Responding to the National Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls

In September 2016, the federal government established the National Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls (MMIWG). The National Inquiry’s purpose was to examine and report on systemic causes of violence experienced by Indigenous women and girls and their greater vulnerability to violence.

The National Inquiry’s Final Report, Reclaiming Power and Place: The Final Report of the National Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls (the Final Report) was released on June 3, 2019.

On June 3, 2021, the second-year anniversary of the release of the report, the National Action Plan, a path towards ending violence against Indigenous Women, girls and 2SLGBTQQIA+ peoples was released. On that day, the Province also announced new funding in 2020/21 as part of the release of the Path Forward: Priorities and Early Strategies for BC report and an initial investment of $5.34 million was made to create a Path Forward Community Fund. 

The Province has since released additional Path Forward status updates on June 3, 2022, 2023, and 2024. 

Path Forward Status Updates

• June 2024 Path Forward Status Update
• June 2023 Path Forward Status Update
• June 2022 Path Forward Status Update

Path Forward Community Fund

In 2022, the Ministry of Public Safety and Solicitor General (PSSG) invested $5.34 million to create a Path Forward Community Fund (the Fund) in response to the number one priority identified through Indigenous community engagement in 2019 and 2021: capacity building and safety planning for missing and murdered Indigenous women, girls, and 2SLGBTQQIA+ peoples (MMIWG2S+). In 2023, the B.C. government provided a further grant of $5.5 million. The Fund is accessible to First Nations communities, urban/off reserve communities, Métis, Inuit citizens, and 2SLGBTQQIA+ peoples so that Indigenous communities can create their own culturally safe and appropriate solutions to the issues that result in violence.

The BC Association of Aboriginal Friendship Centres was selected through a competitive process to develop and administer the Fund. For information about the first round of funding results see: Path Forward Community Fund Projects Announced - BCAAFC and for information about the Fund see: Path Forward Community Fund - BCAAFC

To further support B.C.’s commitment to reconciliation, the Ministry provided an additional grant of $5.5 million in 2023 to support the continuation of the Path Forward Community Fund managed by the BC Association of Aboriginal Friendship Centres. In 2024, an additional investment of $5 million was made through federal Women and Gender Equality Canada funding.