Why does the system fail aboriginal women?
Taking a closer look at how sexual assault cases were handled could help pinpoint where justice turns a blind eye to violence
When it comes to sexual violence against indigenous women, some Toronto researchers want to stop raging against the machine and start tinkering with it instead.
“We have lots of stories about survivors, and the horrific experience they go through, coming forward,” researcher Maya Chacaby told the Star. “What we don’t have is what happens after that story comes forward.”
Chacaby and her fellow researchers from the Ontario Federation of Indigenous Friendship Centres are launching a study that will thoroughly examine how a sexual assault report weaves through the system — from the moments before police are called, to what investigators look for on the scene, to what documents a Crown attorney receives.
“If it’s systemic in nature, then we need to take a look at the systems and processes,” she said.
Systemic barriers, such as homelessness, existing criminal records, or encounters with child protective services — institutions in which indige- nous people are overrepresented — come into play in “those little processes,” she says.
That could result, for example, in a woman calling the police to report a sexual assault, only to be arrested herself on an outstanding warrant. Maybe then no rape kit is collected, compromising the investigation into her original call.
The Ministry of Community Safety and Correctional Services offered a $128,419 grant for the project, called Gwayakwaajimowin, an Ojibway word meaning “truth telling.”
The funding is part of the province’s three-year plan to curb sexual assault. Community Safety and Correctional Services Minister Yasir Naqvi says the research project dovetails with the province’s long-term strategy to end violence against indigenous women.
That package includes $2.32 million for police and justice reforms, such as better training for officers and Crown attorneys, and $1.15 million for public awareness of violence prevention measures and anti-racism training for civil servants.
“It’s really important that we develop solutions based on what the victims and survivors have gone through,” Naqvi said. “I think that’s even more true for indigenous women and girls. We know there’s so many historical issues and challenges that need to be dealt with.”
Chacaby and her fellow researchers will spend six months collaborating with community members and following cases in Hamilton and a northern Ontario community yet to be announced. Though the work requires co-operation from police and courts, she’s confident it will happen.
“It’s not about finger-pointing,” she said, adding the goal is in everyone’s interest. “I don’t think anybody wants to see more missing and murdered indigenous women anywhere.
“Instead of talking about how horrible the system is, let’s look at what’s actually happening inside there and come up with some viable solutions that we all can celebrate.”