Since August 29th, 2024 and over a span of 11 days, 6 Indigenous people’s lives have been stolen at the hands of the Royal Canadian Mountain Police (aptnnews.ca). A seventh Indigenous person was killed by the Royal Canadian Mountain Police (RCMP) only nine days later (greenleft.org). These unnecessary murders are the result of systemic racism in the RCMP towards Indigenous people. One of the 6 people recently killed was Steven Dedam, a 34 year-old Mi’kmaw man. He was shot dead by RCMP officers during a wellness check at his own home in Elsipogtog First Nation. The police were called in to assist Steven because he was threatening to harm himself - no one else. It was hoped that the police would protect Steven from harming himself and direct him to necessary mental health supports. Instead, they killed him. First, they handcuffed him and said he was under arrest - for no apparent reason. Next, they shot him three times in the chest. Steven Dedam is the third person to be shot and killed by police in New Brunswick who claim to be completing a “wellness check” in recent years. 

Words can not even begin to describe what so many Indigenous people are feeling after this. The family members, friends and communities of these unalived people are enduring overwhelming pain, grief, and trauma. They are extremely saddened, angered, and devastated. Their worst nightmare is no longer a nightmare - it is their life. Their world is forever shaken.

For those Indigenous people who make up the missing portion of the MMIP population, their families and friends will constantly be wondering where they are, and worrying about what has happened to them. Who has stolen them and what horrible things did the criminal do to them, besides kidnapping them? They must be all alone with no one to comfort them. No one can save them until they are found - if they are found. All these thoughts haunt their mind constantly. And then, the most terrifying question of all, are they even still alive, and will they be found?

In 2023, there were 1208 new cases of missing Indigenous people (Aboriginal Alert). On average, each month, 67 Alerts for Indigenous women and girls and 33 for Indigenous men and boys were recorded (Aboriginal Alert). In total, 152 Indigenous people who went missing in 2023 remain missing (Aboriginal Alert).  

As a non-Indigenous person with Indigenous friends and as someone who actively supports Indigenous people, I am deeply saddened and furious that the MMIP crisis exists. The profound disrespect, cruelty, and violence inflicted upon Indigenous women, girls, two-spirit and people is unacceptable. Ending their lives is more so evil and infuriating. My heart breaks for all the victims and the lives that they’ve touched. Indigenous children are growing up without their sisters, brothers, and siblings. They are growing up without their mothers, fathers, parents, and grandparents. Parents have lost their children. Grandparents have lost their children and grandchildren. Human life is precious yet delicate. It can take just one gun shot, one attack, to kill someone. A missing person has a chance of being brought back home, but their soul may have left this Earth. And you simply cannot restore someone’s life on Earth once they are unalived.

Each of these unalived people were a special, and loved part of an incredible patchwork of Indigenous people. Each brought unique qualities and contributions to their community. For decades, the MMIP crisis has been tearing precious patches out of the patchwork, forcing seams apart - leaving gaping holes and rips. Consequently, family, friends, and community members endure deep sadness, despair, depression, grief, and mental pain. This is so unfair and unjust.

When Canadians think about the genocide of Indigenous people, they often look towards the past: residential schools, the Sixties Scoop, and other colonial measures. But, in the 21st century, it is not even over. This racism and hate inflected at Indigenous people is fueling an extension of this genocide: the MMIP crisis. And it’s not just a Canadian problem - it’s all across Turtle Island. The killing of seven Indigenous people by the RCMP in such a short time span is especially disturbing. It feels as though we are moving backwards in terms of Indigenous safety and well-being, and yet time is still moving forwards. It’s ridiculous, unjust, and it needs to stop. We need to be moving forwards in all Indigenous rights. Indigenous people are the first people of this land. They deserve SO much better.

