Ottawa, Canada: The World Sikh Organization of Canada on Monday (June 3) welcomed the release of the Final Report of the National Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls.
The Report released yesterday, entitled “Reclaiming Power and Place”, makes over 200 recommendations and calls the systemic violence against Indigenous Peoples a genocide and states that “Indigenous women, girls and 2SLGBTQQIA people are particularly targeted”.
Mukhbir Singh (President, World Sikh Organization of Canada)
WSO President Mukhbir Singh said in a statement today,
“All levels of government in Canada must address what the Report calls the ‘persistent and deliberate human and Indigenous rights violations and abuses’ suffered by Indigenous women, girls and 2SLGBTQQIA people.
The word genocide cannot be taken lightly and this Report must prompt governments, law enforcement, business and other social actors to finally initiate real and systemic change.
We thank the Commission for hearing the truths of over two thousand family members, survivors of violence, experts and Knowledge Keepers.
The Sikh community has also suffered genocide and systematic violence in India and we believe that the example set by Canada in confronting past wrongs and hearing the voices of victims, can set an example for other countries.
We will do all we can to stand with our Indigenous friends and support their journeys of healing. We call on Canadian Sikhs to read the Report and commit to the calls to action.”
The WSO and Sikhs across Canada stand in solidarity with Indigenous peoples in their calls for safety, equality and respect.