Indigenous women face violence at excessive rates in Canada. This violence includes sexual assault, physical violence, intimate partner violence, family violence, mental and emotional abuse, and murder.

Statistics Canada shows that starting at the age of 15, Indigenous girls face 3.5% percent more violence than their non-indigenous peers. As adults, Indigenous women are 3.5% more likely to experience violence and 7% more likely to be murdered than non-indigenous women (Heidinger, L., 2021). This alarmingly high percentage of violence is also reflected in the high numbers of missing and murdered Indigenous women and girls (MMIWG) around Canada.

Violence against Indigenous women is compounded by Canada’s history of colonialism. Not only have Indigenous women had to endure the subordinated role of “woman” in our patriarchal society, but they also experience both individual and systemic discrimination and racism due to colonial policies that have and continue to disenfranchise and oppress them. Indigenous communities and allies have worked hard to spread awareness about MMIWG and the rights of Indigenous women through campaigns such as the red dress movement or the red handprint.

Check out this video on violence against Indigenous women produced by Brock University: