On this International Human Rights Day, we wanted to bring greater awareness to how intersecting grounds can compound a person’s vulnerability. To do so, we will examine the elements that contribute to the disadvantages experienced by many Indigenous women and girls.
Indigenous women and girls continue to experience discrimination and violence at alarming rates; far higher than other groups. Populations of Indigenous women are most vulnerable to discrimination and violence because of oppressive colonial policies, systemic racism, and pervasive sexism. The Final Report of the National Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls found that “persistent and deliberate violations of human and Indigenous rights” caused high levels of discrimination and violence, issues which continue to shape our institutions and communities.
Indigenous women are more likely to face poverty, unsafe housing, barriers to health care and education, intimate partner violence, higher scrutiny by social services, and unequal treatment by police and justice systems. These overlapping disadvantages make them more vulnerable to discrimination and harm. Statistics reveal deep inequalities:
- Between 2009 and 2021, the homicide rate for Indigenous women and girls was about
six times higher than for non-Indigenous women (Statistics Canada). - Indigenous women make up only about 5% of Canada’s female population but represent over 50% of federally incarcerated women (Office of the Correctional Investigator, 2023).
- Indigenous children account for more than half of all children in foster care, even though they represent only about 8% of children under 15 (Census 2021).
- Indigenous women report more barriers to health care, such as long travel distances, racism in medical settings, and lack of culturally safe services.
Upholding human rights is essential to addressing these inequalities in real and practical ways. Applying human rights principles means looking beyond “equal treatment” to equitable outcomes that recognize blanket policies can harm people who already face barriers. For example, screening criteria for jobs or housing can unintentionally exclude Indigenous people who have faced systemic barriers to education or stable housing. In the justice system, the Gladue principles require courts to consider the social and historical factors that affect Indigenous offenders in an effort to address historical over-sentencing of Indigenous people.
This year the NWT Human Rights Commission is launching the Gail Cyr Memorial Award for Gender Equality. This award is a way to recognize Gail’s dedication to equality human rights and Indigenous representation. Her experiences as a Sixties Scoop survivor and her work establishing the Native Court Workers’ Program made her a passionate advocate who championed justice and equality particularly for Indigenous people.
The Gail Cyr Memorial Award will honour young advocates who demonstrate honesty, courage, and a respectful approach to gender-based equality. These are the qualities which exemplify compassionate service.
Gail’s son Jesse Wheeler is proud of his mother’s legacy “She made such a huge impact on people’s lives, and in a positive way. She was a helper, connecting people with services and eachother to create community. This award really embodies her dedication to equality for women and Indigenous people.”
For more information about nominating someone for the inaugural Gail Cyr Memorial Award, folks can call our office or visit our website.