One year after the announcement of a provincial fund to help relatives of gashed or murdered indigenous women, the province has revealed to have associated itself with five Manitoban organizations in order to provide direct and without obstacle support to the families of the victims.
The best way to maximize the accessibility of funds is to work in concert with organizations that already serve large communities and are deeply committed to them in the four corners of Manitoba
says the Minister of Families and Minister responsible for women and gender equality, Nahanni Fontaine, on this day of the red dress on Monday.
In May 2024, the Manitoba government announced a first investment of $ 15 million to constitute the endowment fund for the empowerment and healing of gashed and murdered Aboriginal women, girls and people.
This fund, which amounts to $ 25 million today, has generated around $ 650,000 since its launch last year.
More than 350,000 dollars have been raised in the past year thanks to the income generated by the fund, managed by the Winnipeg Foundation.
This money will be paid to five organizations: Manitoba Keewatinowi Okimakanak, the organization of southern Manitoba, Giganawenimaanig, Infinity Women’s Secretariat and Tunngasugit.
According to Nahanni Fontaine, these groups represent the First Nations, Métis, Inuit and Aboriginal communities in urban areas throughout Manitoba.
Anyone who can be confirmed to belong to the direct family of women who have died and murdered Aboriginal bispirituals may obtain accessible funding from one of these organizations.
These funds will help him assume research costs, take part in legal proceedings and seize significant healing opportunities by means of counseling services, ceremonies or other forms of eligible support
press release from the province.
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“We have to bring our loved ones home. Many of them are in the Brady path discharge, in other landfill sites and in the Red River. Our people has nothing to do there, “says Sue Caribou (left), who has never ceased to ask that we are looking for the body of his niece Tanya Nepinak, who was disappeared in 2011.
Photo : Radio-Canada / Rosanna Hempel
In addition to this announcement, the day of the red dress was underlined by a rally at the fork, in Winnipeg, where many First Nations leaders were and where a parade had gathered hundreds of people.
The procession was led by Sue Caribou, who bore a banner in the image of his niece, Tanya Nepinak, disappeared over ten years ago.
The remains of Tanya Nepinak would be in a landfill in the city. For Sue Caribou, this day is important, because it makes it possible to ensure that everything is done to bring the victims home.
It was the first day of the red dress since the conviction last year of the serial killer of Winnipeg, Jeremy Skibicki, found guilty of the murder of four indigenous women.
The large chief of Kyra Wilson praised the community and the families for the efforts they carried out in research at the Green meadow discharge. In February, the remains of two victims, Marcedes Myran and Morgan Harris, were found there.
The Assembly is now calling for a new research to find those of Tanya Nepinak and Ashlee Shingoose.
With information from Rosanna Hempel
