Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, for my statement today I want to be a voice for Indigenous women. This is nothing new. I am hearing from women in my from women about their experiences with the police and want to raise it publicly.
Mr. Speaker, we know Indigenous women are far more likely to be violently victimized. According to a 2018 Statistics Canada survey, about 63 percent of Indigenous women have experienced physical or sexual assault in their lifetime compared to about 33 percent of nonIndigenous women. Indigenous women face sexism, racism, and discrimination. Many live in violent situations at home and face acts of violence in society.
Mr. Speaker, according to the 2019 general social survey, Indigenous women were twice as likely to report having very little or no confidence in the police compared to nonIndigenous women. In fact, it's common knowledge that much of the crime experienced by Indigenous women goes unreported because Indigenous women are either scared of or don't trust the police or they don't believe the police will help them.
Mr. Speaker, this violence is rooted in Canada's history of colonialism and residential schools. Many Indigenous women are intergenerational survivors of residential school.
Mr. Speaker, Indigenous women are overpoliced and underprotected. Whatever the reason the Indigenous women find themselves involved with the police does not matter. What matters is that they are treated with respect and that police officers recognize the trauma Indigenous women have lived through and to not perpetuate this. Mr. Speaker, the general public lacks any data on RCMP misconduct. There is a long history of a culture within police of them covering up for each other in the face of any wrongdoings. This need to change.
In closing, Mr. Speaker, I hear of women having their hair pulled, hair wrists fractured by excessive of force of the police. These kinds of physical acts can trigger Indigenous women. Many women are fighting for their own survival in life, and they shouldn't have to do that with the police. This use of force is unacceptable, Mr. Speaker. We need to ensure that the police in the NWT build trust with Indigenous women and protect them. Mahsi.
