The Report of the Fourth National Indigenous-Federal-Provincial-Territorial Meeting on Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women, Girls and 2SLGBTQI+ People February 11 to 12, 2026

Engagement Summary on efforts to combat human trafficking

The presentation was delivered by Jennifer Richardson, former Chief Advisor to Combat Human Trafficking. The Chief Advisor's mandate is to provide non-binding advice and recommendations to the Minister of Public Safety on federal efforts to combat human trafficking, through engagement with key stakeholders, including Indigenous partners, to advance collaboration and best practices. This work also includes providing advice on the establishment of a survivors advisory committee, raising awareness of the crime, and working with the Minister of Crown-Indigenous Relations and Indigenous partners to advance the Calls for Justice related to human trafficking from the National Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls.

Since September 2025, the Chief Advisor has met with 57 Indigenous organizations, including national and local organizations, individual Nations, grassroots advocates, and more than 25 Indigenous survivors. Organizations emphasized the need for long-term, flexible funding, capital investments in safe spaces, and supports for youth, boys, and 2SLGBTQI+ people. The Chief Advisor underscored the importance of including Indigenous perspectives to inform national conversations on how the Government of Canada prevents and responds to human trafficking.

The Chief Advisor noted that current engagement processes are not meeting community needs and require adaptation to ensure they are inclusive and far reaching. This comes from the recurring concern raised by partners who advocate for broader and more inclusive conversations, noting that engagement processes often only engage with National and larger regional Indigenous organizations and governments. Survivors have also expressed that they are frequently excluded from discussions that are about programs, legislation, and policies that directly affect them.

Indigenous partners also spoke about what is needed to keep people safe, emphasizing the importance of long-term, flexible, and sustainable funding. Short-term funding cycles undermine trust-building with survivors and limit program stability that responds to the changing needs of survivors and that respect Indigenous lived realities, leadership and knowledge. There was also a strong call for trust‑based funding approaches and for capital and operating investments to create safe spaces for survivors, including youth, boys, and 2SLGBTQI+ people, who are often overlooked.

Another significant theme was the need for accurate Indigenous-specific trafficking data. The Chief Advisor noted that there is currently no consistent national method for tracking Indigenous-specific trafficking data, and that most survivors seek help through Indigenous‑led services rather than police or national hotlines. Because federal, provincial and territorial governments rely so heavily on police-reported data, the majority of Indigenous experiences are not captured, affecting policy, legislation, and funding decisions. Indigenous communities stressed the need to control their data, methodologies, and governance.

During engagement, partners emphasized strong links between human trafficking, organized crime, fraud and cross-border movement, noting that traffickers exploit predictable systemic gaps. They reported increased exploitation of status cards to move people and drugs, and described traffickers' reliance on remoteness, limited policing, hotels, airports, rideshares, and online platforms. Online recruitment, especially via social media, gaming, and apps, was flagged as a major and growing risk for youth. Many partners also raised threats related to artificial intelligence, noting these risks are outpacing current support systems.

During their engagements, partners noted that Indigenous women, boys, girls and 2SLGBTQI+ youth are targeted not because of who they are, but because traffickers exploit systemic vulnerabilities created by colonial policies, intergenerational trauma, child welfare involvement, homelessness, and lack of access to services. Youth who must leave their communities for schooling, medical care, or other supports face increased risks when separated from family and culture. Natural disaster evacuations were also seen as high‑risk periods because public evacuation information can unintentionally alert traffickers.

The Chief Advisor highlighted concerns about forced criminality, which is a tactic used by traffickers to exploit and control victims. Forced criminality occurs when traffickers coerce, pressure or manipulate victims into committing crimes, such as transporting drugs, carrying weapons, or recruiting other trafficking victims. Traffickers may deliberately use victims to carry out illegal activities in an effort to shield themselves from criminal liability. When trafficked individuals are coerced into participating in criminal activities, they may be viewed as offenders by law enforcement rather than victims of exploitation. Fear of criminal consequences and concerns about not being believed may discourage victims and survivors from fully disclosing their trafficking experiences. As a result, accountability may be diverted away from traffickers and misdirected to individuals who were forced to engage in criminal activity under coercion. Partners also described systemic gaps in supports, noting that domestic violence shelters often lack the specialized training and resources required to safely house Indigenous trafficked and exploited youth. Public housing and health systems were described as not being designed with survivors in mind, creating barriers rather than safety. Gaps were noted to be even wider for 2SLGBTQI+ survivors and young men.

