National Alliance of Philippine Women in Canada (NAPWC)
National Statement
July 11, 2019
The National Alliance of Philippine Women in Canada (NAPWC) expresses its support and commend the indigenous women and their families in Canada, since the release of the National Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls, to resolutely call out Canadian genocide on their people, community and overall toward Indigenous women, girls and the 2SLGBTQQIA.
As a country that paints itself as a peace loving and peacekeeping nation, in reality, Canada has historically refused to not only not acknowledge, but also perpetuate the systemic marginalization, oppression and genocide of Indigenous peoples. We have seen continuous political inaction on issues of safe drinking water, youth suicide, and inadequate housing just to name a few. In particular, we see ongoing neglect of the human rights and well being of Indigenous peoples in Canada with the cases of thousands of missing and murdered Indigenous women and girls.
The failure of Canada to acknowledge the basic rights, land rights, and livelihood of Indigenous peoples has laid the groundwork to their ongoing victimization of their women. If Canada, and our society truly cares about the Indigenous communities, we need to acknowledge the results of the inquiry and demand for structural changes to put a stop to the continuous economic, social and cultural violence against Indigenous peoples.
As a progressive Filipino women’s organization, the NAPWC is all too familiar with the effects of displacement and colonization on our own ancestral lands. We know in the Philippines that communities have been pushed into poverty and are detrimentally impacted socially, economically, and culturally ever since the colonization of the islands and the continuing displacement taking place today from resource extraction projects and other foreign profit driven projects within the country. Violence against Filipino women exponentially rises under these conditions. In particular for women–dispossessed of their land and their labour undervalued–sexual exploitation violence becomes rampant under both militarism, a pervasive patriarchal culture and the capitalist global sex industry.
As a women’s organization and as part of the larger women’s movement, we must stand firmly with Indigenous women in their demands for justice against the genocide of their women and the 2SLGBTQQIA. We stand by their calls for justice that include funding accessible transportation infrastructure for remote communities, access to affordable housing and the implementation of health and wellness services that are Indigenous-centered and community-based that meet the needs of First Nations, Métis, and Inuit women, girls, and 2SLGBTQQIA people.
Canada’s economy is built and thrives on stolen land and on the backs of undervalued
and underpaid workers. As Indigenous women continue to call to question the ideologies that govern Canada, we too must join in exposing all other forms of injustices that keep us locked into perpetual marginalization. Drawing inspiration and strength from Indigenous women’s struggles, we can only move forward with the resolve to assert and demand a transformed society that prioritizes equality, safety, and the basic needs of all members of society
No more stolen sisters!
End violence against Indigenous women and girls!
End the exploitation, march for genuine women’s liberation!
##
For more information:
Mohana Sarmiento
pwcontario@yahoo.com
facebook.com/pwcontario
Twitter: @pwcontario
Instagram: @pwc_ontario