Here are some of the highlights of the Yukon Action Committee’s strategy to deal with the Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women, Girls and Two-spirit+ People crisis.

The report focuses in on 31 action items in four different categories.

“The Final Report acknowledges genocide and identifies four pathways that continue to enforce the historic and contemporary manifestations of colonialism that lead to additional violence. They are: historical, multigenerational, and intergenerational trauma; maintaining the status quo and institutional lack of will; social and economic marginalization; and ignoring the agency and expertise of Indigenous women, girls, and 2SLGBTQQIA people.

“Yukon’s Strategy addresses all four of these pathways to violence, and maps four corresponding areas; Strengthening Connections and Support; Community Safety and Justice; Community Action and Accountability; and Economic Independence and Education,” the strategy states.

It also lists several goals. The first is to implement co-ordinated and effective violence prevention, intervention, and crisis response across Yukon that contribute to safer and healthier communities for Indigenous women, girls and Two-spirit+ people.

The second is to end violence against all Indigenous people in the Yukon, in particular women, girls and Two-spirit+ people in Yukon.

Third, increase the economic independence of Indigenous women, girls and Two-spirit+ people.

Finally, the strategy calls for increased public awareness and engagement with the community in ending violence against Indigenous women, girls, and Two-spirit+ people.

The following is a list of the action items suggested in the strategy.

1. MMIWG2S+ Family/Survivor Support and Involvement:

Keep families at the heart of “changing the story” by providing ongoing support and involvement, including the implementation of this strategy.

2. Commemoration:

Yukon acknowledges the lives lost and lives changed because of violence against Indigenous women, girls and Two-spirit+ people and will honour and commemorate MMIWG2S+ Yukoners and those connected to Yukon families, by assisting to restore graves, fencing, and markers.

3. Strengthen First Nation Identity and Connections:

Acknowledge and increase actions that strengthen connections to the land, language, culture, spirituality and traditional livelihoods.

4. Community-based Mental Wellness Support:

Provide and improve community-based, culturally relevant mental wellness support for victims of violence, perpetrators of violence, children witnessing violence, victims of sexual abuse and other family and community members. Develop community-led accessible and appropriate options for detox, treatment, aftercare, healing and recovery.

5. Community and Land-based Infrastructure and Programming:

Invest in community and land-based infrastructure and programming including after-care and development of facilities and camps in order to ensure options are available that align with community priorities.

6. Indigenous Children and Families:

Improve and expand culturally appropriate supports to Indigenous families so that Indigenous children are raised in their own safe and loving families and communities.

7. Improvements in Health and Social Programs and Services:

Work with partners to appropriately implement Putting People First, the April 30, 2020 final report of the comprehensive review of Yukon’s health and social programs and services.

8. International Agreements on Rights:

Explore options to consider the application of the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous People (UNDRIP) in the context of Yukon’s Final Agreements, other modern treaties, and the evolving relationship with First Nations governments without agreements.

9. Community Safety Assessments, Plans and Implementation:

Conduct community-based safety assessments designed by communities to identify factors contributing to the ongoing perpetuation of violence and unsafe conditions in each community. Develop and implement Community Safety Plans that address these factors and conditions.

10. Evaluate Sharing Common Ground:

Sharing Common Ground – Yukon’s Police Force Review (2010) is the final report of the review in Yukon focusing primarily on the RCMP. The evaluation should review the status of the implementation of the recommendations and identify emerging needs.

11. Restorative Justice:

Improve options and co-ordination for youth and adult restorative justice in Yukon communities with a focus on the safety and dignity of victims.

12. Whitehorse Correctional Centre and Community Justice Services:

Partner with Whitehorse Correctional Centre and Department of Justice to improve programs, services and supports for Indigenous people while incarcerated and support reintegration into the community with a focus on upholding the safety and dignity of women, girls and Two-spirit+ people.

13. Sexualized Assault and Violence Response:

Improve victim-centered and crisis-responsive supports for victims of gender-based violence and sexualized assault.

14. Violence Prevention and Response Programs:

Review violence prevention and response programs and services and associated funding programs in Yukon to improve sustainability, positive outcomes and alignment with First Nations needs.

15. Update of MMIWG2S+ Record:

Update the record of MMIWG2S+ with current information and include those who were not included in the original Yukon Sisters in Spirit research project and create a record of missing and murdered Indigenous people in addition to the MMIWG2S+ record.

16. Transportation and Communication:

Create safe and affordable transportation and communication options to and between Yukon communities.

17. Research Projects:

Identify research priorities under the leadership of Indigenous women, girls and Two-spirit+ people and conduct individual and/or joint projects to advance knowledge and information available on specific topics,including human trafficking affecting Yukon Indigenous people.

18. Leadership, Education and Training Programs:

Create and expand available options in leadership, education, and training programs for children, youth, and adults that are grounded in culture.

19. Post-Secondary Education and Professional Development:

Improve funding for and access to culturally relevant career counseling, post-secondary education programs, and community education outreach.

20. Employment, Livelihoods, and Entrepreneurial Development:

Increase and improve opportunities for Indigenous women, girls and Two-spirit+ people to create sustainable and self-determined livelihoods and economic independence.

21. Resource Extraction and Major Infrastructure Projects:

Eliminate violence related to development projects in both workplaces and communities. Increase the workforce capacity, mitigate negative impacts, and improve the positive benefits for Indigenous women and Yukon communities.

22. Workplace Physical, Psychological and Cultural Safety:

Improve the physical, psychological, cultural, and spiritual safety of all Yukon workplaces for Indigenous women, girls and Two-spirit+ people.

23. Safe Housing and Freedom from Poverty:

Appropriately and safely meet the needs of Indigenous women, girls and Two-spirit+ people which includes the provision of gender-specific options for safe and affordable housing, food, clothing, and other essentials.

24. Public Information, Training, and Education:

Provide culturally relevant public education about MMIWG2S+ issues and related priority topics, including violence prevention and healthy masculinities that contribute to the elimination of racism, oppression, and violence.

25. Intercultural Competence Training and Education:

Provide education and training to all relevant public servants, judiciary and service providers in First Nations, municipal, territorial, and federal governments that is designed and delivered by Indigenous people where possible, with the goal of improving cultural safety.

26. Media Roles and Responsibilities:

Improve accurate, respectful reporting of gender- and race-based violence and eliminate the inaccurate portrayal of Indigenous women, girls and Two-spirit+ people in all forms of media. Work to ensure that the media can access relevant facts from the RCMP and other sources.

27. Yukon Environmental and Socio-economic Assessment (YESA):

Implement culturally relevant, gender-balanced analysis in the YESA Act processes.

28. Indigenous Women’s Organizations:

Informed by a co-developed funding assessment process, provide adequate, long-term funding for Indigenous women’s organizations that supports effectiveness and enhances collaboration.

29. MMIWG2S+ Strategy Accountability Framework:

Embed an accountability framework into the Strategy to ensure continued inclusion and involvement of MMIWG2S+ families, survivors, partners, contributors and all Yukon communities.

30. 2SLGBTQQIA Advocacy and Public Education:

Assess needs and resources of organizations that engage in advocacy and education on anatomical sex, sexual orientation, sexualities, gender expression and identities to address colonial violence against all genders and sexualities, promote understanding, and create safety, equality, and justice for 2SLGBTQQIA Yukoners.

31. MMIWG2S+ Trust Fund:

Establish a trust fund for families and survivors of MMIWG2S+ to provide resources in priority areas defined by families.