NAN Supports Immediate Implementation of MMIWG Calls for Justice After the Discovery of Linda Mary Beardy
OTTAWA, ON: Nishnawbe Aski Nation (NAN) Deputy Grand Chief Anna Betty Achneepineskum supports calls for the immediate implementation of the National Inquiry into MMIWG Calls for Justice following a moving statement by Assembly of Manitoba Chiefs Grand Chief Cathy Merrick on the discovery of the body of 33-year-old Linda Mary Beardy during the Assembly of First Nations conference in Ottawa this morning:
“We were deeply saddened to learn that the remains of another of our sisters, Linda Mary Beardy, have been discovered in such an undignified way. Our thoughts and prayers are with her family and friends as we grieve the loss of this beautiful young mother.
It is horrifying that our Manitoba relations are having to comb through landfills to discover the fate of so many of their missing women. I fully support Grand Chief Merrick calling for the governments and agencies responsible, in Manitoba and across this country, to take meaningful action to implement the 231 Calls for Justice from the MMIWG National Inquiry to prevent this violence.
We acknowledge all women, girls and 2SLGBTQQIA+ people who have gone missing or have been taken from us through acts of violence. I fully support their families’ struggles to have the remains of our grandmothers, daughters, sisters, and cousins recovered so they can be laid to rest with dignity and respect.
We will continue to hold the appropriate governments and agencies accountable for their failure to protect our women and provide our families with the justice they deserve.”
It has been more than four years since the Final Report of the National Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls documented the horrific violence that Indigenous women and girls face on a daily basis. A lot of work has gone into developing the priorities and actions needed to support the unique needs for safety and healing for the women, girls and 2SLGBTQQIA+ people in First Nation communities, but little action has been taken.
In Thunder Bay alone there are 25 MMIWG cases, some of which are decades old. These cold cases require competent investigations to be conducted immediately.
For more information please contact:
Michael Heintzman,
Director of Communications
Cell: (807) 621-2790
mheintzman@nan.ca