The BC Assembly of First Nations (BCAFN) will be hosting engagement sessions on the development of the National Action Plan on Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women, Girls, and 2-Spirit, lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, questioning, intersex and asexual (2SLGBTQQIA+) people in collaboration with the Assembly of First Nations. These sessions will occur throughout May and June 2021.
“Over the decades there have been many recommendations about how we can move forward on ending the tragedy of missing and murdered Indigenous women, girls, and 2SLGBTQQIA+ people. The purpose of these sessions is to gather and have a strategic, regionally-based dialogue that is action and implementation focused.” stated Regional Chief Terry Teegee.
“As the BCAFN Women’s Representative, I’m honoured to be able to support this work and am grateful for all those who provided their valuable insight into the design of this process. I hope these sessions and the report that flows from them can add to the momentum around the Calls for Justice and support immediate concrete action. There can be no more delay,” stated Louisa Housty-Jones.
The BCAFN is honoured to be able to work with Chastity Davis-Alphonse and Racelle Kooy as our co-facilitators, whom have been instrumental in informing the design of an inclusive, trauma-informed, and culturally relevant process. Both Chastity and Racelle have extensive experience in facilitation and community engagement as well are passionate advocates for the safety, health, and wellness of Indigenous women, girls, 2-Spirit, and gender-diverse individuals.
We are keenly aware that it is time for action as called for in the 231 Calls to Action, and that families and survivors have already shared so much. We want to ensure that family members and survivors are included in prioritizing and guiding how the Calls to Action are implemented within the BC region. The engagement processes have been designed with this information in mind, and upholds the following key principles:
- Families- and Survivors-centered approach
- Respects the history of activism and work completed to date on MMIWG2S+
- Integrates culturally relevant and trauma informed principles
- Adjusts engagement to the extraordinary circumstances of global COVID-19 pandemic
- Is action and implementation-focused.
Pre-engagement Update Sessions:
- Wednesday, May 12, 2021 – 10am-12pm
- Thursday, May 13, 2021 – 5pm-7pm
The pre-engagement update sessions will be hosted as an opportunity for the federal government and AFN to share what has taken place from June 2019 to May 2021 with the final report and 231 Calls to Justice. We will also discuss next steps moving forward and how the regional engagement processes will inform the National Action Plan. It will provide an opportunity for family members and survivors to re-connect with this process, ask any questions they may have, and be included in the next steps for this important process.
Engagement sessions with family members and survivors:
- Friday, May 14, 2021 – 2pm-4pm
- Saturday, May 15, 2021 – 10am-12pm
- Sunday, May 16, 2021 – 10am-12pm
- Monday, May 17, 2021 – 5pm-7pm
- Tuesday, May 18, 2021 – 5pm-7pm
- Monday, May 24, 2021 – 10am-12pm
- Friday, May, 28, 2021 – 2pm-4pm
- Tuesday, June 1, 2021 – 12pm-2pm
The dates were chosen with family members and survivors in mind with a variety of days and times (morning, afternoon, evening, weekdays, and weekends) to choose from. This is to ensure that family members and survivors have the option of when they would like to engage and to ensure that they are engaging in a supportive environment. One of the engagement sessions will be specific to engage with 2SLGBTTQQIA+.
The support at each engagement session will include:
- One Elder to open and close the session in a cultural and good way
- Two MMWIG2S+ regional coordinators from FNHA/IRSSS
- Graphic facilitator to capture the conversation visually
- Note taker to capture the discussion.
There will also be two other pathways for family members and survivors to share through an online survey and an option to record their input on their electronic device and submit it online as well. This provides choice and alternative ways for voices, wisdom, solutions to be shared.
Report Back Sessions:
- Friday, June 18, 2021 – time TBD
- Saturday, June 19, 2021 – time TBD
Chastity and Racelle will co-author a “what we heard” report in early June. This report will capture the input for priorities, actions, and a path forward for the implementation of the 231 Calls to Justice to be implemented in BC and to inform the National Action Plan. There will be two follow up sessions to report back to family members, survivors, and First Nations organizations, leaders, activists, advocates, and subject-matter experts on June 18 & 19, 2021.
This report will then be submitted to AFN to inform the National Action Plan from a BC perspective and will inform BCAFN’s advocacy regarding the implementation of the National Action Plan. The goal is that the report flowing from these sessions will also be useful and empowering to First Nations across BC and support community-based action.