THUNDER BAY — A new initiative is being launched to help keep Indigenous women and girls safe in Thunder Bay.
There are no details yet, but Indigenous groups, the City of Thunder Bay, and Thunder Bay Police will work jointly to develop an urban Indigenous community safety plan (CSP).
The announcement was made Monday, the fifth anniversary of the final report of the national inquiry into missing and murdered Indigenous women and girls.
Participants in the project include the city, Fort William First Nation, Anishinabek Nation, Ontario Native Women's Association, Thunder Bay Police Service, and the Thunder Bay Police Services Board.
Support for the project – the first to be launched in a community as large as Thunder Bay – comes from Public Safety Canada.
"It underscores the collective commitment to addressing the systemic issues affecting Indigenous women and girls, and promoting safety, healing and reconciliation," the joint announcement stated.
The parties said the safety plan will be developed through a collaborative and community-driven process, and will honour the lives of missing and murdered Indigenous women, girls and gender-diverse people while preventing further tragedies.
"CSP initiatives are a fundamental step towards creating safe and secure environments where women, girls, and 2SLGBTQQIA+ peoples can thrive," said Anishinabek Nation Grand Council Chief Reg Niganobe.
Thunder Bay Mayor Ken Boshcoff said the city is proud to participate in the project.
"As we continue our journey towards reconciliation, and addressing systemic issues facing our community, we are also making the safety of Indigenous women and their families in our community a top priority," he said.
Michele Solomon, chief of Fort William First Nation, said her community is committed to working together through the partnership to ensure the well-being of its women and to develop a positive path forward.
"We all have a role to play to ensure the safety of Indigenous women and girls," said Cora McGuire-Cyrette, executive director of ONWA. "It's time to change the narrative of our community and show Indigenous women we have heard them, believe them, and are prepared to action their solutions together."
Thunder Bay Police Chief Darcy Fleury added that he believes an Indigenous-led, holistic and proactive approach is a recognition of the powerful impact collaboration can have on community safety, while police board chair Karen Machado called on all levels of government to provide the necessary funding for ensuring the safety of Indigenous people in Thunder Bay.
Details of the how the project will be rolled out were not provided in the announcement, nor were examples of the potential elements the plan could include.
On its website, Public Safety Canada states that it works with communities and supports them through the various stages of CSP engagement, development and implementation.
