Govt announces support for Indigenous women, 2SLGBTQQIA+ in Yukon

Whitehorse – The National Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls highlighted the underlying systemic causes of ongoing violence against Indigenous women, girls, and 2SLGBTQQIA+ people. The COVID-19 pandemic also created unprecedented challenges for victims and survivors seeking help and the frontline organizations that support them.

Brendan Hanley, Member of Parliament for Yukon, on behalf of Marci Ien, Minister for Women and Gender Equality and Youth, announced over $900,000 for two community organizations in Yukon:

• Liard Aboriginal Women’s Society (LAWS) is receiving over $400,000 for their Intergenerational Equality Planning project.
• Whitehorse Aboriginal Women’s Circle is receiving $500,000 for their Increasing the Capacity of Whitehorse Aboriginal Women’s Circle project.

Increasing the capacity of Indigenous women’s and 2SLGBTQQIA+ organizations will enable them to address the root causes of gender-based violence and ensure that Indigenous women and 2SLGBTQQIA+ people, and their communities, can prosper now and in the future.

This announcement builds on the bilateral agreement between the Government of Canada and Yukon announced in October 2023 that supports the implementation of the National Action Plan to End Gender-Based Violence. This funding is also aligned with Pillar 4 of the National Action Plan, which focused on implementing Indigenous-led approaches.

In November 2022, the Federal, Provincial, and Territorial Forum of Ministers Responsible for the Status of Women launched the 10-year National Action Plan to End Gender-Based Violence. The Plan is a strategic framework for addressing gender-based violence. It includes five pillars: support for victims, survivors, and their families; prevention; a responsive justice system; implementing Indigenous-led approaches; and social infrastructure and enabling environment.