Indigenous women, two-spirit people, and LGBTQ+ people are especially vulnerable in the MMIP crisis. They are going missing and being murdered at a much higher rate compared to any other demographic in Canada. In fact, Indigenous women and girls are at a twelve times greater risk of going missing or being murdered compared to other women in Canada. This was documented in The Final Report of the National Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls. When compared to cases of missing and murdered White women across Canada, that risk jumped to sixteen times greater (The National Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls). The 2023 Report on the MMIP crisis in Canada from Aboriginal Alert confirmed that Indigenous women and girls make up two-thirds of missing Indigenous people alerts (in 2023). The MMIWG2S+ crisis refers to Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women, Girls, Two-Spirit people, and LGBTQ+ people. Unfortunately, Indigenous members of the 2SLGBTQ+ population are not clearly identified in MMIP statistics. Work needs to be done to change this, especially because they are one of the most impacted groups in the MMIWG2S+ crisis. Homophobic and transphobic systems in healthcare (mental, sexual, and physical healthcare), workplaces, and the police force puts the Indigenous 2SLGBTQ+ population at a greater risk of encountering hate and discrimination, trauma, inadequate socio-economic support, mental and physical health issues, and low-self esteem. Colonization and intergenerational trauma has also contributed to the discrimination and unacceptance of 2SLGBTQ+ family members in some Indigenous families (The National Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls). It has contributed to a lack of acceptance of queer Indigenous people in some traditional ceremonies and in some Indigenous community members. (The National Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls). Indigenous 2SLGBTQ+ people may lose friends or have trouble making friends simply due to their gender and/or sexual identity. Queer Indigenous youth may be kicked out of their own homes. A weak social support system seriously harms Indigenous queer people. Obviously, it creates severe emotional pain, poor mental health, addictions, and low-self esteem. All of this is heartbreaking. Love and connection are so important in family and community relationships. The homophobia and transphobia discussed puts Indigenous 2SLGBTQ+ people at risk of homelessness. Being homeless comes with a good chance of being assaulted, going missing, and being murdered. In fact, "[i]n the 2014 British Columbia Homeless and Street-Involved Youth Survey, researchers found that “approximately one in three Indigenous 2SLGBTQ+ youth that were homeless or street involved had been sexually exploited as compared to 15% of heterosexual cisgender Indigenous youth" (The National Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls). The National Inquiry into the Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls aims to clearly include Indigenous members of the 2SLGBTQ+ community in their future report statistics. So far, they have highlighted stories of missing and murdered Indigenous 2SLGBTQ+ people in their newest final report. This includes the murder of a trans First Nations woman named Divas Boulanger, and Judy D., a missing lesbian First Nations woman.

A total of 152 Indigenous people remain missing from the missing person cases reported in 2023 (Aboriginal Alert). 43 missing people were found dead last year. “In 2023, Indigenous children and youth (ages 17 and younger), accounted for a staggering 40% of the recorded missing alerts (Aboriginal Alert).” There were close to 500 missing persons alerts for Indigenous children in that year. Fortunately, the vast majority of these children were found. However, 35 are still missing and 4 were found dead (Aboriginal Alert). These statistics are so heartbreaking. Even the children and adults found alive did not feel safe when found. Many probably still don’t. They are traumatized from being taken from their home, from their families - not knowing what would happen to them, not knowing if they would make it out alive. They likely suffered abuse (physical and sexual) and are reliving painful flashbacks. They are suffering from low self-esteem as a result of this abuse. They fear being taken again. They are not at peace.

So why else is the Missing and Murdered Indigenous People crisis happening? Racial discrimination towards Indigenous people is common in the police force, especially for Indigenous people living on reservations. As a result, many police officers don’t take cases of missing and murdered Indigenous people seriously. They don't care, and it breaks my heart. They are there to protect all people. But often, that protection is denied to Indigenous people. They do the minimum possible to resolve and investigate cases of MMIP. As a result, criminals outside of the police force can easily get away with assaulting (physically and sexually) and murdering Indigenous people. This fuels the MMIP and MMIWG2S+ crises. Imagine not feeling safe walking in your own reserve. Always afraid that you'll be next. The next face on the missing or murdered poster, the next body being buried, the reason for the next funeral.

Additionally, colonization and intergenerational trauma have increased poverty, food insecurity, mental health issues, addictions, and homelessness of the Indigenous population. This puts Indigenous people at a higher risk of suffering violence, going missing and being murdered. All of this perpetuates the cycle of intergenerational trauma and suffering.

Imagine being a student walking back home from school, worrying that a racist police officer or trafficker will approach you, stop you, and shoot you over and over even after you soul leaves this Earth - as if you’re not even human - as if you’re worth absolutely nothing. Indigenous people are killed so cruelly and unnecessarily at the hands of these racist, hateful people. It’s extremely sickening to think about. My stomach always goes into knots when I do. 

Even after decades of opportunity to do better, Canada has not come close to ending the MMIP crisis.

