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The Indian Act and Gender Discrimination
This act "formalized... Eurocentric ideas and actions" and "redefined the role of the Indigenous female," as "Indigenous women experienced [an] increased risk of violence... as... roles changed, removing... power from the matriarch through legislat[ion]... and remove[ing] a woman’s indigeneity if she [wed] a non-Indigenous man" (King & Hodwitz, 2020, p. 314). As best put by King & Hodwitz, "Canada has a history of colonial violence and cultural genocide directed towards Indigenous communities." -
The Disappearance of Gloria Levina Moody
26-year old Gloria Moody, a single mother of two, was last seen leaving a bar in Williams Lake, British Columbia while on a road trip with her family. -
The Discovery of Gloria Moody's Body
Gloria Moody's body was found by hunters on a cattle trail roughly 10 km west of Williams Lake, British Columbia, from where she went missing. Moody was discovered naked after having been sexually assaulted and beaten. It was determined that she bled to death from her injuries. Her murder remains unsolved. -
The Disappearance of Monica Jack
12-year old Monica Jack went missing after riding her bike along Highway 16 dubbed the Highway of Tears near the Nicola Ranch in Merritt, British Columbia. -
The Discovery of Monica Jack's Bike
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The Disappearance of Alberta Gail Williams
24-year old Alberta Williams went missing after she and her sister left downtown Vancouver to find seasonal work in northern British Columbia for the summer. -
The Discovery of Alberta Williams' Body
Alberta Williams' body was found outside of Prince Rupert, British Columbia. -
The Disappearance of Delphine Nikal
On the day that 16-year old Delphine Nikal went missing, she was on her way to visit friends in Smithers, British Columbia, roughly 16 km from her home. She was last seen by friends hitchhiking east from the town. No arrests have been made or suspects announced regarding this case. Nikal has been missing ever since. -
The Disappearance of Roxanne Thiara
15-year old Roxanne Thiara was last seen over the long weekend in Prince George, British Columbia. Thiara had been in foster care and had run away to Prince George, engaging in prostitution in order to survive. On the day of her disappearance, she had told a friend she was going out with a customer and was never heard from again. She also knew Alishia Germaine. -
The Disappearance of Alishia 'Leah' Germain
15-year old Alishia 'Leah' Germain was last seen at a Christmas dinner at the Native Friendship Centre in Prince George, British Columbia, in December 1994. She was known to participate in a 'high risk' lifestyle comprised of prostitution and also knew Roxanne Thiara. -
The Disappearance of Ramona Lisa Wilson
16-year old Ramona Wilson was last seen at home by her family before hitchhiking from Smithers to attend a dance and stay with friends in Hazelton, British Columbia. -
Missing Persons Investigation into Ramona Wilson
After Ramona's mother called the Smithers RCMP, a missing persons investigation was launched. -
The Discovery of Roxanne Thiara's Body
Roxanne Thiara's body was found in the bush along Highway 16, the Highway of Tears. To this day, her murder remains unsolved. -
The Discovery of Alishia Germain's Body
Within hours of her disappearance, Alishia Germaine's body was found behind Haldi Road Elementary School off of Highway 16, the Highway of Tears, outside of Prince George, British Columbia. It was concluded that she was stabbed to death. To this day, her murder remains unsolved. -
The Discovery of Ramona Wilson's Body
Ramona's body was found by a local found in a wooded area west of the Smithers airport. Her murder remains unsolved. -
The Discovery of Monic Jack's Remains
Monica Jack's remains were discovered after forestry workers found skeletal human remains in a ravine off a logging road on Swakum Mountain, roughly 20 km from where Monica's bike was found. Dental records and DNA were used to confirm her identity. -
The Disappearance of Lana Patricia Derrick
19-year old college student Lana Derrick was last seen at a gas station on Highway 16, the Highway of Tears, on the way to visit her mother. She is believed to have been hitchhiking and there is a rumour that she got into a car with two unidentified men, however, her family believes this sighting is false. The last confirmed sighting of Lana was at a friend's house in Terrance, British Columbia. To this day, she remains missing and no arrests have been made. -
The First Time the Term "Highway of Tears" Is Used At A Vigil in Terrance, B.C.
