change by participating in an event close to you.