[IPSM] Sisters in Spirit update: gov't hedges on funding

[Robin Taylor]

Government does not act on commitment to improve the lives of aboriginal
women

OTTAWA, Feb. 11 /CNW Telbec/ - The Government of Canada was to announce
$5 million in funding to the Native Women's Association of Canada (NWAC) on
February 14, 2005 for its Sisters in Spirit Campaign to address violence
against Aboriginal women. However, today, the Prime Minister's Office
informed the President of the Native Women's Association of Canada that this
announcement is postponed. Despite the promise made that funds will be
included in the next federal budget, the announcement has been stalled by
"one of the three Ministries responsible for funding."

In March 2004, NWAC launched the Sisters in Spirit Campaign that has
raised awareness of the alarmingly high rates of violence against Aboriginal
women - violence that all too often, leads to their disappearance and death.
In August 2004, NWAC submitted its Sisters in Spirit Campaign proposal in
the amount of $10 million over two years, outlining a strategic plan to
improve the human rights of, and address the violence facing Aboriginal women.
The funding is also to support NWAC's work with other Aboriginal women's
organizations on activities aimed at ending the violence.

NWAC has been negotiating with three federal departments: Status of
Women Canada, Indian and Northern Affairs Canada and Public Safety and
Emergency Preparedness Canada since the submission of its proposal in August,
2004.

"I am so disappointed with this stalled action by the federal
government. We had made concrete plans with families of the missing and murdered
Aboriginal women and the Board Members of our organization to be available
at the press conference scheduled for February 14, 2005 at the Museum of
Civilization," said Beverley Jacobs, President of the Native Women's
Association of Canada. "We have been calling for action for a long time on
this critical issue. We have estimated that 500 Aboriginal women have gone
missing or found murdered in communities across Canada over the past 20
years."

Amnesty International Canada's 2004 report Stolen Sisters:
Discrimination and Violence against Indigenous Women in Canada underlined
the threat of violence facing Aboriginal women in Canada, noting that "The
result (of Canada's historical treatment of Aboriginal peoples) has been far
too many Indigenous women and girls placed in harm's way, denied adequate
protection of the law, and marginalized in a way that allows some men to get
away with carrying out violent crimes against them." According to Government of
Canada statistics, Aboriginal women with status under the Indian Act, and who
are between the ages of 24 and 44, are five times more likely to experience a
violent death than other Canadian women in the same age category. Amnesty
International supports NWAC's Sisters in Spirit Campaign.

The Native Women's Association of Canada calls upon the Federal
government to fulfill its promise to commit the $5 million to the Sisters in
Spirit Campaign immediately.



For further information: Sherry Lewis, Executive Director, Native
Women's Association of Canada, (613) 222-1097