Beyond Awareness: The Urgent Call for Accountability on Indigenous Violence

OTTAWA, ON – November 25, 2025 – As the international 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence commences, a powerful and unified message is emanating from Indigenous leaders in Canada: awareness is no longer enough. The National Family and Survivors Circle Inc. (NFSC Inc.) is marking the occasion with a resolute 2025 theme, “From Awareness to Accountability,” demanding a fundamental shift from acknowledgement to measurable action in ending the genocide against Indigenous women, girls, and 2SLGBTQQIA+ people.

For years, the disproportionate rates of violence have been a known crisis. Indigenous women are 12 times more likely to be murdered or go missing than their non-Indigenous counterparts. Yet, despite widespread awareness, the violence persists. This year, the call is for a systemic overhaul, moving beyond symbolic gestures to dismantle the very structures that enable this violence.

“Awareness is no longer enough,” declared Hilda Anderson-Pyrz, President of NFSC Inc., in a statement that encapsulates the growing impatience. “Indigenous women, girls and gender-diverse people have the right to live safely and freely. Commitments without follow through cannot continue to be repeated. We need measurable action that is visible to the families and communities whose loved ones have been lost and to the victims of violence.”

The Chasm Between Commitment and Progress

The roadmap for this measurable action already exists. The 2019 Final Report of the National Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls (MMIWG) was a landmark moment, concluding the crisis amounted to a genocide and issuing 231 Calls for Justice. These calls are not mere recommendations; they are legally mandated directives aimed at transforming every sector of society, from policing and justice to healthcare and media.

In response, governments co-developed the 2021 National Action Plan and the Federal Pathway, with organizations like NFSC Inc.—comprised of First Nations, Métis, and Inuit women with direct lived experience—playing a central role. Yet, more than five years after the initial report, the gap between commitment and implementation remains a vast chasm. Progress reports from advocacy groups paint a grim picture. An analysis by the Assembly of First Nations has repeatedly found that the vast majority of the 231 Calls for Justice have seen little to no progress, with some reports indicating as few as two have been fully completed.

This failure to act is not just a bureaucratic delay; it has life-and-death consequences. The systems that were identified as perpetuating harm continue to operate without fundamental change, leaving Indigenous women, girls, and 2SLGBTQQIA+ people in a state of perpetual risk. The demand for accountability is a direct response to this inertia, a call to treat the implementation of the Calls for Justice with the urgency of a national emergency.

Economic Justice as a Foundation for Safety

A central pillar of NFSC Inc.'s message is the undeniable link between economic exclusion and vulnerability to violence. The organization forcefully argues that safety is impossible when basic human needs are unmet. This reframes the conversation, positioning economic policy as a critical component of any effective violence prevention strategy.

When individuals and communities face systemic barriers to stable housing, food security, education, and livable incomes, they are placed in precarious situations that bad actors can exploit. The MMIWG Final Report itself identified economic inequality as a root cause, a direct consequence of colonial policies that have systematically disenfranchised Indigenous peoples. The lack of safe, affordable housing can force someone to remain in an abusive relationship, while food insecurity and poverty can make them vulnerable to exploitation and human trafficking.

Addressing these social determinants of health and safety is therefore not a secondary concern but a primary one. The call for accountability extends to ensuring Indigenous communities have the resources to build sustainable local economies and that individuals have equitable opportunities. This approach represents a crucial innovation in public safety strategy: moving upstream to address root causes rather than only reacting to the downstream consequences of violence. True safety is built on a foundation of dignity, stability, and opportunity.

Innovating Justice Through Lived Experience

At the heart of the push for accountability is the principle that those most affected must lead the way. NFSC Inc. embodies this, ensuring that the voices of survivors and families are not just heard but are central to the design and implementation of solutions. This model of survivor-led governance is a profound innovation in a policy landscape that has historically excluded and silenced Indigenous women.

With its new national Strategic Plan, “Circles of Change: Honouring Truth & Igniting Action (2025–2030),” the organization is formalizing this approach. The plan is an invitation for governments to move beyond consultation to genuine partnership, grounding all actions in the truths of those with lived experience. It champions culturally grounded, community-led solutions that respect the diverse needs of First Nations, Inuit, and Métis peoples.

This approach challenges the traditional, top-down model of government intervention. Instead, it advocates for stable, long-term funding that empowers communities to build their own systems of safety, healing, and justice rooted in kinship and culture. By centering the expertise of survivors, NFSC Inc. is driving a necessary evolution in how Canada conceives of and creates public safety, one that is more humane, effective, and just.

The Urgent Push for Tangible Tools and Systemic Reform

The demand for accountability is not abstract; it is focused on concrete, tangible tools and reforms. A prime example is the relentless advocacy for a national Red Dress Alert system. Modeled after Amber Alerts, this system would provide an immediate, coordinated public notification when an Indigenous woman, girl, or 2SLGBTQQIA+ person goes missing. NFSC Inc. has specifically called on governments like Manitoba to fully fund and implement a province-wide system by 2026, arguing that current processes are failing and that an Indigenous-led alert is a critical tool for rapid response.

Furthermore, the organization is amplifying calls to act on systemic reports, such as the Federal Ombudsperson for Victims of Crime’s investigation into justice for survivors of sexual violence. NFSC Inc. highlights that Indigenous survivors face unique and compounded barriers within the justice system, rooted in colonial discrimination. Implementing the report's recommendations is seen as another non-negotiable step toward accountability.

These specific initiatives—from alert systems to justice reform—represent the practical application of the “accountability” theme. They are measurable, impactful actions that move beyond rhetoric. The ongoing struggle to see them fully funded and adopted underscores the deep resistance to systemic change, but the resolve of survivors and their families to see this roadmap to safety fully realized remains unwavering.