On March 19, MP Leah Gazan took to Parliament Hill, on behalf of the House of Commons status of women committee, to announce the beginning of their formal study for the proposed Red Dress Alert System. The system, like Amber Alerts, will notify the public when an Indigenous woman, girl, or two-spirit person goes missing.

SA国际影视传媒淭his whole initiative came from the hard efforts of family members and advocates, around the country, who join together to say that, should we go missing, we must be found,SA国际影视传媒� said the NDP Member of Parliament.

One month after GazanSA国际影视传媒檚 announcement, the 2024 budget revealed a $1.3 million investment over a three-year period to implement a Red Dress Alert System.

But this is not the first time the Red Dress Alert System has appeared in the Budget. In 2023, the alert system made its debut, amid a $2.5 million investment over a period of five years, allocated to advance the National Action Plan for MMIWG2S.

Since the 2023 budget announcement, the government has worked alongside Indigenous partners to co-develop the alert system, reads the 2024 Budget. Through this work a need for regionally specific approaches to the Red Dress Alert System was identified to accommodate the unique needs of Indigenous communities across the country.

SA国际影视传媒淭hereSA国际影视传媒檚 more work to be done, but I feel that at this point, itSA国际影视传媒檚 moving in .125the.375 right direction,SA国际影视传媒� said Gazan. SA国际影视传媒淚tSA国际影视传媒檚 important that we all come together, to work together, to make sure this becomes a reality.SA国际影视传媒�

Since March 19, the status of women committee has met six times pertaining to the Red Dress Alert System.

SA国际影视传媒淩ight now, women go missing and murdered, and are never found,SA国际影视传媒� said Gazan. SA国际影视传媒淭his is a critical initiative this is an initiative that will save lives.SA国际影视传媒�

Carol Frank is the aunt of Lisa Marie Young, a 21-year-old Tla-o-qui-aht woman who went missing in Nanaimo over two decades ago. Since her disappearance in 2002, YoungSA国际影视传媒檚 family and friends continue persistent search efforts to find her.

SA国际影视传媒淲hen my niece went missing, it took a few days for the to see my sister and speak to her,SA国际影视传媒� said Frank, who is pleased to hear about the Red Dress Alert System. SA国际影视传媒淚tSA国际影视传媒檚 really good to hear that theySA国际影视传媒檙e doing that.SA国际影视传媒�

For Nicki McCarthy, Teechuktl Mental Health regional coordinator, the implementation of the Red Dress Alert System acknowledges the longstanding MMIWG2S crisis, while providing more safety for Indigenous people.

SA国际影视传媒淚tSA国际影视传媒檚 a level of safety that weSA国际影视传媒檝e never had before,SA国际影视传媒� said McCarthy. SA国际影视传媒淎nd in that level of safety, does come some comfort. And in that level of safety, we also have some education as well.SA国际影视传媒�

Indigenous women in Canada are starkly over-represented as victims of murder, making up a rate six times higher than non-Indigenous victims, while they are also four times more likely to be victims of violence.

For Nuu-chah-nulth, the impacts of the MMIWG2S crisis have been felt through the communities with over 50 women who have been murdered or remain missing, according to an article written by Ha-Shilth-Sa last year.

SA国际影视传媒淚t gets the public involved in bringing awareness and being informed that a person has gone missing, and to help reduce the risks,SA国际影视传媒� said Sanne Van Vlerken, manager of Teechuktl mental health, noting it also helps increase capacity of support for the families of the missing individual.

SA国际影视传媒淚tSA国际影视传媒檚 a really effective methodology and framework to notify the general public when an Indigenous person goes missing,SA国际影视传媒� added McCarthy. SA国际影视传媒淚 think itSA国际影视传媒檚 something that needs to happen and can save lives.SA国际影视传媒�

SA国际影视传媒擝y Alexandra Mehl, Local Journalism Initiative reporter, HA-SHILTH-SA