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Indigenous Affairs

Red Dress May 2025

ONWA calls for stronger government action to address violence against Indigenous women

The Ontario Native Women’s Association (ONWA) is calling on all levels of government to invest in violence prevention and community‑led healing initiatives in Indigenous communities.

The organization says there’s a noticeable imbalance, pointing out that Indigenous women make up about 5% of Canada’s population but experience nearly 30% of the violence nationwide. They add that some women are 6 times more likely to be murdered because of their Indigenous identity.

ONWA says that gap is being ignored by current approaches. The association argues existing strategies fail to address the root causes of violence, often excluding Indigenous women from leadership roles and underfunding programs meant to protect them from targeted violence, assault, and exploitation.

The group is urging governments to step up with steady funding while ensuring Indigenous women are fully included in decision‑making and economic opportunities.

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Province’s ‘special economic zone’ legislation takes step forward

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The province has released its draft criteria for designating special economic zones that will fast-track approvals of major projects.

First introduced under Premier Doug Ford’s Bill 5, also known as the Protect Ontario by Unleashing Our Economy Act, in response to economic threats from U.S. tariffs, the Special Economic Zones Act is aimed at supporting the advancement of job-creating investments and projects that are deemed critical to the province’s economic stability.

According to a release from the Ontario government, the draft regulation was created after consultations with Indigenous communities in the province, which are ongoing.

“Our government continues to facilitate hearty political participation and engagement with Indigenous communities across the province, with increasingly positive feedback, as we build out the regulations for Special Economic Zones,” said Greg Rickford, Minister of Indigenous Affairs and First Nations Economic Reconciliation and Minister Responsible for Ring of Fire Economic and Community Partnerships in a statement.

As part of its consultations, Ontario has engaged with more than 130 Indigenous communities regarding the proposed draft regulation and the development of a new regulatory framework.

That includes five regional sessions carried out across Ontario, including in Thunder Bay with the province saying it will continue to consult with Indigenous communities to support and advance economic stability through development and ensure proposed regulation incorporates ongoing feedback.

However, Bill 5 and the proposal of special economic zones has not been met without its critics.

“The Bill’s ‘special economic zones’ are just a cheat code for this government to do whatever they want, wherever they want,” Marit Stiles, Leader of the Official Opposition NDP previously stated.

“No consent. No consultations. No laws – this is the playbook that this government is selling.”

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First Nations Receiving COVID-19 Funding

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The federal government is out with $305-million in new funds to support First Nations, Inuit and the Metis during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Minister of Indigenous Services Marc Miller says First Nations are among the most vulnerable groups in Canada, especially those living in remote and fly-in communities.

“These funds will flow directly to Indigenous communities with maximum flexibility to help adapt responses to address local needs. We will do this quickly and with a sense of urgency that this situation obviously necessitates.”

Miller says the funding is being broken up in four different areas.

-The First Nations portion is $215 million. Each First Nation will get a base amount adjusted for population, remoteness and community well-being.
-The Inuit portion is $45 million.
-The Metis portion is $30 million. Money will flow through each governing member.
-$15-million will support regional urban and Indigenous organizations who support those living away from their communities.

Miller says the latest support follows consultations with First Nation leadership on unique and specific priorities facing their people.

He stresses “This is just the beginning. We know that more support will be needed and we will be there to make sure that no Indigenous community is left behind. Our government is here to support you during this time.”

https://twitter.com/Min_IndServ/status/1243226152065544193

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Jane Philpott Joins NAN Health Transformation Plan

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The Nishnawbe Aski Nation has a new ally on its side on the health care front.

Former Liberal Indigenous Services minister Jane Philpott has been named a special adviser in health care for NAN.

Philpott says she’s delighted to be invited to the portfolio and support the critical work of health transformation in northwestern Ontario First Nations communities.

She says amazing progress on improved health care services is already well underway in the north under the leadership of many Indigenous leaders.

Grand Chief Alvin Fiddler says “Philpott has always been a strong ally to NAN, and having an opportunity to continue to develop this relationship through Health Transformation is very exciting for us.”

Philpott resigned from cabinet over the government’s handling of the SNC-Lavalin scandal and eventually lost her Toronto-area seat in the recent federal election.