CHECK AGAINST DELIVERY

Hello, everyone.

I’m joining you from the traditional land of the Algonquin People. We acknowledge them as the past, present, and future caretakers of this land.

Thank you, Gina, for that introduction.

To everyone here, to all the speakers, thank you for being with us this morning.

To the survivors and families, to the Elders, representatives, and Commissioners, and to everyone involved in this work – your voices have been heard.

It’s an honour for Minister Bennett and I to be with you this morning.  

We are meeting today in a very difficult week.

These recent days have reminded us of the horrors of the Indigenous residential schools, the repercussions of which continue to this day.

Some have used words like “unbelievable” or “unreal” to describe the news that hundreds of children were found buried at the former Kamloops residential school.  

But for survivors, families, and communities, I know that this tragedy is all too believable. That the pain is all too real.  

To truly heal these wounds, we must first acknowledge the truth. And not only about residential schools, but about so many injustices, both past and present, that Indigenous peoples face.

For decades, Indigenous women, girls, and two-spirit and LGBTQQIA+ people across Canada have disappeared, suffered violence, or been killed.

For decades, many of you have been calling for justice, healing, and concrete action to stop this tragedy.

For decades, your voices have made it clear how our systems have failed you.

When the National Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls presented its final report, it called on us to work together to develop a National Action Plan to end systemic causes of violence. We accepted their findings, including that what happened amounts to genocide.

Today, with the launch of the Plan, we’re taking a step forward together to make the transformative change necessary to end this national tragedy.

To the survivors and families: we are so grateful for your leadership. We will continue to work with you, to make sure your voices are heard, and to end the violence and the abuse.

To Indigenous communities across the country: our work as partners continues.

I still have the sacred bundle that was offered to me two years ago at the Inquiry’s final report ceremony, and I’ve been taking good care of it.

The Inquiry’s final report swaddled in this traditional Tikinaagan, this cradle board, contains truths that Canada is no longer trying to hide.

On that day, I made a promise that we would confront those truths, and turn the Inquiry’s calls for justice into real, meaningful, Indigenous-led action. Together, that’s what we have done and what we will continue to do.

Today, together, we are launching the National Action Plan that includes concrete measures to end violence against Indigenous women and girls.

This Plan is necessary and vital. And it is expected to evolve over time so that it can be adapted to the specific needs of communities.

In other words, the work does not stop here, on the contrary. As you’ve often told me, there is still a huge amount to do and I absolutely agree.

On our end, the federal government will continue to roll up its sleeves.

The National Action Plan is the result of two years of hard work and dedication from all partners involved – survivors, families, two-spirit and LGBTQQIA+ people, provincial, territorial and Indigenous governments, and Indigenous organizations.

I want to thank everyone who is involved in this crucial, ongoing effort.

As part of this whole-of-government plan, our government is also releasing the Federal Pathway that outlines our commitments and contribution to the National Action Plan.

Faithful to the themes in the National Inquiry’s Final Report, the Federal Pathway has focused on four themes – culture, health and wellness, security and safety, and justice. Our Pathway is a holistic approach to ending this national tragedy. To implement it, we’ll invest an additional $2.2 billion starting this year.

This is part of the $18 billion in Budget 2021 to improve Indigenous peoples’ lives and advance reconciliation.

These investments are informed by the work we did together on the National Action Plan and the Federal Pathway to meaningfully respond to the specific and diverse needs of First Nations, Inuit, and Métis communities.

That said, I know there are no investments that can bring back the lives lost, or that can heal people’s pain.

More education is needed. The truth must be told. And all Canadians must stand with Indigenous peoples against injustice.

Colonialism, racism, and sexism have led to horrible tragedies and systemic injustice still exists today. Things must change.

Today, not only are we thinking of the victims who are no longer with us, the survivors, the families and the communities, but we are also continuing to take action.

And we will continue to do so together.

Thank you again to Commissioners Buller, Audette, Eylofsen and Robinson, and all the courageous families, survivors, and partners who have charted the way forward to ensure that Indigenous women and girls, and two-spirit and LGBTQQIA+ people will be safe wherever they live in Canada.

Thank you.

Miigwech. Marsee. Nakummek.