A new research report from the Yellowknife WomenSA国际影视传媒檚 Society (YKWS) has found that unhoused Indigenous women in the NWT capital are SA国际影视传媒渙ver-policed and under-protected by the .SA国际影视传媒�

SA国际影视传媒淲hat we heard is that there is a lot of urgency for all levels of government to take action on improving the relationship between the and unhoused Indigenous women,SA国际影视传媒� said Neesha Rao, a co-author of the report and former executive director of YKWS.

SA国际影视传媒淲hat we heard is that unhoused Indigenous women do not trust the . TheySA国际影视传媒檙e afraid of the , and theySA国际影视传媒檙e often harmed by the , and they do not feel protected by the .SA国际影视传媒�

The information in the 100-page report was collected in SA国际影视传媒渟haring circlesSA国际影视传媒� involving unhoused Indigenous women living in the city, who described being SA国际影视传媒渁bused, dismissed and belittled by officers.SA国际影视传媒�

Comments from community service providers, elected leaders and officers also informed the findings of the report.

While YKWSSA国际影视传媒檚 report asserted that thereSA国际影视传媒檚 a major rift between police officers and unhoused Indigenous women in Yellowknife, it also identified SA国际影视传媒済aps in much-needed services like mental health and housing in the NWT that directly contribute to a higher frequency of interactions between the and unhoused Indigenous women.SA国际影视传媒�

The report laid out 24 recommendations intended to make Yellowknife a safer city for unhoused Indigenous women.

Some of those recommendations include:

-establishing a NWT police council with Indigenous co-governance

-improving the hours and capacity of a mobile and crisis response team

-expanding the community safety officers program in the NWT, including Yellowknife

-increasing the number of low-barrier emergency shelter spaces in the city

-enhancing and enforcing more mandatory training for officers in Yellowknife

-increasing the supply of shelter spaces and supportive housing to reduce contact with police

-providing in-territory, Indigenous-led mental health and addictions services and victim services to reduce contact with police

Rao is hopeful that the recommendations will be taken seriously by the and policymakers at all levels of government.

SA国际影视传媒淲e made 24 recommendations because this is a very complex issue,SA国际影视传媒� she said. SA国际影视传媒淪imple steps like increasing housing, shelter services and funding for programs like [YKWSSA国际影视传媒檚] street outreach van would go a long way towards reducing the frequency of interaction between unhoused women and the , and it would also reduce harm.

SA国际影视传媒淥ne of the most important recommendations weSA国际影视传媒檝e made in terms of policing is weSA国际影视传媒檝e called for the Government of the Northwest Territories to conduct a review of policing in the territory and specifically in Yellowknife. They can follow the lead of Yukon, which has conducted a very similar review.

SA国际影视传媒淭hose are some very important first steps that could be taken in terms of making real action on improving the safety and well-being of unhoused Indigenous women living in Yellowknife.SA国际影视传媒�

According to the report, 90 per cent of the unhoused population in Yellowknife is Indigenous, which stands in stark contrast to the fact that roughly a quarter of the citySA国际影视传媒檚 overall population is Indigenous.

The report included several quotes from anonymous unhoused women who shared their experiences with the researchers.

SA国际影视传媒淚SA国际影视传媒檝e been roughed up by three cops [at once],SA国际影视传媒� said one woman. SA国际影视传媒淚SA国际影视传媒檓 not that big, you know? ThatSA国际影视传媒檚 ridiculous.SA国际影视传媒�

Another woman added, SA国际影视传媒淪eeing how rough the police are with people downtown, itSA国际影视传媒檚 just unnecessary for them to do that, [to be] that harsh.SA国际影视传媒�

SA国际影视传媒淵ou get into a fight with somebody that abuses you downtown, it doesnSA国际影视传媒檛 matter, because youSA国际影视传媒檙e an alcoholic, [because youSA国际影视传媒檙e] Indigenous, because weSA国际影视传媒檙e homeless,SA国际影视传媒� a third woman said. SA国际影视传媒淲eSA国际影视传媒檙e street people, weSA国际影视传媒檙e garbage, and thatSA国际影视传媒檚 how they think.SA国际影视传媒�

While it remains to be seen how YKWSSA国际影视传媒檚 report will be received by the and the government, Rao is optimistic that members of the community appreciate the urgency of the situation.

SA国际影视传媒淚 donSA国际影视传媒檛 get the impression that people are unaware,SA国际影视传媒� she said. SA国际影视传媒淚 think that one of the best things about the North is how much emphasis we place on community.

SA国际影视传媒淚 am very optimistic that the community of Yellowknife SA国际影视传媒� both Indigenous and non-Indigenous SA国际影视传媒� wants to take care of members of our community who are unhoused, many of whom are residential school survivors, SA国际影视传媒�60s scoop survivors, the children of those survivors, and people who are currently living out the legacy of colonialism in the North.SA国际影视传媒�

The is aware of YKWSSA国际影视传媒檚 report, according to spokesperson Cpl. Matt Halstead, but is SA国际影视传媒渟till in the process of reviewing it.SA国际影视传媒�

SA国际影视传媒淲e welcome any and all recommendations that have the intention of assisting us to provide improved policing services,SA国际影视传媒� he stated. SA国际影视传媒淗owever, we need time to review and consider what recommendations have the ability to be adopted.SA国际影视传媒