Despite these challenges, partners emphasized that culture is protection. Culture was described as both a preventative and protective factor, and as essential infrastructure for safety and healing. Indigenous partners stressed that culture must be treated as a core requirement—not an optional add-on—in program, policy, and legislative design.

Partners reiterated that culture must be central in all program and policy design. They called for broader and more inclusive engagement, stronger digital literacy supports, and training across sectors. The Chief Advisor affirmed that Indigenous communities hold the solutions and committed to amplifying their priorities in her recommendations.

Plenary discussion

Following Jennifer Richard's presentation, a plenary discussion was held to hear perspectives from participants on human trafficking, housing, safety, and community-driven solutions. Across interventions, partners emphasized survivor-centered approaches, Indigenous‑led data systems, sustainable funding, strengthened coordination, and culturally grounded solutions.

The key themes from the plenary discussion are outlined below.

Presentation by Giganawenimaanaanig and Genvis

The presentation on the Red Dress Alert pilot project, delivered by Sandra DeLaronde, Project Lead of Giganawenimaanaanig and Brenda Dhillon, Country Manager for Canada at Genvis, was set against photos of loved ones shared by families and survivors to guide the process. Giganawenimaanaanig opened by acknowledging the ongoing failures of public safety systems and the continued loss of Indigenous women, girls, and 2SLGBTQI+ people. The engagement was described as being grounded in ceremony, guided by families and data sovereignty collected by Indigenous families.

In 2025, Giganawenimaanaanig held 29 community engagement sessions, 14 sessions with essential partners, including police agencies, the hospitality sector, tourism, geotechnology groups, child and family services, and education bodies, and an anonymous online survey, in which more than 1,000 people participated. Across all engagements, communities emphasized the need for an Indigenous-led alert, stronger coordination, and faster response when someone goes missing.

Communities consistently emphasized the urgency of establishing the alert system. Many expressed distrust in police response times, sharing evidence that reports are often not acted on quickly and that this delay can escalate harm. All stressed the need that the Red Dress Alert must be Indigenous-led and grounded in Indigenous governance, supported by relevant legislative tools to ensure effective coordination across jurisdictions and institutions.

The technology component of the presentation was delivered by Brenda Dhillon from Genvis, Giganawenimaanaanig's technology partner, who emphasized their commitment to trauma-informed design and deep collaboration with Indigenous leadership. The proposed technology was outlined, including a crisis information management system, public website, personal safety application, frontline mobile tools, and a trauma‑informed case management system.

They highlighted that all data within the system would be owned and governed by the Red Dress Alert organization under Indigenous data sovereignty principles. This includes access controls, permissions, and the integration of case management, community‑generated data, and public alert information.

In addition, Genvis confirmed that the system can support coordination with police, including tracking follow‑up on missing persons calls, with decisions guided by the Red Dress Alert organization. They noted challenges in remote areas due to national infrastructure gaps but emphasized that the proposed technology is able to be used with low bandwidth and offline capabilities. They also explained that individuals who do not wish to be located may discreetly confirm their safety through the personal safety app.

Plenary discussion

Following Giganawenimaanaanig's presentation, a plenary discussion was held to provide space for participants to share reflections on the Red Dress Alert presentation and to raise considerations related to implementation, jurisdiction, data, remote community realities, and the urgency of coordinated action.

