Acuity Funds Canada

Acuity Funds Canada

Acuity Funds Canada

The research, education, and policy initiative started by Aboriginal women in 2005 conducted extensive research and increased public awareness pertaining to cases of missing and murdered women and girls. Funding was provided by Status of Women Canada through the Native Women’s Association of Canada (NWAC) with a five-year mandate that ended March 2010.

Sisters in Spirit Initiative

In order to promote policy changes, the Sisters in Spirit were seeking answers to the following questions pertaining to racially and sexually-motivated violence against Aboriginal women:

  • What are the root causes, circumstances and trends?
  • How has the justice system responded to family and community reports and complaints?
  • What gaps, issues, and challenges exist in those responses?
  • What changes are required to improve safety and well-being of Aboriginal women in this regard?
  • How can the changes that will reduce or prevent these occurrences be implemented?

Aboriginal Families’ Stories of Victimized Women

During the past five years, the women developed an extensive database with information on almost 600 cases of missing and murdered Aboriginal girls and women. Many of the cases date back several decades.