As a settler organization committed to dismantling colonial systems of oppression, we acknowledge that Canada is believed to be in a phase of reconciliation. While there is a growing emphasis on fostering renewed relationships, with purported recognition and value placed on Indigenous perspectives and truths, this hasn’t always been reflected in our experiences or those of the women and 2SLGBTQ+ folks we serve. Throughout our work, we have witnessed the harmful ways in which colonial carceral systems attempt reconciliation by integrating Indigenous elements into programs and spaces without proper understanding and consultation and cooperation. Unfortunately, the government has failed to transfer authority and control to local Indigenous organizations and communities, thereby further tokenizing and trivializing the true essence and purpose of reconciliation.

We firmly assert that truth must precede reconciliation; however, we are still far from fully uncovering the truth. Despite the overall decline in crime rates and incarceration numbers, an alarming increase in the incarceration of Indigenous women persists. The community we serve continues to be disproportionately targeted by Canada’s colonial criminal legal system. Therefore, we believe it is imperative for us to uphold integrity as a settler organization that pledges to cultivate authentic relationships with local Indigenous communities and prioritize Indigenous ways of knowing, being, and doing as we navigate parallel pathways forward. We remain unwavering in our solidarity and advocacy, committed to amplifying the truth about the realities Indigenous people experience. Addressing the troubling trends related to the criminalization, incarceration, removal, and oppression of Indigenous women, recognizing this reality remains an urgent and unfinished task.