Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I am doing my Member's statement on honouring the Indigenous women.
Mr. Speaker, in my lifetime, Mr. Speaker, maybe even in your lifetime, have seen -- it has been recognized, and in this House as well, that Indigenous people are the most -- this is a quote -- "the most discriminated against group", end quote, of people in their homeland since colonization. And specifically, it is the Indigenous women who experience firsthand the most discriminations and violence. Mr. Speaker, with this in mind, I want to talk about honouring the Indigenous women.
Mr. Speaker, the North and the entire country is filled with beautiful, resilient, capable, wise Indigenous women and girls. These women and girls offer not just our families but our communities so much. They bring families together. They raise babies. They care for elders. Indigenous women are always caring for their communities. Just like my colleague said, we are natural leaders and yet we carry a heavy load. In today's world, Mr. Speaker, Indigenous women have to be strong and brave. Despite all the talents and gifts, Indigenous women and girls bring to our families and communities, they face unprecedented levels of violence and death. Indigenous women and girls most often bear the brunt of multigenerational trauma; violence and trauma that continues today.
In December 2021, the RCMP reported nine open cases of missing Indigenous women in the NWT, but that number could be as high as 14. Mr. Speaker, can I have unanimous consent to conclude my statement?
---Unanimous consent granted
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, with permission from her mother, I want to tell you about Savanna Pikuyak. Savanna was a bright young woman pursuing a nursing education in Ottawa. When Savanna Pikuyak was only two days in her new home in Ottawa, she was brutally suffocated and murdered. Savanna had her life stripped of her, her dignity, her potential, her possibility of nursing, her possibility of a family and a caregiver.
Mr. Speaker, I extend my deepest condolences to Savanna's mother Sheeba, and her family and friends who are grieving the loss of their loved ones. Savanna is just one Indigenous woman whose life and dream is lost.
Mr. Speaker, Indigenous women are four to five times more likely to be murdered than all other women in Canada. Mr. Speaker, when we lose Indigenous women and girls, we lose what we could have been - our teachers, our lawyers, our leaders, and doctors in our communities. Our families grieve for their loss, and the community grieve for the possibility of what these beautiful, incredible, talented women could have become.
Mr. Speaker, October 4th is the National Day of Action for Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls. This is the day that we say their names. We walk the steps they cannot take. We honour their lives so we never forget. I will have questions for the Minister responsible for the Status of Women at appropriate time. Thank you