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Thank you. I am honoured to be here today on behalf of Premier McLeod and the Government of the Northwest Territories.

Organizers are holding over one hundred Sisters in Spirit vigils across the country today to remember the missing and murdered Aboriginal women of Canada.

This year, the vigils have become an international event with ceremonies held in South America and the United States in honour of their Indigenous women who are missing and murdered. 

This Sisters in Spirit research project undertaken by the Native Women’s Association of Canada in 2004 authenticated 582 missing and murdered Aboriginal Women in the past twenty years.

Advocates for families of missing women believe the number of missing Aboriginal girls and women to be much higher – some say, between 5,000 - to 8,000 girls and women.  Since the release of the report, we have heard regular reports of missing and murdered Aboriginal women and girls.

The Sisters in Spirit report looked at the factors that contribute to the problem; being Aboriginal is listed as a vulnerability that puts women and girls at higher risk. Aboriginal girls and women are more often to suffer injury and death from within the family and are more likely to be victims from persons who are not Aboriginal.

As a society, we must take action to ensure the safety of Aboriginal girls and women.  While poverty puts all people at risk, the dangers Aboriginal girls and women face are unacceptable.

Part of the problem is the lack of public information and attention to the issue of missing and murdered Aboriginal women.  An informed public demands action.

As Minister of Justice, I am dedicated to dealing with this issue.  Across Canada, Ministers of Justice have devoted their attention and resources to deal with missing and murdered women, with particular attention to Aboriginal women.  We are finalizing actions that will assist injured persons, families of missing and murdered women, and advance efficiencies for rapid and sympathetic response from responders.

But it isn’t just about what government can do. It is also about what people in the community do to stop the violence. Awareness-raising events like this vigil are an important step. So is taking action to change the attitudes that continue to support and condone violence against women. With your help and the help of the people in the community, we can and will see change.

Thank you.