Tŝilhqot’in Ts’iqi Dechen Jedilhtan (Women’s Council) Host Sacred Fire Ceremony in Honour of National Awareness for Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls (MMIWG) Day: Call for Meaningful Action to End Violence Against Indigenous Women, Girls and 2SLGBTQQIA People

Williams Lake, B.C: The Tŝilhqot’in Ts’iqi Dechen Jedilhtan (Women’s Council) have gathered today for a Sacred Fire ceremony in honour of National Awareness Day for Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls (MMIWG). The ceremony is meant to honour, pray for and support families, friends and communities who are mourning and grieving the loss of loved ones – Indigenous sisters, daughters, mothers and friends.

The Final Report of the National Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls was released on June 3, 2019. As we near the third anniversary of the release of this report, the Tŝilhqot’in Ts’iqi Dechen Jedilhtan continues to advocate for meaningful change and action by all levels of government, industry, law enforcement and Canadians to end the violence against Indigenous women, girls and 2SLGBTQQIA People. The 231 Calls for Justice are recommendations and legal imperatives under international human rights laws.

“It is disheartening to see the lack of progress so far with the implementation of the Calls
for Justice from the Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls Final Report. It has
been 3 years, and there is awareness by all levels of government, institutions and Canadians, and yet, we see very little change and action to end the violence. These women and girls are not just faceless statistics; they are our Indigenous sisters, daughters, mothers and friends – our loved ones. While today is a national day of awareness, we must remember them everyday and continue to fight for justice for them and for the future generations of women and girls”

— Joyce Cooper, Tŝilhqot’in Ts’iqi Dechen Jedilhtan

Jacey Warne
Communications Manager
Tŝilhqot’in National Government
(778)-267-6197
jwarne@tsilhqotin.ca