Mr. Speaker, today the Native Women's Association of Canada and Justice for Girls released a report that documents the impacts of intergenerational residential school trauma on criminalized women and girls.
The cross-country consultations entitled “Arrest the Legacy: From Residential Schools to Prisons” included over 300 first nations, Métis and Inuit women who have been in custody, as well as community and justice sector workers.
Aboriginal women are overrepresented in the Canadian prison system due to poverty, violence, mental health issues and multi-generational abuse.
This report includes several recommendations to improve the lives of aboriginal women and girls, such as alternatives to incarceration, increased support for community-led healing, and supportive housing.
The first step for the Conservative government is to listen to the research that comes from organizations such as the Native Women's Association of Canada. The second step is for the government to act to stop the devastating impacts of Bill C-10, to reverse the cuts to research and healing programming and to eradicate poverty among aboriginal women.
The Canadian government is leaving aboriginal women in the cold. It is time to respect first nations, Métis and Inuit women instead of criminalizing them.