The Honourable Rebecca Chartrand, Minister of Northern and Arctic Affairs and Minister responsible for the Canadian Northern Economic Development Agency, opened the discussion by acknowledging the emotional weight of the issue and the personal losses felt across many communities. She thanked the women leaders who have advanced this work and emphasized that poverty, housing shortages, and remoteness contribute significantly to the vulnerabilities faced in northern and rural Manitoba. She noted that families have historically carried the burden of searching for their loved ones alone, and highlighted that the Red Dress Alert pilot project, shaped by families and survivors, is already demonstrating the impact of their shared experiences. Minister Chartrand expressed her commitment to bringing these voices into federal decision‑making tables, including concerns related to artificial intelligence and public safety. She invited partners to share specific recommendations and affirmed her intention to advocate across government.

The key themes from the plenary discussion are outlined below.

Industry collaboration with Indigenous communities – Woodfibre LNG

The first presentation was delivered by Woodfibre Liquified Natural Gas (LNG) Project and included Carla George, Floatel Cultural Manager, Squamish Nation Knowledge Keeper and Junior Elder, and Sheryl Rivers, Manager of the Indigenous Workforce Development, Squamish Nation Knowledge Keeper and Junior Elder.

Carla opened the presentation by providing context for the Woodfibre LNG project, which is located on Squamish Nation territory in an area historically known as Siwat. Given the cultural significance of the project's location, it is closely connected to the Squamish Nation's members, ancestors, future generations, and other Indigenous groups identified by the project's environmental assessment certificate.

Carla explained that in 2014, the Squamish Nation conducted an independent environmental and archaeological impact assessment on the Woodfibre LNG project, with the intent of protecting the community's lands, water, air, and residents. She then described how Squamish Nation established its own Environmental Assessment Agreement, with 25 initial conditions designed to address community concerns and guide project development. Carla commended Woodfibre LNG's continued commitment to operate in a culturally-sound and respectful manner, noting how they directly addressed the Nation's concerns about transient workers from large industrial camps ("man camps") entering the community and straining local resources by repurposing decommissioned cruise ships (floatels) into worker accommodation vessels to reduce these impacts. These floatels were designed to support worker wellbeing while maintaining a controlled living environment separate from nearby communities. One floatel currently accommodates approximately 650 workers and a second vessel was later introduced to expand this initiative.

Sheryl Rivers continued the presentation by prioritizing the implementation of gender and safety cultural plans for major projects to address the disproportionate rates of violence faced by Indigenous women, girls, and 2SLGBTQI+ people. She explained that in order for Woodfibre to receive regulatory approval for floatel operation, the company was required to develop a mandatory gender and safety cultural plan. The plan involved extensive consultation before being approved by Squamish Nation and the British Columbia Assessment Office in 2024. Noting that this plan is the first of its kind in Canada, Sheryl highlighted how it set a precedent for gender and cultural safety as a required consideration during the regulatory process. She outlined the plan's measures for incident prevention and response, noting that it produces an annual report, is updated on an evergreen basis to reflect program changes, supports the following initiatives:

• The Gender Safety Advisory Committee, comprised of both Indigenous and non-Indigenous women who guide cultural safety policies, programs, and procedures
• Mandatory cultural awareness and gender safety training, which has educated over 9,000 in-person trainees
• Personal safety and risk training for women in the community, aimed at reducing vulnerability to violence and strengthening personal confidence
• Be More than a Bystander training, held annually in partnership with the Ending Violence Association of BC to promote a culture of speaking up against violence
• A partnership with Pearl Space, the local women's shelter, to sponsor consent training for high school students in Squamish
• A confidential third-party reporting line that operates on a 24-hour basis, allowing project workers to flag incidents related to harassment or violence

Sheryl proceeded to explain that the Worker Code of Conduct is another key component of the Woodfibre LNG Project, setting clear expectations for respectful interpersonal interactions, environmental stewardship, and safety measures and explicitly addressing harassment, gender-based violence, and misconduct. The code prohibits drugs, alcohol, and weapons, and also requires that medications be labelled with valid prescriptions. Compliance is mandatory for all employees; any violations will trigger disciplinary action that could result in the offender's permanent removal from the project. Moving forward, Sheryl shared her expectation that Woodfibre LNG will continue to align its gender and safety initiatives with government policies, positioning the Squamish Nation as a leading partner to strengthen project implementation and knowledge sharing. She concluded the presentation by emphasizing the importance of transparent industry practices, strong cultural oversight, and recognition of the value that Indigenous women bring to all aspects of this work.

