A partnership between Yukon Sisters in Spirit and the RCMP aims to bring renewed attention to 29 cases of missing or murdered aboriginal women in the Yukon.

The cases, which date back to the 1960s, include incidences with known outcomes, those where further investigation has been requested and four cases where criminal investigations are still under way.

Yukon Sisters in Spirit is an independent organization under the Native Women's Association of Canada. The national body works to bring justice to nearly 600 women and girls missing in Canada. The Whitehorse organization works in the Yukon's rural communities through the spring and summer, investigating cases of missing women and offering public education and awareness of the issues surrounding missing women in the Yukon.

They have been working alongside the RCMP for the last year and a half.

"The program is about building collaboration with First Nations communities,” said Cpl. Rick Aird, the RCMP liaison to the program.

"In these types of investigations, police will do everything in their ability to resolve the case, but we are gatherers of the evidence and we need people who may have information to come forward. Of course, some people may not be comfortable coming to the police about what they think may have happened, even though that information could be vital.”

The role of women's groups — particularly those led by aboriginal women — are of vital significance to accessing the communities most affected by the disappearances. Often there is a reluctance among women to speak with the police, and organizations such as Sisters in Spirit are able to create a safe and confidential environment to speak out.

"We are very open with families in communities about the information we share with the RCMP,” said Jayla Rousseau -Thomas, of the Yukon Aboriginal Women's Council and a researcher with Sisters in Spirit. "We encourage them to bring forward information to the RCMP if they are able ... we also have a couple of publications, what to do if someone goes missing, who to contact, how to work with and utilize media — TV, radio, all services at their disposal — to get out the information they need to.”

It's a movement that has been building for decades.

"This has been going on underground for 30-plus years in our community, said Rousseau-Thomas. "It started with the Native Women's Association in Canada. By the time it came to the Yukon, there were five identified cases, but women in the communities found that that was not accurate. Really, it was much higher.”

The RCMP have divided the 29 cases, brought forward by Sisters in Spirit, into three groups.

The largest number are cases with known outcomes, where for instance, criminal charges may have been laid, or the circumstances of the disappearance were deemed to have been non-criminal.

The second are those where someone such as a friend, family or community member have come forward and asked the RCMP to revisit the case. This process often includes revisiting police files and coroner's reports from the time of the incident, said Aird.

"In some cases we are dealing with just a name or a distant memory.”

The final group are the most immediate priority for investigators.

There are currently four active and unsolved investigations of missing aboriginal women in the Yukon.

The most well known is the case of Angel Carlick, a 19-year-old Whitehorse woman who was reported missing in late May 2007 and found dead in a forested area north of the Pilot Mountain subdivision in November of the same year.

Both the RCMP and Sisters in Spirit remain committed to the investigation.

"It is an open investigation and to talk about it could damage an ongoing investigation,” said Aird. "But it is a high priority.”

"We have looked at that case as we do all,” said Rousseau-Thomas. "We have worked with the community, family, friends, definitely one of our priorities.”

After several phone calls, the RCMP have yet to provide the Star with the names and photos of the other women, whose disappearances are being investigated.

Both organizations face unique challenges trying to bring justice to the missing women.

Accessing communities most in need can be one of the most difficult aspects of the job.

"One of the difficulties we face is that a lot of First Nations cultures don't talk about the dead, it's part of the culture,” said Rousseau-Thomas. "We also work hard to dispel rumours about missing women. One of the big ones is that you have to wait 48 hours to report someone missing, you can report it right away.”

Sisters in Spirit's community outreach is mostly conducted by Rousseau-Thomas and one summer student.

"We are limited,” said Rousseau-Thomas. "We work in the Yukon and some communities in Northern B.C. but if other organizations are interested in developing along similar lines, we'd be more than happy to help them set up.”

Sisters in Spirit collaborate locally with organizations like Kaushee's Place, the Victoria Faulkner Women's Centre and the Liard Aboriginal Women's Society in Watson Lake.

Even with increased attention to the issue, the risk to young women is still present.

"If you are going out and partying, bring a phone with you, if you have to hitchhike, use the buddy system,” said Rousseau-Thomas. "Part of the level of risk can depend on what the individual is doing to keep themselves safe.”

The RCMP remind Yukoners that all four active investigations, including that of Angel Carlick, are still being closely pursued.

They encourage anyone with information to step forward.