WE MUST ACT NOW. There is not a moment to spare. We have seen far too many Indigenous people’s lives cut short at the hands of the police system, and from evil hate and racism from other sources. No More Stolen Sisters, Brothers, Two-Spirit people, or Gender-Diverse people. Please sign my petition to demand an end to this horrific reality. Demand justice, safety, and well-being for Indigenous people.

MY PETITION DEMANDS THE FOLLOWING:

1. Establish more opportunities & programs for Indigenous people to pursue policing across Canada. Provide more scholarships to Indigenous people entering, or in police training programs. Increasing affordability will break down financial barriers between Indigenous people and policing careers. This will protect Indigenous people from discriminatory police officers who may endanger or kill them.

2. Increase tribal jurisdiction & tribal police in Canada, within and beyond Indigenous reservation borders in Canada. Once again, having more Indigenous representation in the police force promotes safety for Indigenous people.

3. Mandate extensive mental health & anti-racism training in police systems across Canada. This training needs to be detailed in educating police on how to approach encounters with mentally-ill people (especially those who are Indigenous). It must explain how to handle a full range of mental health situations (eg. self-harm and harm behaviors, suicidal behaviors, anger, violence, abuse). It also needs to be detailed in dismantling harmful stereotypes and discrimination against Indigenous people, queer people, mentally-ill people, and people of colour. I mention all of these characteristics as many Indigenous people are mixed with other ethnicities, and may not appear to be Indigenous. Colonization diminished the Indigenous population, causing a large portion of Indigenous people to also be one or more other ethnicities. Certainly, the protection of all groups of people is important. However, this petition is focused on protecting Indigenous people.

An evaluation that properly tests how future and current police officers will treat mentally-ill people, Indigenous people, 2SLGBTQ+ people, and people of colour while in uniform needs to be carried out. Anyone who displays racist and/or discriminatory behavior towards mentally-ill people, Indigenous people, 2SLGBTQ+ people, and/or people of colour people must always be forbidden from joining or returning to the police force.

4. Enable the Red Dress Alert system all across Canada. The Red Dress Alert System currently runs in Manitoba, and resembles an Amber Alert system. However, it is specifically for cases of missing and murdered Indigenous women, girls, gender-diverse people, and two-spirit people. Making the Red Dress Alert System Canada-wide will spread awareness about and locate more missing Indigenous women, girls, gender-diverse people and two-spirit people. More will return home free, safe, and alive.

5. Conduct thorough police investigations of all MMIP cases. These victims, their families, friends, and communities deserve justice. These careful investigations could save missing loved ones before it’s too late.

6. Make food affordable for northern Indigenous communities in the territories in Canada. Also, make food affordable on Indigenous reserves in Canada. This will decrease poverty and homelessness among diverse Indigenous communities, and hence the risk of being stolen or murdered.

7. Create more work opportunities on Indigenous reserves across Canada. This includes providing more grants and entrepreneurship programs to aspiring and current Indigenous entrepreneurs. This will limit poverty, and hence, the chance of going missing and being murdered.

8. Across Canada, create more safe and culturally-informed public services that serve Indigiqueer people and other Indigenous people exclusively (including in healthcare). (Indigiqueer is a term that refers people who are both Indigenous and queer). Additionally, workers employed by these services and by other public services (in Canada) must receive training to eliminate harmful biases, racism, and discrimination towards Indigenous people, racialized people, queer people, and mentally-ill people. This training must foster care and therapeutic relationships towards these groups. Once again, I mention all of these groups because some Indigenous people may not appear to be visibly Indigenous. Many have mixed heritage. I care about the well-being all groups of people, but this petition is focused on safety of the Indigenous community. 

Also, the workers in these spaces must be routinely educated on the specific struggles faced by Indigenous and Indigenous queer people. This education needs to teach them how to approach these struggles and provide care in ways that are culturally-sensitive, gender-affirming, and sexual identity-affirming. Lastly, these workplaces must prioritize hiring Indigenous people and Indigiqueer people. This will strengthen Indigenous self-determination, confidence, and healing.

The implementation of these safe spaces will reduce homelessness among the Indigiqueer community. As a result, Indigiqueer people will be less likely to go missing or be murdered.

9. Establish more programs that promote kindness and acceptance towards Indigiqueer people on Indigenous reserves in Canada. A more loving community for 2SLGBTQ+ Indigenous people will prevent them from developing mental and physical health issues, as well as addictions. As a result, they will be less likely to go missing and be murdered. These pro-2SLGBTQ+ programs should aim to hire a large portion of Indigenous and Indigiqueer people.