MMIWG2S+ perspectives on major projects

Hilda Anderson-Pyrz, Co-chair and President of the National Family and Survivors Circle Inc., presented alongside Diane Redsky, representing Shoal Lake 40 First Nation, to discuss the impacts of major projects on Indigenous women, girls and 2SLGBTQI+ people.

Hilda opened the presentation with a reminder to center the needs of Indigenous women, girls and 2SLGBTQI+ people in conversations about major projects, as these discussions often prioritize economics and infrastructure. Drawing on her personal experiences from living in a community impacted by resource extraction, she explained that major projects do not exist neutrally. Instead, they shape community systems, power dynamics, housing, and safety, creating intergenerational impacts that extend far beyond their economic impacts. Referencing the findings of the National Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls, Hilda affirmed that safety must be foundational, not secondary to the planning and implementation of all major projects.

Hilda directed attention to Calls for Justice 13.1 to 13.5, which concern resource extraction, and stated that these were legal imperatives rather than aspirational goals. In light of this, she advocated for increased transparency to better understand how existing resource extraction agreements are structured, what resources are committed, and what accountability measures are being enforced. Calls for inclusion of Indigenous gender-based analysis in the earliest stages of project planning were raised. Further, it was noted that there is a need to address existing disparities in services, oversight, and coordination, while dismantling structural power imbalances that prevent equitable engagement with Indigenous communities. Responsibility must be shared across governments, regulators, and industry, with each sector being called to strengthen legislation, accountability, culturally safe workplace policies and community standards informed by lived experience.

Hilda explained that without clear accountability measures, progress will stall and the same problems will keep being discussed without real change. Data collection, reporting on results and following through on commitments are all necessary to build trust between communities, governments and industry. Projects must show, through their actions, that the safety of Indigenous women, girls, and 2SLBTQI+ people must be at the forefront of economic development. She ended by encouraging everyone to take concrete steps in their own roles, work directly with Indigenous leadership, and be open about the progress they make.

The next portion of the presentation focused on community‑led approaches to improving safety in major projects.

Diane Redsky introduced the next portion of the presentation by acknowledging her community of Shoal Lake 40 First Nation. Diane described how Shoal Lake 40 First Nation used the following process to assess and select resource development companies before allowing them to operate in the community:

• Ten companies which expressed interest in commencing operations in the community were reviewed for their commitment to truth and reconciliation and the Calls for Justice
• Five were interviewed, and two were selected based on their genuine commitment toward the Calls for Justice and demonstrated readiness to meet community expectations
• Shoal Lake 40 co‑developed agreements with the selected companies that included requirements for local labour and a community‑specific code of conduct rooted in the Seven Sacred Teachings
• The code sets clear expectations on racism, violence, substance use, and respectful behaviour and engagement with band members and all workers are required to sign it during onboarding

From Diane's lived experience living part-time in a construction camp for two years, she noted that implementing the code of conduct helped reduce harms at worksites and improved workers' understanding of Indigenous identities and the ongoing impacts of violence against Indigenous women, girls, and 2SLGBTQI+ people.

It was strongly recommended that corporate social responsibility should be mandated to all construction companies, with enforceable penalties for non-compliance. Within this mandate, workplace standards could include:

• a co-developed, community-specific code of conduct with clear incident management protocols
• mandatory training on Indigenous communities and the Calls for Justice
• minimum requirements for local labour strategies to drive economic development built by Indigenous communities
• measures to reduce the unproductive downtime of rotational workers between daily shifts, such as longer shifts as part of compressed rotations, allowing workers to return home sooner, as well as integrating recreation and workshop programming into project funding
• reliable internet access to provide sub-trades with more options during their downtime

Diane closed the presentation by reiterating a need for Indigenous women, girls, and 2SLGBTQI+ to have leadership roles within major projects, calling upon the government and the private sector to provide the necessary funding and mandates to realize this goal. 

