MMIW roundtable: Victims, witnesses of violence need help, chief says

Superior Morning3:42Anna Betty Achneepineskum - NAN

The province pledges $100-million dollars over three years to help end violence against indigenous women. We'll hear reaction from Nishnawbe Aski Nation on the funding.

Preventing violence directed at aboriginal women could also help ease the suicide crisis affecting many First Nations communities, according First Nations leader in northern Ontario.

Currently, there is a lack police services and not enough resources to deal with family violence in many First Nations communities, said Anna Betty Achneepineskum, deputy grand chief of the Nishnawbe Aski Nation.

There are also no programs to help offenders, and only minimal funding for victims services, she said, adding she is especially concerned about the children who may witness these crimes.

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• Ontario pledges $100 million to help end violence against indigenous women

"It is so disturbing that two years ago, there were three children who witnessed their mother being killed by their dad, and to this day, those children, have not been seen by a child psychologist," said Achneepineskum.

Achneepineskum is taking a series of recommendations to the national roundtable on missing and murdered indigenous women and girls in Winnipeg on Friday.

Her key priority is finding a way to help people affected by domestic abuse and sexual assault.

"Because I believe those victims of crime, victims of sexual abuse, are those individuals who continue to represent the rate of suicide in our communities," she said.

On Tuesday, the Ontario government committed to spending $100-million over three years on Walking Together, a long-term strategy to end violence against Indigenous women, and NAN hopes to access some of those funds, she said.