Chi-miigwech (thank you very much) for reading my petition and signing it. I appreciate your support. By signing, you are pushing for governmental measures that will protect Indigenous people from going missing and being murdered. There will be heavy, legal consequences for anyone who engages in MMIP crimes. This is also true for police members who fail to adequately address/work to solve these crimes.

To continue your advocacy against this significant issue, please share my petition with people you know. It would also be helpful to share it on your social media. Chi-miigwetch. Educate yourself further with the following resources. Education is an important first step to successful advocacy. When we understand a problem and all the factors in play, it is easier to develop effective solutions. 

If you are personally impacted by the MMIWG2S+ crisis and are seeking support, you can call this mental health support line 24/7: 1-844-413-6649.

If you are Indigenous and are seeking support for another issue, you can contact Hope for Wellness, a mental health service designed to support Indigenous people through large and smaller life issues. Their number is here: 1-855-242-3310. It operates 24/7 too.

For more information on the MMIP crisis, please visit these articles: 

• https://www.aboriginalalert.ca/resources/a-national-crisis-canada%E2%80%99s-missing-murdered-aboriginal-women-children-men
• https://afn.ca/rights-justice/murdered-missing-indigenous-women-girls/
• https://www.aptnnews.ca/investigates/at-least-600-indigenous-men-in-canada-have-been-murdered-or-missing-since-1974-investigation-shows/
• 2023 Report on the MMIP crisis in Canada: https://www.aboriginalalert.ca/resources/2023-year-in-review
• https://www.nativehope.org/missing-and-murdered-indigenous-women-mmiw
• https://www.cbc.ca/radio/unreserved/unreserved-mmiwg-crisis

For more information on actions you can take to prevent more MMIP cases, please visit these links:

• https://amnesty.ca/what-we-do/no-more-stolen-sisters/stolen-sisters-what-can-i-do/
• gad_source=1&gclid=CjwKCAjw68K4BhAuEiwAylp3kuexET54x6v7XBchlPJ3at7Ko54xRSBn3-z_EZFGiLWR-YOsVymXNxoCkgcQAvD_BwE
  https://takeaction.amnesty.ca/page/131664/action/1
• _ga=2.114838017.78081938.1729185342-550930992.1729185341
  https://www.cbc.ca/radio/unreserved/unreserved-mmiwg-crisis-1.6743886

I am incredibly proud of the Indigenous community for their immense resilience & strength as they cope with the devastating loss of their loved ones to this crisis, on top of all their other traumas. I am so sorry that they have to experience so much pain and suffering. I feel terrible that trauma, depression, and grief are significant parts of their life experience. I pray for the healing, safety, and well-being of Indigenous people. Please pray for this too. Please support Indigenous people in your lives, let them know you are wanting to listen to their stories & struggles empathetically. Advocate alongside them - amplify THEIR voices. If you are non-Indigenous, your voice and experiences should not be in the spotlight - Indigenous people’s voices and stories should. This helps you be a true ally.

I am so proud of Indigenous people - past & present - for their relentless fight for their rights, justice, and self-determination. To have experienced an heart-wrenching journey and advocate with such dedication is incredible. And I am proud of all the amazing allies too for their hard work. Let’s show or love and support to Indigenous activists and allies - always. This will make their advocacy journey easier.

Here’s more actions you can take to help empower Indigenous people:

Buy from Indigenous businesses, donate to Indigenous organizations fighting for Indigenous well-being & protection. Volunteer at your local Indigenous friendship centre to show you are dedicated to supporting Indigenous people. Attend Indigenous events (that you are allowed to go to) to show that you care about their connection to culture. You can also appreciate Indigenous cultures in this way. Indigenous people are incredibly strong, and dedicated to fighting for their justice. But they need good allies to advance their progress at a faster rate. So please, be a true ally. Form those loving connections with Indigenous people. Don’t let them feel alone in their fight. Don’t let them feel like it’s only Indigenous people who care about their lives and struggles. We cannot let them feel that way. Living on Indigenous land, non-Indigenous people have a responsibility to befriend and care for Indigenous people. We have a responsibility to advocate for their well-being. We should want to fulfill those duties with love.

I wish you all the best in your advocacy journey! I know you are capable of so much if you put your mind to it, and even more so if you gather a team of advocates to work alongside you. Take care of yourselves & of each other.

With love,

Alyssa