Plenary discussion

Following the two presentations on major projects, participants engaged in a plenary discussion to explore how extractive development affects Indigenous communities and how these impacts are connected to the ongoing MMIWG2S+ crisis. This discussion was also an opportunity to reflect on Jennifer Richardson's presentation on efforts to combat human trafficking and to explore linkages between major projects and human trafficking.

The key themes from the plenary discussion are outlined below.

Major projects

Safety concerns related to major projects held a central theme, partners emphasized that large-scale industrial activity continues to heighten risks for Indigenous women, girls, and 2SLGBTQI+ people. The National Association of Friendship Centres drew attention to the risks posed by major projects, and specifically the impacts on human trafficking and climate change. The organization underscored the importance of integrated wraparound supports, transportation services and victim advocacy. The Métis National Council expanded on this by highlighting the opportunity to leverage momentum from the Build Canada Strong as a pathway for regulatory oversight. They emphasized the need to integrate extractive and development industries into the work of the Major Projects Office and to expand the role of the Indigenous Advisory Council on Major Projects, stressing that government responses to Indigenous safety concerns must be substantive and produce actionable outcomes against national issues such as human trafficking. The Assembly of First Nations reinforced the need for mandatory MMIWG2S+ informed impact assessments for all major projects developed with First Nations, tied to enforceable obligations for long-term, sustainable, and stable funding for First Nations-led safety services, housing, transportation, and victim supports. Minister Chartrand emphasized the importance of bringing together diverse voices to inform northern infrastructure development and reaffirmed her commitment to ensuring that community interests remain central to her work. The National Family and Survivors Circle expressed disappointment with the lack of tangible outcomes since the National Inquiry, noting that Arctic development may increase inflation, resource depletion, and exposure to illegal substances in affected communities. They emphasized that major projects must leave a positive legacy for Indigenous people rather than deepen existing harms.

Funding, data and Indigenous-led solutions

The reoccurring theme of funding, data, and Indigenous-led solutions again underscored the urgency of sustained, distinctions-based investments and the need to center Indigenous leadership in all aspects of this work. The Ontario Native Women's Association (ONWA) drew attention to recent data from the Homicide Survey findings, showing that rates of homicide for Indigenous women and girls have doubled since the National Inquiry began in 2016, reinforcing the need for investments into prevention rather than the aftermath of violence. ONWA highlighted how Indigenous women's organizations, which are at the forefront of delivering culturally grounded healing and violence prevention programs, require sustainable, core funding. ONWA emphasized that Indigenous women must also be included at decision-making tables and inform all policies, plans and strategies that impact, or have the potential to impact their lives. Further, ONWA emphasized the need for coordinated and cross-sectoral responses to ensure that Indigenous women's safety remains a central priority on the agenda and is recognized as a "nation-building investment".

Partners also highlighted persistent gaps in distinctions-based data and solution-oriented approaches. The Native Women's Association of Canada (NWAC) emphasized that Indigenous women, girls, and 2SLGBTQI+ people continue to face an ongoing national crisis requiring immediate and measurable action. NWAC underscored the need to keep victims, families, and survivors at the center of all efforts, while expressing concern about the absence of many federal and provincial ministers and the continued reliance on dialogue rather than action-oriented approaches that support Indigenous participation in economic prosperity. They also highlighted serious concerns regarding human trafficking and exploitation, including risks linked to resource extraction projects, transient workforces, and man camps, and stressed the importance of ensuring northern and remote communities remain central to both discussions and solutions. While acknowledging the value of forums such as the IFPT, NWAC emphasized that progress must be demonstrated through clear outcomes, accountability mechanisms, and tangible action between gatherings, noting in particular the slow pace of implementation of the Calls for Justice.

