Preventing violence against Indigenous women and girls

Indigenous and Northern Affairs Canada is committed to improving the lives and security of Indigenous women, girls and families. Indigenous and Northern Affairs Canada participates in the Government of Canada's Action Plan to Address Family Violence and Violent Crimes Against Aboriginal Women and Girls and provides the following programs and services aimed at protecting and empowering Indigenous women and girls.

Services and information

National Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls

The Government of Canada is launching a national inquiry into missing and murdered Indigenous women and girls.

Family Violence Prevention Program

Indigenous and Northern Affairs Canada provides funding for a network of 41 First Nations shelters serving women, children and families living on reserve as well as for prevention projects both on and off reserve. In 2012-2013, approximately 250 family violence prevention projects were funded by the department.

Matrimonial real property

In December 2013, the Family Homes on Reserves and Matrimonial Interests or Rights Act came into force. It will ensure that women, children and families living on First Nation reserves have the same matrimonial rights as those living off reserve.

Child and family services

In 2013-2014, the department provided approximately $638 million for the delivery of child and family services including support for 9,800 First Nations children in care (kinship, foster home, group home and institutions) ordinarily resident on reserve. Indigenous and Northern Affairs Canada is working with all partners to increase accountability and improve their front-line services.

Income assistance and employability

Indigenous and Northern Affairs Canada funds the development of essential skills in order to help Indigenous women achieve their full potential, increase their self-reliance and reduce their poverty. This program funds pre-employment supports such as literacy and life skills, cost of daycare and wage supplements to enable young women and men to improve their skills and increase their employability. As of January 2015, about 1400 young women were participating in the program and 600 young women had moved from income assistance to full-time school or employment as a result of the program.

Entrepreneurship

Indigenous and Northern Affairs Canada recognizes the particular needs and aspirations of Indigenous women in their efforts to improve their economic security – a key prevention measure against violence. Twenty-one projects supporting Indigenous women entrepreneurs with funding of $2.6 million have already begun.

Education

Indigenous and Northern Affairs Canada works with First Nations partners to help First Nations students have access to a high quality education. It funds a range of elementary and secondary school programs on reserve and supports the building and renovating of on-reserve schools. In 2011-2012, the department invested $1.55 billion in First Nation K-12 education benefitting approximately 116,400 students in kindergarten to grade 12 and about 22,000 post secondary students.

Water, housing and infrastructure

Indigenous and Northern Affairs Canada works with First Nation governments to support affordable and adequate housing, clean drinking water and community infrastructure such as roads and schools – essential to healthy, safe and prosperous communities. Find out more about the Capital Facilities and Maintenance Program which invests about $1 billion a year in housing, education, water and infrastructure.

 

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