FAMILIES FIRST FOUNDATION A NEW CHARITABLE FOUNDATION CREATED

FOR FAMILIES OF MISSING AND MURDERED INDIGENOUS WOMEN AND GIRLS

May 15, 2015. Treaty One Territory. Yesterday a new foundation was provincially incorporated that will raise
funds in order to respond to the ongoing issue of Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls
(MMIWG).
We are very excited that we are able to initiate the Families First Foundation. The Assembly of Manitoba Chiefs
receives calls on a regular basis from families requesting support in regard to searches for and investigations of
their loved ones. Regretfully, AMC can only offer minimal support due to the lack of resources that we have. The
Foundation will provide value and hope for families during the process of searching for loved ones and towards
their healing path to cope with their grief, stated Grand Chief Derek Nepinak.
Informed by engagement with families of MMIWG (see backgrounder), the Families First Foundation is a
separate legal entity from the Assembly of Manitoba Chiefs that will:
1) Educate the public on the needs of families of MMIWG;
2) Provide and coordinate the delivery of:
a. religious, spiritual, emotional, cultural and financial support to families;
b. translation services, media liaison services and independent legal advice to families;
c. community-based mentorship and child-minding services to families;
3) Provide communication services for the delivery of information to families; and
4) Undertake activities ancillary and incidental to the abovementioned purposes.
A community-based board will guide the business of the Foundation, including families of MMIWG service
providers, northern and southern community representatives and Elders. A call for Board participants has been
made, and the first meeting of the Board of Directors will take place next month.
AMC Grand Chief Nepinak said, I look forward to the full contingent of Board members to begin to carry out the
business of the Foundation in the very near future. That, combined with individual, community and corporate
support, will ensure the success of this essential and important initiative designed by families, for families of
Murdered and Missing Indigenous Women and Girls.
Families First Foundation is pleased to partner with Ma Mawi Wi Chi Itata Centre as the Charitable organization
who will be receiving contributions and issuing a charitable receipt. Contributions can be made to:
Ma Mawi Wi Chi Itata Centre, Attention: Families First Foundation
445 King Street, Winnipeg, Manitoba R2W 2C5
For more information please
kfrank@manitobachiefs.com

contact:

Kayla

Frank,

Jr.

Policy

Analyst,

204.296.3601,

or

Families First Foundation

Backgrounder
On November 12, 2014, the AMC endorsed Families First a made in Manitoba approach to Missing and Murdered Indigenous
Women and Girls (MMIWG) to create a recommended process for action. This was in response to the various activities AMC has
been involved in, and partially in response to the renewed calls for a national inquiry into MMIWG. Instead of debating the merits of
a national inquiry with the Federal Government and others, AMC listened what the families of MMIWG were saying: that they were
not being heard. AMC decided that any approach to a proposed inquiry or process or action required engaging with and listening to
MMIWG families first.
The AMC initiated this approach by working together with the Southern Chiefs Organization and the Manitoba Keewatinowi
Okimakanak. The first phase of the Families First took place from September December 2014. It started off with the recognition of
the importance of ensuring the voices of the families are heard and their loved ones honoured. This involved bring affected families
from across Manitoba together to have open and safe discussions around a framework for action for a process to go forward.
From the engagement sessions with families MMIWG Coalition and youth, it was evident that what is important are supports: police
accountability; public education and awareness; protection of and support for youth; and Indigenous ways. These should be
reflected in both process and actions on this issue, and be supported by a foundation that can raise funds to do the work. Four
themes came forward on what the process should focus on:
Tangible actions, including the identification of recommendations and plan for implementation;
Education and increased awareness on multiple levels, including the general public and media;
Address the concerns of the families with lack of accountability and negligence on part of policing agencies with particular
focus on the investigation; and
Achieving coordination, collaboration, comprehensive and centralized services for families to respond to the trauma and
shock experienced in these situations.
Working together with the Public Interest Law Centre (PILC) and a pro bono legal team, research included reviewing background
materials on inquiries, commissions, roundtables, advisory panels, roundtables and case studies; and compiling the various
recommendations relating to MMIWG from 43 past processes, and finding what recommendations have been implemented or not.
On December 8, 2014, AMC, MKO and SCO co-hosted a Families First Forum, held at the Canadian Museum for Human Rights,
whereat the rolling draft Families First Report was released. Over 150 participants attended.
On December 11, 2014, Families First was unanimously approved at the Assembly of First Nations Annual General Assembly. The
resolution recognized the Families First approach in Manitoba, and that any process for Manitoba MMIWG including a National
Roundtable or Inquiry must follow the Families First approach.
In January 2015, Phase II began, and will continue until July 2015. Meant to define the Families First process, it involves a broaderbased community engagement in Manitoba with Families, Elders, Youth, Grandmothers and coordinate supports and resources for
them, including continuing:
To listen and understand families of MMIWG as well as Elders, Youth, MMIWG Coalition;
Ongoing research, including The Cost of Doing Nothing that would examine the costs to society of losing so many young
women and girls;
Development of an Indigenous process based in Indigenous legal traditions; and
Finalize a proposed terms of reference for any inquiry or roundtable.
A final draft report will be presented at the July 21-23, 2015 AMC Chiefs Assembly at Opaskwayak Cree Nation for the Chiefs to
review, consider, accept and endorse.
Phase III, to begin in August 2015, will implement Families First: to act on immediate actions and to address systemic change, while
ensuring families are listened to and understood. The Families First Foundation will play a key role in going forward.