The Infinity Women Secretariat raised concerns about the lack of Métis-specific funding and data visibility, noting that misidentification and under-representation of victims, leave families without closure and prevents communities from accessing culturally-appropriate trauma-informed supports, resources and critical services. The Newfoundland Aboriginal Women's Network called for a critical shift from commitments to concrete action, emphasizing that short-term, proposal driven funding models place undue burdens on Indigenous organizations and grieving families. They called for the uplifting of legal and human rights captured in the Calls for Justice through long-term, stable funding for Indigenous women-led and community-based organizations. The Aboriginal Women's Association of Prince Edward Island echoed these concerns, noting the intergenerational trauma, mental health challenges, and addictions require long-term, sustainable funding to protect Indigenous lives, as passion and commitment alone cannot replace resources. Grand Council Treaty #3 also reinforced the need for multi-year funding to support culturally grounded healing programs, trauma-informed Indigenous-led counselling services for survivors and their families, prevention programming for youth and men, and rapid response services for communities near major development projects. The Alberta Inuit Women's Association (AIWA) also urged governments to support Inuit-specific funding that supports long-term, sustainable, culturally grounded resources for Inuit living in urban centers.

Collaboration and strengthened coordination

Partners emphasized that meaningful progress requires breaking down silos and strengthening coordination across jurisdictions, which is critical for remote, rural and northern areas. Speaking to efforts in Nunavut, the Honourable Dr. Gwen Healey Akearok, Nunavut Minister responsible for the Status of Women, highlighted the Government of Nunavut's efforts to work closely with communities across the territory to improve safety and support. Ontario's Associate Minister of Women's Social and Economic Opportunity, the Honourable Charmaine Williams, highlighted the importance of partnerships and described the province's Pathways to Safety strategy, a cross-government initiative that relies on strong partnerships with Indigenous organizations, including the Indigenous Women's Advisory Council. The Métis Nation of Ontario also emphasized the importance of Elders and their wisdom in guiding efforts to address violence against Indigenous women, girls, and 2SLGBTQI+ people.

The Honourable Leah Martin, Nova Scotia Minister responsible for the Office of L'nu Affairs, the Advisory Council on the Status of Women Act, and Youth, reflected on the value of the province's Roundtables on MMIWG2S+. Minister Martin discussed how a recent Nova Scotia Roundtable on MMIWG2S+ co-hosted with the Nova Scotia Native Women's Association led to a stronger shared understanding, deeper relationships, and new connections. This inspired another community-driven sector-based Roundtable in collaboration with Nova Scotia's Department of Justice, Status of Women Council, and cross-government approach to ending Gender-Based Violence. Minister Martin described the Roundtable's focus on creating space to hear participants' lived experiences, underscoring the importance of connecting face-to-face with communities.

Métis Nation British Columbia expressed gratitude for the opportunity to participate and emphasized the importance of collaboration, proactive violence prevention, meaningful integration of cultural safety and anti-racism standards, and investments in Indigenous infrastructure. Their remarks concluded with a call for elected leadership to uplift and integrate Indigenous voices, emotions and lived realities into policymaking.

Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami encouraged provinces and territories to work with Inuit Treaty Organizations to review progress on the implementation of the 2021 National Inuit Action Plan on Missing and Murdered Inuit Women, Girls and 2SLGBTQI+ People (MMIWG), noting that Inuit women, girls, and gender-diverse people continue to experience disproportionate levels of violence. They noted that when it comes to major projects,  safeguards must be guided by best practices to protect Inuit and not put them at risk. They also noted the request following the MMIWG Inquiry for a First Ministers' Meeting dedicated to the National Inquiry's findings. Pauktuutit Inuit Women of Canada reinforced the need for coordination that is Inuit women-led, emphasizing that lived experience and traditional knowledge must guide decision-making, particularly given the vast geography and isolation of many Inuit communities that have ultimately resulted in gaps in infrastructure and services. Supports must build upon existing Inuit-led programs, be community-driven, culturally grounded, gender-specific, and accessible to those who are hardest to reach. Inuit partners both underlined the need to listen to Inuit-specific concerns, to create an Inuit-specific approach to MMIWG2S+ that is intersectional and reflects Inuit realities and priorities.

