Safety, education and equality needed for Indigenous women

March 8, 2016. “First Nations women still have many challenges ahead of us in terms of equality and equity at all levels, whether it be among First Nation governments, provincial or federal,” said Okanese First Nation Chief Marie-Anne Day Walker-Pelletier in a statement Tuesday marking International Women’s Day. Day is the longest serving female Chief in Canada. “Indigenous women in Canada should have access to the same opportunity as every other Canadian – male or female,” said Assembly of First Nations Women’s Council Chair Therese Villeneuve. International Women’s Day follows the second national roundtable on missing and murdered Indigenous women and girls, which last month brought together Indigenous families, leaders and federal, provincial, territorial leaders to set priorities to address and prevent violence. The federal government is working on the parameters of the upcoming national inquiry into missing and murdered Indigenous women and girls, after getting input from family, loved ones and Indigenous organizations.