Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls Health and Cultural Support program
Access to cultural and emotional support and mental health counselling for Survivors, families, and Indigenous Peoples.
Support is available
This webpage deals with topics which may negatively impact the reader due to its subject matter. If you are a Survivor, family member, or Indigenous person impacted by the issue of missing and murdered Indigenous women, girls and 2SLGBTQI+ people, trauma-informed supports are available to you. For immediate emotional assistance, call 1-844-413-6649. Eligible individuals can also access cultural supports, emotional supports, and mental health counselling services by contacting the First Nation and Inuit health regional office or designated health authority in your region. Family members seeking information about their missing or murdered loved one can access Family Information Liaison Units.
On this page
About the program
The Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls Health and Cultural Support Program was implemented in 2018, partly in response to the Interim Report of the National Inquiry on Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls. It funds access to community-based, trauma-informed cultural and emotional supports.
Who is eligible
Trauma-informed cultural and emotional supports are available for Survivors, family members, and Indigenous Peoples impacted by the issue of missing and murdered Indigenous women, girls and 2SLGBTQI+ people, regardless of Indigenous status or place of residence within Canada.
Family members include:
- spouse or partner
- parents, guardians or caretakers
- any relative who has been impacted by the issue of missing and murdered Indigenous women, girls and 2SLGBTQI+ people
If you are not eligible for the Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls Health and Cultural Support program, you may still be eligible for trauma-informed supports including:
- Indian Residential Schools (IRS) Resolution Health Support Program
- Federal Indian Day Schools Health and Cultural Support Program
- Expanded Trauma-Informed Health and Cultural Support Program
- First Nations Child and Family Services, and Jordan's Principle Settlement Trauma-Informed Health and Cultural Support Services
Services available
Cultural supports
Elders, Knowledge Holders and Traditional Healers provide cultural supports through local Indigenous organizations to assist clients on their healing journeys. Specific services are determined by the needs of the clients, and may include:
- dialogue
- ceremonies
- prayer
- Elder services
- traditional healing
Emotional support
Community-based emotional support workers hired by Indigenous organizations provide trauma-informed, culturally-grounded support to people impacted by the issue of missing and murdered Indigenous women, girls and 2SLGBTQI+ people. They offer emotional support and comfort by listening, talking and providing referrals to additional services.
Mental health counselling
Mental health counselling is provided by professionals such as psychologists and social workers who are registered, in good standing with their provincial or territorial regulatory body, and enrolled with Indigenous Services Canada.
Mental health counsellors provide individual, family, or group counselling to support healing, as determined with the client.
Eligibility for mental health counselling in British Columbia may be different from the rest of Canada. For any questions about eligibility in that province, please contact the First Nations Health Authority's First Nations Health Benefits and Services at 1-855-550-5454.
For service providers: Forms related to mental health counselling are available on the ISC Forms webpage.
Transportation
Wherever possible, Indigenous Services Canada offers assistance with transportation when mental health counselling and cultural supports are not locally available.
Accessing services
Please contact the Indigenous Services Canada regional office in your province or territory to access services through the Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls Health and Cultural Support Program.
If you are in British Columbia, contact the First Nations Health Authority.