Southern Chiefs Organization – Strongly disagrees with the federal government’s arguments that Indigenous women, girls and 2SLGBTQQIA people do not face a “special threat from a special source” and are not unique victims of criminal violence. SCO believes they fly in the face of the findings of the National Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls (MMIWG). The National inquiry into MMIWG found that Indigenous women and girls are 12 times more likely to go missing or be murdered than non-Indigenous women and girls. It also revealed that Indigenous women make up twenty-four percent of all female homicide victims in Canada, yet they only made up four percent of the total population.

The federal government made these arguments in a court hearing in Regina this week, arguing against certification of a $600 million class action lawsuit, filed on behalf of Dianne Bigeagle, whose daughter has been missing since 2007. Bigeagle says she went to police no less than 50 times, yet as far she is aware, they never did a proper investigation and never searched beyond Regina’s city limits. Bigeagle’s description of police treatment show how little law enforcement prioritizes cases of missing Indigenous women and girls. Ms. Bigeagle also is seeking $600 million in compensation for families of murdered and missing Indigenous women and girls.