February 8, 2017 STATEMENT FROM THE ABORIGINAL WOMEN’S ACTION NETWORK

In response to Commissioners of the National Inquiry MMIWG 1st press conference

The Aboriginal Women’s Action Network (AWAN) is pleased that the silence is finally broken by the Commissioners of the National Inquiry on the Murdered and Missing Indigenous Women and Girls (MMIWG), and that they intend to maintain the focus of the inquiry on women and girls.

However, AWAN members, like many Indigenous women across Canada and their allies, are disappointed with the issues the commissioners have chosen to highlight. The pondering of the inclusion of Indigenous men and boys is a detraction from the crucial work that the MMIWG inquiry must focus on.

Those who are behind the campaign to ‘Expand the Inquiry’ fail to understand that colonization bestowed patriarchal privileges upon men while disempowering women, a reality that is exacerbated by racism. Despite ‘Expands’ claim of being “marginalized” by the Inquiry, demographic data clearly points to the degree of marginalization that Indigenous women and girls face in their communities of origin, as well as in the broader Canadian society.

Patriarchy, poverty, and colonialism colluded to enable male violence against women. Indigenous women and girls in survival mode of being prostituted face the worst forms of male violence. Since MMIWG rose to public attention, Indigenous men and Chiefs’ Organizations have made every effort to insert themselves as spokespersons, as champions of the issue of violence against women, and now as part of the Inquiry. Alas, they have yet to learn how to support and be allies to Indigenous women. They must take responsibility for their contribution to male violence, move out of the way, and follow Indigenous women leadership on the issue.