Voices of incarcerated Indigenous women silenced, advocates tell MMIWG inquiry

Incarcerated Indigenous women have "been put at the bottom of the list, as they often are," an advocacy group told the inquiry into missing and murdered Indigenous women and girls (MMIWG)Wednesday.

The Canadian Association of Elizabeth Fry Societies was in Quebec City to present its recommendations, addressing the overrepresentation of Indigenous women in Canadian prisons.

Executive director Kassandra Churcher began her testimony by expressing concern commissioners would not be hearing from incarcerated women themselves.

"Today as we testify there are women who are in segregation, whose stories cannot be told," she said.

The Manitoba MMIWGCoalition, present for the hearing, called their absence "a missed opportunity for Indigenous women across Canada."

Churcher acknowledged the inquiry hadto deal with "immense time constraints."

In March 2018, the inquiry's chief commissioner, Marion Buller,requested a two-year extension and $50 million in additional funding, to"engage with 2SLGBTQpeople"and toreach vulnerable Indigenous women and girls, "including those who are incarcerated, homeless and trafficked."

Ottawa allowedan additional six months to complete the inquiry.

Bullercalled the decision againstvisiting a penitentiary"a large disappointment" and "very painful" for the team.

CommissionerQajaqRobinson teared up as she addressed the panel at the end of the day.

"It will be a disappointment I willcarry for my life," Robinson said, asking the association to tell the women "how much we wanted to meet them."

"We will not forget them in our report," she promised.

Ban on segregation, strip searches

TheElizabeth Fry Societies associationsubmitted several recommendations to the commissioners, many of which have been underscoredin numerousreports over several decades, Churchersaid.

While Indigenous women make up only four per cent of the general population, 39 per cent of incarcerated women are Indigenous.

Churchersaid thatoverrepresentation has been well documented over the years, yet "nothing has been done to address this."

Churcher said the reasons for this are numerousbut can be traced back to the "long-term effects of colonization and intergenerational trauma."

Elizabeth Fry called for the removal of strip searches by correctional officers, describing it as "institutionalized violence against women,"Churchersaid.

The majority of Indigenous women who are incarcerated were victims of sexual abuse in their past, she said.

"The federal government's action re-traumatize women on a regular basis," Churcher submitted to the inquiry.

She said some women who refuse to go through with the searches, and can lose privileges, like the right to see their children.

Others will avoid applying for jobs or volunteer work within the prison to "not endure the trauma of strip searches," therefore losing out on opportunities.

Policing, safety discussed

This leg of the inquiry is hearing from expert witnessesand covers themes that have surfaced during testimonyfrom more than 1,200 families across the country.

On Monday,commissioners heard how the opioid crisis is overwhelming police services in northern Ontario.

The chief of Canada's largest Indigenous police force, the Nishnawbe-Aski Police Service (NAPS),saidthat chronic underfundinghas endangered the 34 communities NAPS serves, particularly vulnerable women and girls.

On Tuesday, human rights advocates detailedhow major resource development projects jeopardize the safety of girlsand women.

The fly-in, fly-out model brings to remote regionslarge numbers of transient workers with deep pockets, the commissioners heard. Theydrop into town to "blow off steam" and driveup the cost of living for locals.

The income gap betweenwomen and men in these communities also exacerbates inequalities, because women cannot afford to leave violent relationships, witnessestold the inquiry.

Commissioners will move on to Winnipeg, Man., andSt-John's, N.L., inOctober.