Finally, Les Femmes Autochtones du Québec expressed solidarity with communities affected by violence against Indigenous women, girls and 2SLGBTQI+ people. The organization also called for a  coordinated Indigenous-led action, particularly by First Nations and Inuit women and girls, to implement the Calls for Justice, including those from the Viens Commission (especially calls 5, 8, and 11), emphasizing the importance of self-determination and the safety of women.

Focus on 2SLGBTQI+ People

Partners consistently raised ongoing concerns about the lack of specific supports for Two-Spirit and gender-diverse people. The Two-Spirit Council for the Assembly of First Nations spoke to the lack of progress on the Calls for Justice, Canada's fiduciary responsibility to First Nations, and the exclusion of Two-Spirit individuals from national conversations, noting the harmful impacts of recent budget reductions. The Wabanaki 2-Spirit Alliance highlighted the critical lack of targeted supports to address the unique forms of violence experienced by 2S+and gender-diverse people. They called for investments in Two-Spirit housing and safe spaces, national accountability reporting on the 2SLGBTQQIA+ Calls for Justice, and direct partnerships with Two-Spirit Plus-led organizations within policy development. They also emphasized that ongoing discrimination forces many 2SLGBTQI+ people to leave their home communities, increasing vulnerability to violence in urban centres, while also removing them from supports and connections which may be close to home.

Efforts to combat human trafficking and systemic racism

Human trafficking and systemic racism were again major themes throughout this second plenary. Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami described recent work to implement the National Inuit Action Plan on MMIWG+ alongside Inuit and federal partners, which has recently included a focus on anti-human trafficking. The Conseil des femmes élues de l'Assemblée des Premières Nations Québec Labrador (APNQL) and Cheffe d'Akwesasne identified flaws in the National Strategy to Combat Human Trafficking 2019-2024, led by Public Safety, that require improvement, noting that Indigenous boys are being increasingly targeted by human traffickers. The Urban Indigenous Action Group followed by highlighting the jurisdictional failures of child welfare systems that result in Inuit children being sent to urban centers, where the lack of community, services, and supports makes them vulnerable to gender-based violence and human trafficking.

The Nova Scotia Native Women's Association spoke to the importance of integrating survivors lived experiences into anti-human trafficking efforts and recommended an increase in cross-jurisdictional collaboration to align safety measure priorities. Eabametoong First Nation echoed the previous calls to action and emphasized the need to engage directly with Indigenous youth in conversations about safety and trafficking, noting that a majority of human trafficking victims are under the age of 25, a statistic exacerbated by ongoing systemic discrimination forces many 2SLGBTQI+ people to leave their home communities. It was also noted that when youth are forced to leave their communities, it increases their vulnerability to violence in larger urban centers. They also emphasized the importance of Indigenous data sovereignty, stating that Indigenous nations themselves, rather than government agencies or external contractors, should be given the capacity to collect, analyze, and govern their data.

Partners raised concerns about systemic racism in policing and public systems. Saturviit shared a personal testimony about the disappearance of a close friend and reflected on the ongoing impacts of colonialism, such as the historical use of numerical labels to identify Indigenous people. They also highlighted key services offered by their organization, including artisan nights, self-defence workshops, and wellness activities. The New Brunswick Advisory Committee on Violence against Indigenous Women, Girls and 2SLGBTQI+ People described patterns of over-policing, under-protection, and racism, that erode trust and prevent victims from reporting crimes due to fear of retribution or dismissal of concerns when reporting crimes. They emphasized that government responses to the MMIWG2S+ crisis require the same urgency and resource mobilization witnessed during other national emergencies (e.g. COVID-19) to drive Indigenous-led violence prevention, trust-building, and reconciliation. In response, Jacques Ramsey, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Public Safety, shared the regrets of the Honourable Gary Anandasangaree, Minister of Public Safety, for missing the meeting due to the tragedy in Tumbler Ridge. Jacques followed by reaffirming Public Safety's commitment to addressing systemic racism against Indigenous people, referencing the department's investments of over $400 million into relevant initiatives over the last seven years.

