Indigenous women and girls experience dramatically higher rates of violent victimization when compared to non-Indigenous women, with domestic violence being the most pervasive form. Today, Indigenous women and girls are 12 times more likely to be murdered or missing than any other group of women in Canada. This overrepresentation of violence stems from colonial and patriarchal policies that dismantle Indigenous families, erode cultural practices, and displace women from traditional roles in governance and society, leaving them vulnerable. These systemic injustices have caused multigenerational and intergenerational trauma and entrenched socioeconomic and health inequities, perpetuating cycles of disadvantage across generations.

According to Statistics Canada:

• While Indigenous women account for about 5% of all women in Canada, they make up about 26% of all women killed by an intimate partner in 2022.
• The homicide rate for Indigenous women and girls was over six times higher in 2022 than for their non-Indigenous counterparts.
• 61% of Indigenous women were more likely to experience some form of intimate partner violence in their lifetime compared to 44% of non-Indigenous women.
• First Nations women (43%), Métis women (48%) and Inuit women (35%) were more likely to have experienced physical or sexual assault by an intimate partner since the age of 15 compared to non-Indigenous women (25%).
• First Nations men (9%), Métis men (16%) and Inuit men (8%) had experienced sexual assault by an intimate partner since the age of 15 compared to non-Indigenous men (8%).
• Nearly half (47%) of Indigenous women aged 15 and older who were murdered between 2015-2020 were killed by an intimate partner, a proportion similar to that of non-Indigenous women (49%), but much higher than for Indigenous men (7.3%) and non-Indigenous men (4.5%)
• More than one-quarter (26%) of Indigenous women experienced sexual violence by an adult during their childhood, compared with 9.2% of non-Indigenous women, 5.8% of Indigenous men and 2.8% of non-Indigenous men.
• 1 in 6 (17%) Indigenous women have experienced at least one form of intimate partner violence. This statistic increases drastically when we consider intersectionality, as 86% of 2SLGBTQIA+ Indigenous women had experienced intimate partner violence in their lifetime compared to 59% of non-2SLGBTQIA+ Indigenous women.

Indigenous women have been left extremely vulnerable through both social and economic factors. Violence against Indigenous women often goes unreported and unpunished. It affects Indigenous women from all age groups, religions and socio-economic classes.

If you are experiencing violence in your relationship, Nova Vita is here to help. Our Crisis and Support Line is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. To connect with a crisis counsellor:
Call/Text 519-752-4357
Online Chat Service click here