Lesa Semmler has been pushing to bring working solutions to the ongoing problem of Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls (MMIWG) for almost eight years, but says the real work is only now beginning.

And after working the last four years as Inuvik Twin-Lakes MLA, she should know. Pushing the GNWT to move forward on the recommendations of the Calls for Justice from the inquiry on MMIWG, which she addressed when it passed through Yellowknife Jan. 23-25, 2018. Semmler she was happy to at least see progress happening.

SA国际影视传媒漌ithin the government,everything works very slowly, right?SA国际影视传媒� she said. SA国际影视传媒淪o you got to get the buy in, then youSA国际影视传媒檝e got to get the work done.

SA国际影视传媒淣ow, so now they have the work that theySA国际影视传媒檙e doing internally now for addressing that.SA国际影视传媒�

It hasnSA国际影视传媒檛 been easy. Semmler said she has had to repeatedly put the GNWTSA国际影视传媒檚 feet to the fire to get key legislation and motions passed. However, now the government has tabled itSA国际影视传媒檚 own Report on Taking Action and all government departments now have to view how they operate through the lens of Truth and Reconciliation, so for her itSA国际影视传媒檚 a start.

Because the problems that put Indigenous women and girls in harmSA国际影视传媒檚 way are widespread, Semmler said an all-encompassing approach to how governments operate was needed to stop the cycle of violence.

Policies ranging from how housing deals with a woman taking her name off a jointly held lease if she leaves a relationship, the availability of beds at shelters for women trying to find a safe place to sleep, ensuring teachers coming up to work understand that many children growing up in the North are still living with the consequences of the Residential School System and even planning mining and other work camps so they arenSA国际影视传媒檛 presenting a threat to women who live in the area all factor into ensuring the North is a safe place for Indigenous women to live, grow and pursue happiness.

SA国际影视传媒�(Government) employees, their policies and their processes, whatever theySA国际影视传媒檙e interacting with Indigenous women and girls they have to look at it through this lens now and how can they support Indigenous women? How do our programs affect Indigenous women?

SA国际影视传媒淗ow are we protecting women in the policies Against Family Violence? ItSA国际影视传媒檚 the awareness, itSA国际影视传媒檚 providing safer spaces for them and providing financial stability for them. ItSA国际影视传媒檚 providing education for them if they need it.

SA国际影视传媒淚 think we as government in the Northwest Territories, have done a lot of good things. I never say that everything that the government is always bad, but there are still many things that can be tweaked.SA国际影视传媒�

One area Semmler said needed changes in was child and family services, noting when the government intervenes and puts a child in foster care, the family gets a financial boost to help raise the child. But if the childSA国际影视传媒檚 grandparents or other extended family were to take on the responsibility to keep the children close to family, that funding was largely absent.

But after Social Development Committee held hearings on Child and Family Services and heard from children themselves who want to be close to their families for better or worse, Semmler said sheSA国际影视传媒檚 pushing for shifts in how the department handles things.

SA国际影视传媒漌hen we spoke with the kids the main thing that they said was they wanted to be with their family,SA国际影视传媒� said Semmler. SA国际影视传媒淭hey knew that their family had issues but they wanted to be with their family. So how come weSA国际影视传媒檙e not supporting the family enough to put them back together? We have to be looking at ways at the prevention side.

SA国际影视传媒淚 think that without family connection there, you get lost and thatSA国际影视传媒檚 where when you end up missing and murdered indigenous women. Where can we make changes and what changes can we make that will that might, you know, change that outcome?SA国际影视传媒�

Establishing a gender equity unit was a positive step, said Semmler, noting it would help ensure all departments are viewing through the proper lens.

While progress is definitely happening, Semmler is adamant the heavy lifting on changing the circumstances Indigenous women face in Canada is yet to come.

SA国际影视传媒淲hen this first came across me was in 2016,SA国际影视传媒� she said. SA国际影视传媒淚 didnSA国际影视传媒檛 really know what I was walking into, until I got there and realize this does affect so many of us in the North. From 2015 until all of the work that weSA国际影视传媒檝e been doing nationally to raise awareness. Once we got the National Inquiry, people know that this is an issue people know that this happened, and theySA国际影视传媒檙e aware of this now.SA国际影视传媒�

Further to the holistic nature of the problem, Semmler said the Legislative AssemblySA国际影视传媒檚 public action committee was holding forums throughout the Delta throughout the week regarding the GNWTSA国际影视传媒檚 implementation of the United Nations Declaration on Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP.) Those meeting were held Monday, May 1 at 7:00 p.m. in Fort Simpson at the Recreation Centre, Tuesday, May 2 at 7:00 p.m. in Fort Smith at the Salt River Business and Conference Centre, Wednesday, May 3 at 7:00 p.m. in Yellowknife at the Legislative Assembly, Thursday, May 4 at 6:00 p.m. in Tuktoyaktuk at Kitti Hall and wrap up Friday, May 5 at 10:00 a.m. in Inuvik at the Midnight Sun Complex.

Semmler noted the most important thing to help bring justice and peace to people in the North who are suffering was to keep the dialogue open, because otherwise people suffer in silence.

SA国际影视传媒淥ne thing is that when you grow up in it, this is normal. We grew up in a time where it was normal to see violence against women, it was normal to see people fighting with normal was all the drinking in the home, that was normal to hear your friends were abused.

SA国际影视传媒淪o you tell your friends and you guys kind of keep it together you keep I think thatSA国际影视传媒檚 your circle is here when youSA国际影视传媒檙e growing up. They know what happened. You know what happened you may know whatSA国际影视传媒檚 happened in your home, you know what happens in their home, you guys ever nobody talks about it.

SA国际影视传媒淣ow weSA国际影视传媒檙e talking about it. Now we know itSA国际影视传媒檚 not a normal thing. ItSA国际影视传媒檚 not okay to be abused. ItSA国际影视传媒檚 not okay to grow up in a home that thereSA国际影视传媒檚 abuse going on.

SA国际影视传媒淲eSA国际影视传媒檙e allowed to use our voice and people need to hear our voice.SA国际影视传媒