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Whitehorse plays host to the Yukon MMIWG2S+ accountability forum

Wednesday, 18 October 2023 16:28

By Panebi Wilson X @panebiwilson

MMIWG2S+ is a national human rights crisis that impacts the lives of innumerable Indigenous women, girls, two-spirit, transgender, and gender-diverse+ peoples in Canada. Day one of the forum had panels speaking on accountability reports, and updates from the advisory committee on MMIWG2S+, and from partners and contributors. 

Whitehorse was host to the Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women, Girls, Two-Spirit, Transgender, and Gender-Diverse+ Peoples accountability forum.
MMIWG2S+ is a national human rights crisis that impacts the lives of innumerable Indigenous women, girls, two-spirit, transgender, and gender-diverse+ peoples in Canada. Day one of the forum had panels speaking on accountability reports, and updates from the advisory committee on MMIWG2S+, and from partners and contributors. 
An array of speakers including Ann Maje Raider, Executive director of the Liad Aboriginal women’s society , and co-chair representing Yukon indigenous women’s organization, Doris Bill, co-chair representing Yukon first Nations, and the Honorable Jeanie Mclean, Deputy Premier, Minister responsible for the women and Gender Equity Directorate, and Co-chair representing the Government of Yukon spoke extensively on taking actions, to the implementation plan which aims at changing the story to upholding the dignity and justice of Yukon’s Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women, Girls and two-spirited+ people strategy. 
Taking the stage later on in the day, was the local panel speaking on journalism and media in context of indigenous representation and the MMIWG2S+ strategy moderated by Gordon Loverin.  The panel speakers including Juilann Fraser, General Manager, CHON-FM, spoke on better ways stories of MMIWG2S+ are to be told which includes telling the stories of indigenous women, truthfully and respectfuly, and focusing more on the humanity of the families, when telling stories of the most horrific situations in their personal lives. 
Responding to the question on how to manage storytelling and coverage of the MMIWG2S+ issue, Fraiser highlighted the need for representation capacity and the need for the media to be open minded when dealing with this issue. 
Fraiser also goes on to say the media as an institution, needs the encouragement and support of the community. 
In a related news, the Yukon Premier Ranj Pillai has announced the new regulations for MMIWG2S+. 
This regulation announced on Monday during the accountability forum for missing and murdered Indigenous women, girls and two-spirit people, states that the Yukon RCMP, can now have access to the financial, health and telecommunications records of missing people. He said the police can also now also apply for a search warrant if they believe a missing minor or vulnerable person is in immediate danger. 
According to Pillai, he said these new rules have been in the works since 2017 and that it is a significant milestone for all Yukoners.
The accountability forum held in Whitehorse from 16th to the 17th October, aimed to update the advisory committee’s plan released in June, and to implement the territory's MMIWG2S+ strategy.


 

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