Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women, Girls, and Two-Spirit Trends in Canada
Additional Funding Sources
The project described was supported by a student grant from the UI Office of Undergraduate Research.
Presentation Date
7-2022
Abstract
In North America, Indigenous women, girls, and Two-Spirit (IWG2) are at an increased risk of victimization. The matter long predates the present-day movement for a resolution. As a result, there is a severe data deficit regarding Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women, Girls, and Two-Spirit (MMIWG2) in Canada. On top of existing struggles within Indigenous communities, there is fear that they or a loved one will go missing at any moment and receive little to no aid in their recovery. Without adequate information, legislators cannot address the situation at hand. The MMIWG2 database provides this necessary information.
The MMIWG2 research consisted of two phases. The first phase involved gathering over 1000 cases of MMIWG2 in Canada from media publications, government resources, and community databases. The second phase consisted of verifying the authenticity of each missing person's case and collecting corresponding information. This information included victim and offender demographics, time between an individual being reported missing and law enforcement responses, and if the case received follow-up or resolution. The verified information has allowed us to understand the effectiveness of Canada’s response to the issue, the overarching issue of MMIWG2, as well as allowed us to identify the dominant features of these cases.
Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women, Girls, and Two-Spirit Trends in Canada
In North America, Indigenous women, girls, and Two-Spirit (IWG2) are at an increased risk of victimization. The matter long predates the present-day movement for a resolution. As a result, there is a severe data deficit regarding Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women, Girls, and Two-Spirit (MMIWG2) in Canada. On top of existing struggles within Indigenous communities, there is fear that they or a loved one will go missing at any moment and receive little to no aid in their recovery. Without adequate information, legislators cannot address the situation at hand. The MMIWG2 database provides this necessary information.
The MMIWG2 research consisted of two phases. The first phase involved gathering over 1000 cases of MMIWG2 in Canada from media publications, government resources, and community databases. The second phase consisted of verifying the authenticity of each missing person's case and collecting corresponding information. This information included victim and offender demographics, time between an individual being reported missing and law enforcement responses, and if the case received follow-up or resolution. The verified information has allowed us to understand the effectiveness of Canada’s response to the issue, the overarching issue of MMIWG2, as well as allowed us to identify the dominant features of these cases.