Made-in-Manitoba documentary explores MMIW issue in Canada

A new made-in-Manitoba documentary explores how and why many indigenous women and girls go missing or are murdered in Canada and looks at the similarities in their cases.

Part one of the film, titled 1200+, premiered on Thursday night at the Adam Beach Film Institute in Winnipeg.

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The documentary was co-produced by Sheila North Wilson, a former journalist who's now grand chief of Manitoba Keewatinowi Okimakanak, the organization representing northern First Nations in the province.

North Wilson said the issue of missing and murdered indigenous women affects everyone in society and she says that's the film's takeaway.

"We all have a part to come up with some of the solutions and find the answers for these cases because we're all connected in some way," she said.

"I think all of us are affected in some way and we all have to deal with it, even though we might not admit it."

The number 1,200 in the documentary's title represents the RCMP's official estimate on the number of missing and murdered women and girls across the country.

However, Wilson said in speaking with families, it's believed the number is actually closer to 3,000.