The federal pathway
Support line
This website deals with topics which may negatively impact the reader due to its subject matter. If you are affected by the issue of missing and murdered Indigenous women, girls and 2SLGBTQI+ people and need immediate emotional assistance, call 1-844-413-6649. You can also access long-term health support services such as mental health counselling, community-based emotional support and cultural services and some travel costs to see Elders and traditional healers. Family members seeking information about their missing or murdered loved one can access Family Information Liaison Units.
In response to the national inquiry, the Government of Canada has come together to create a plan for departments to support systemic change to address the crisis of missing and murdered Indigenous women, girls (MMIWG) and Two Spirit, lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, and intersex (2SLGBTQI+) people.
On this page
About the federal pathway
On June 3, 2021, the Government of Canada launched the Federal Pathway to Address Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women, Girls and 2SLGBTQQIA+ People. It is a key component of a much broader effort to end the national crisis of missing and murdered Indigenous women, girls and 2SLGBTQI+ people, so that they are safe and free from violence, no matter where they live, work or travel.
The federal pathway is part of the larger national action plan, 2021 Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women, Girls, and 2SLGBTQQIA+ People National Action Plan: Ending Violence Against Indigenous Women, Girls, and 2SLGBTQQIA+ People. The national action plan, centered around the National Family and Survivor Circle, was co-developed by:
- representatives of First Nations, Inuit, Métis and Indigenous grass roots organizations
- Indigenous, provincial and territorial governments
- Indigenous urban and 2SLGBTQI+ leaders
Like the national action plan, the federal pathway will evolve to remain effective in ending the national crisis of missing and murdered Indigenous women, girls and 2SLGBTQI+ people.
To learn more, consult:
Budget 2021 investments
Budget 2021 proposed historic investments to support the implementation of the federal pathway and directly contribute to ending violence against Indigenous women, girls and 2SLGBTQI+ people. These investments support over 50 programs and initiatives across 25 federal departments and agencies.
To learn more, consult Budget 2021 investments to support Indigenous women, girls and 2SLGBTQI+ people.
Progress we've made
The Government of Canada tracks progress we've made implementing the federal pathway. This ensures accountability so that concrete differences in the lives of Indigenous women, girls and 2SLGBTQI+ people can be made.
Consult the Calls for Justice reporting tool to learn more about the progress of the federal pathway.
Federal Pathway Annual Progress Report
June 3, 2024 marked the fifth anniversary of the final report of the national inquiry and the fourth anniversary of the launch of the federal pathway. The fourth annual progress report on the federal pathway includes:
- updates on initiatives under the federal pathway
- key highlights on progress made for Families and survivors, First Nations, Inuit, Métis, Urban Indigenous Peoples and Indigenous 2SLGBTQI+ people, and Data
- reporting on the calls for justice from the national inquiry
To read the progress reports, consult:
National Indigenous-Federal-Provincial-Territorial meetings on Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women, Girls and 2SLGBTQI+ People
On January 10, 2023, the Government of Canada held the first national roundtable on missing and murdered Indigenous women, girls, and 2SLGBTQI+ people. Over 250 people participated in the roundtable, including:
- Indigenous partners, organizations and leaders
- Families and survivors and Indigenous women, girls, 2SLGBTQI+ people
- Representatives from federal, provincial and territorial governments
The following year, a second national roundtable was held on February 7 and 8, 2024, which included a discussion on the Red Dress Alert, for when an Indigenous woman, girl or 2SLGBTQI+ person goes missing.
A third national Indigenous-Federal-Provincial-Territorial meeting will be held in January 2025, following the October 2024 announcement of $1.3 million in federal funding for Giganawenimaanaanig to lead the Red Dress Alert pilot in Manitoba.
This initiative is supported by investments from Budget 2023, which proposed $2.5 million over 5 years, starting in 2023-24, to establish a standing roundtable with all levels of government on missing and murdered Indigenous women, girls and 2SLGBTQI+ people.