The people who were involved in the consultation process for the new $400,000 provincial fund think it will increase public awareness of Saskatchewan’s Murdered and Missing Indigenous Women and Girls (MMIWG) problem.
“I think we want to get the message out there that instead of always being reactive we need to start doing preventative work,” Marlene Bear said Monday in Regina at a launch event for Saskatchewan’s newly created MMIWG Community Response Fund.
And we need to make the community aware that domestic abuse is never acceptable.
The new initiative, which was developed in response to the National Inquiry into MMIWG’s call for Indigenous-led solutions and services, will provide money for at least 10 distinct community projects.
The chosen projects will “promote and strengthen prevention, and build safety for Indigenous women, girls, and Two Spirit+ people, their families, and communities,” according to a government news release.
Bear, who works in northern Saskatchewan, claims that resources for local MMIWG projects have so far been “scarce.”
She asserted that, as a result of the lack of resources, “I don’t even think they really comprehend what their own people are going through.”
The program’s financing criteria were also developed with assistance from Myrna LaPlante, Lori Whiteman, and Autumn Larose-Smith.
The opening event on Monday at the Saskatchewan legislature building was also attended by Myrna LaPlante, whose own aunt, Emily Osmond, has been missing since 2007.
“I think there’s still a lot of work to be done in the non-Indigenous communities,” she told reporters.
“I’m hopeful that through spreading awareness, this recurring tragedy can be stopped.
Speaking with young people is crucial, as is any activity that might be action-oriented and contribute to prevention and awareness.
Don McMorris, the minister responsible for First Nations and Metis relations, promised $400,000 for the project’s first year, but he left the door open to potential expansion.
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It will be interesting to watch how this investment is put to use.
I’m not saying we won’t seek for more in the future from the Treasury Board if there is a significant uptake and we really hit the mark, he added.
For any endeavour, $40,000 is a fantastic place to start.
McMorris concurred that increasing public awareness is essential for determining if the fund is successful.
Increasing education and security throughout communities is priority number one, he declared.
“We will have a better idea of it once the projects are up and operating.
The application date for this year is December 16.”
More information about application, including detailed funding criteria, can be found online..
Advocates expect that $400,000 in funding will increase awareness of MMIWG in Saskatchewan.
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