Ministers Alty, Gull-Masty, Chartrand, and Valdez issue a statement on Sisters in Spirit Day and the National Day of Action for Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women, Girls and 2SLGBTQI+ people

OTTAWA, ON, Oct. 4, 2026 /CNW/ -- Traditional Unceded Algonquin Territory

Today, Ministers Alty, Gull-Masty, Chartrand, and Valdez issued the following statement:

"On Sisters in Spirit Day, we honour and remember all the Indigenous women, girls and 2SLGBTQI+ people who have gone missing or been murdered. We stand with the survivors, families, and communities whose advocacy, leadership and determination continue to drive action and accountability, and we recommit ourselves to ending this violence.

This year marks the fifth anniversary of the Federal Pathway to Address Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women, Girls and 2SLGBTQI+ People. Over the past five years, we have made progress in the areas of community safety, culture and language, health and wellness, justice and policing, shelters and housing.

The Government of Canada has been working with partners over the last year to advance this critical work and support Indigenous-led solutions that contribute to systemic change and improve outcomes. This includes $300,000 for Giganawenimaanaanig to help advance the next steps on a Red Dress Alert pilot in Manitoba, and $2.6 million for the National Family and Survivors Circle to continue their work centring survivors and families in the implementation of the Calls for Justice, and over $978 million in federal investments to support 46 existing shelters, enhance violence prevention activities and establish 92 new emergency and second-stage shelters, such as the Satuivik project in Pivurnituq, Quebec, a shelter and transitional housing dedicated to supporting women and children who are experiencing violence. We also continued to work together with leaders at the National Indigenous-Federal-Provincial-Territorial Meeting on Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women, Girls and 2SLGBTQI+ People.

Ending this violence requires sustained action and investment. The Government of Canada recently announced $607.4 million over four years to continue the implementation of the National Action Plan to End Gender-based Violence across the country in addition to the $539.3 million invested in 2022. This investment will help strengthen services, expand prevention initiatives, and improve support for victims and survivors, and their families.

However, we know that more work remains to be done, work that must be done in partnership with Survivors, families, and communities.

Today, we recommit ourselves to doing that work, honour those we have lost, and stand with those who continue to seek justice. We will continue working with Indigenous partners, survivors, families, communities and governments, so that Indigenous women, girls and 2SLGBTQI+ people can live in safety, dignity and freedom from coast to coast to coast."

Taking care

There is a national, toll-free 24/7 crisis call line that provides mental health support for anyone who requires emotional assistance related to missing and murdered Indigenous women, girls, and 2SLGBTQI+ people. For assistance, call 1-844-413-6649.

Support is also available through the MMIWG health and cultural support services.

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SOURCE Crown-Indigenous Relations and Northern Affairs Canada

For more information, media may contact: Alec Wilson, Press Secretary, Office of the Honourable Rebecca Alty, Minister of Crown-Indigenous Relations, [email protected]; Media Relations, Crown-Indigenous Relations and Northern Affairs Canada, [email protected]