In a written statement, the Honourable Ian Lafrenière, Minister of Homeland Security and Minister responsible for First Nations and Inuit Relations, recognized that the current situation regarding MMIWG2S+ throughout Quebec is concerning. He also emphasized that the initiatives presented during the meeting demonstrate change is underway; it is important to remain hopeful and action-focused. He referenced legislative measures designed to strengthen efforts (Bill 13, 79, 32 outlined below) and committed to continue working with Indigenous partners to achieve transformative progress.

• Bill 13 increases protective measures for victims of intimate partner violence
• Bill 79 broadens information access for families of Indigenous children who went missing or died post-admission to a health institution
• Bill 32 mandates health and social services networks to establish partnerships with First Nations and Inuit and align their practices with these realities

Housing and wraparound support services

Housing insecurity and the lack of culturally grounded wraparound supports were identified as urgent, ongoing challenges. The Mi'kmaq Native Friendship Centre stressed that shelters are a reactive measure to housing shortages and that broader investments in housing are essential. Nishnawbe Aski Nation emphasized the importance of protective intervention and incident response services to provide meaningful harm reduction to Indigenous communities and deliver critical resources to children in distress. Similarly, the Native Women's Association of Canada echoed previous calls for accessible wraparound services and coordinated, culturally grounded support mechanisms to safeguard vulnerable communities.

Connective discussed their role operating the largest emergency shelter in the Yukon, along with a men's halfway house and a residential house. Observing that these services are disproportionately accessed by Indigenous people, they urged governments to invest in treatment centres and harm reduction strategies within the Indigenous Justice Strategy's framework for correctional reform. In a written statement, the Newfoundland Aboriginal Women's Network emphasized the need for stable, multi-year core funding for urban and rural Indigenous organizations, a focus on housing in rural and urban communities as a core pillar of the National Action Plan, and the establishment of a National Indigenous and Human Rights Ombudsperson and Tribunal to ensure government compliance and accountability through Call for Justice 1.7. Their statement closed with a reminder that intention alone cannot protect the lives of Indigenous women, girls and Two-Spirit people; their safety depends on structural follow-through. In another submitted written statement, the Aboriginal Women's Association of Prince Edward Island further highlighted the impacts of colonial violence and intergenerational trauma have on the increased vulnerability among Indigenous women, girls and 2SLGBTQI+ people. They discussed culturally grounded mental health supports, healing circles, and specialized services as pathways to trauma relief, noting the importance of providing communities with sustainable supports to empower healing.

Red Dress Alert

Partners again referenced the Red Dress Alert pilot, reiterated strong support for its' implementation and emphasized the need for sustained funding to ensure its effectiveness. Giganawenimaanaanig made a subsequent call for long-term resourcing and raised concerns about delays in implementing Call for Justice 1.7.

Member of Parliament Leah Gazan shared concerns about reduced government funding, noting that life-saving initiatives such as the Red Dress Alert rely on sustainable funding. She stressed that, despite fiscal constraints, the MMIWG2S+ crisis continues at an alarming rate and must be treated as a national emergency.

Indigenous rights and self-determination

Partners emphasized that addressing the MMIWG2S+ crisis requires upholding Indigenous rights, sovereignty, and self-determination. The New Brunswick Advisory Committee on Violence against Indigenous Women, Girls and 2SLGBTQI+ People affirmed the national sovereignty of Indigenous identities, underscoring their inherent right to food security, safe spaces for healing and health care, culturally relevant and safe educational spaces. Looking at the Determinants of Health as a standard outcome for Indigenous peoples of Canada.

In a written statement, the Qulliit Nunavut Status of Women Council reflected on the shifting power dynamics between industry and Indigenous communities, pointing to Woodfibre LNG's community engagement as an example of this phenomenon. They emphasized that, despite enduring economic disempowerment, systemic neglect and violence, Indigenous communities remain grounded by a shared mission of love and justice; uplifting the voices of women girls and gender diverse 2SLGBTQI+ people is necessary to reclaim their inherent power and abundance.