YELLOWKNIFE — The Northwest Territories has released a draft plan on how to respond to calls for justice in the final report of the National Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls.
The 150-page draft lists 95 items the N.W.T. government says it will act on to address colonialism and racial and gendered discrimination in the territory.
The plan is sorted into four key areas: culture and language, health and wellness, human security and the justice system.
The national inquiry's final report, which was released in 2018, includes 231 calls for justice directed at governments, institutions and all Canadians.
The N.W.T.'s plan includes promoting Indigenous languages in schools, creating a suicide and crisis response network, and establishing missing persons legislation.
The government says it will seek feedback from people across the territory before finalizing the plan in June.
"The (Northwest Territories government) is committed to working with all Northerners and with partners across Canada to address systemic causes of violence, inequality and racism so that Indigenous women, girls and 2SLGBTQQIA+ people can feel safe and empowered in our territory and in our country," Status of Women Minister Caroline Wawzonek said in a news release.
"This draft action plan is an important step in this government’s commitment to meet the calls for justice."
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Dec. 9, 2021.
The Canadian Press
