The Council of Canadians mourns the death of Tina Fontaine.
CBC reports, “Tina Fontaine, 15, was reported missing on Aug. 9. Her body was found in the Red River near the Alexander Docks at about 1:30 p.m., more than a week after she was reported missing. Police are treating Fontaine’s death as a homicide.”
The Winnipeg Free Press adds, “Tina Fontaine, 15, is no longer missing. But the discovery of her body in the Red River has reignited the despair felt by families of other aboriginal women who are missing and feared murdered. When the girl’s identity was publicized on Monday, the Ka Ni Kanichihk centre immediately received phone calls from people inquiring about aboriginal women. …The death of Fontaine, who had been in the care of Child and Family Services, adds to the staggering number of murdered or missing aboriginal women.”
The Canadian Press highlights, “In May, the RCMP issued a detailed statistical breakdown of 1,181 cases since 1980. The report said aboriginal women make up 4.3 per cent of the Canadian population, yet account for 16 per cent of female homicides and 11.3 per cent of missing women.”
Sisters In Spirit Vigils—A Movement for Social Change says, “An inquiry would be a crucial step in implementing a comprehensive and coordinated national action plan.” The Council of Canadians supports the call for a national inquiry into missing and murdered Indigenous women.
Further reading
Barlow stands in solidarity with blockade of CN Rail demanding national inquiry
Council of Canadians supports call for inquiry into missing and murdered Indigenous women
Sisters in Spirit vigils today