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NGO Amnesty International Releases a Report Tiled No More Stolen Sisters
For more information check out Amnesty International's Executive Summary report at https://www.amnesty.ca/sites/amnesty/files/Stolen%20Sisters%202004%20Summary%20Report_0.pdf and No More Stolen Sister's Campaign Guide at: https://liveamnesty.pantheonsite.io//sites/default/files/no-more-stolen-sisters-campaign-guide-2021.pdf
These documents have been vital in raising awareness about the MMIWG crisis. -
Creation of Project E-PANA
Project E-PANA was created and initially meant to "conduct homicide investigations related to nine cases of missing and murdered women and girls between the ages of 14 and 25 who disappeared
along Highway 16 from Prince George to Prince Rupert, BC" (Tallman, 2015, p. 49). -
“Take Back the Highway Campaign” Community March
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The Disappearance of Tamara Lynn Chipman
22- year old Tamara Chipman went missing from an area near Prince Rupert, British Columbia while hitchhiking at Industrial Park on Highway 16, the Highway of Tears. Tamara had been known to live a 'high risk' lifestyle involving prostitution and has three warrants for failure to appear on assault charges. To this day, she remains missing and no subjects have been arrested. Tamara left behind a 2-year old son. -
Alberta Williams' Death is Added to Project E-PANA
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E-PANA Takes Over Nine Investigations
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First Nations Tribes Band Together to Make the Highway of Tears Safer
First Nations tribes came together and created comprehensive reports on how to make these highways safer, including victims services and shuttle buses, but none of these measures have been implemented. -
The Highway of Tears Symposium
Taking place in Prince George, the symposium brought together families of MMIWG, RCMP officers, and other officials to address the issue of MMIWG in B.C. (Tallman, 2015, p. 61). The Symposium produced a detailed report with recommendations for communities to implement in order to protect vulnerable women(Tallman, 2015, p. 61). Since 2006, many of the Symposium’s recommendations have not been implemented although signs have gone up in a few communities along Highway 16 (Tallman, 2015, p. 61). -
The National Film Board of Canada Releases a Documentary Titled Finding Dawn
This film addressed the MMIWG crisis in Canada and shone a light on the Highway of Tears. -
The Disappearance of Aielah Saric-Auger
14-year old Aielah Saric-Auger went missing after family members believed that she had spent the night at a friend's house. She was last seen near a bar in downtown Prince George, British Columbia. After her disappearance, her family plastered “missing” posters all over downtown Prince George. -
The Discovery of Aielah Saric-Auger's Body
Aielah Saric-Auger's body was discovered in a ditch by a passing motorist on Highway 16, the Highway of Tears. Her body remained unidentified for months. To this day, her murder remains unsolved. -
E-PANA Changes Scope of Investigation
"The RCMP expanded the geographical scope of the case to include unsolved cases along other major highways in BC" (Tallman, 2015, p. 49). Thus, new cases were added to its roster. Victims investigated had to meet 2/3 criteria: "(1) female; (2) engaged in some type of high-risk activity such as hitchhiking or the sex trade; and (3) either disappeared or was found murdered within one mile of highways 16, 97, or 5" (Tallman, 2015, p. 49-50) -
The Highway of Tears Website Is Created
The website, made by a Prince George man named Tony Romeyn in 2007, served as a means to "collect and share information related to the Highway of Tears in hopes of finding answers and creating more public awareness" (Tallman, 2015, p. 58) In 2013 he gave the website to Carrier Sekani Family Services (CSFS) who turned the website into "a hub of information, awareness and memorial to the missing and murdered women and girls of the Highway of Tears" (Tallman, 2015, p. 58) -
Project E-PANA Cases Double to 18
Of these cases, 13 are murder investigations and 5 are disappearances, ranging from 1969 to 2006, with 10 out of 18 cases involving Indigenous women and girls. -
"Walk 4 Justice" Campaign Founded by Tamara Chipman's Aunt
"Each year groups of advocates, families and friends gather together and march from Prince Rupert, BC to Parliament Hill in Ottawa, Ontario to raise awareness and to remember the missing and murdered women and girls along the Highway of Tears and across Canada" (Tallman, 2015, p. 57-58). -
E-PANA Receives 5 Million in Funding in the 2009/2010 Year
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Native Women's Association of Canada Releases "What Their Stories Tell Us: Research findings from the Sisters In Spirit initiative"
In this report, the NWAC details their findings, such as the majority of cases involve young women and girls (38% from 19-30 yrs), majority of cases occur in the Western provinces (28% in B.C.), and nearly half of murder cases remain unsolved. They also propose an initiative for change and address emerging issues. For more information, read their findings at https://www.nwac.ca/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/2010-What-Their-Stories-Tell-Us-Research-Findings-SIS-Initiative.pdf -
The Highway of Tears on "48 Hours"
"It is estimated that the airing of the show resulted in nearly 350 tips made to the RCMP in regards to the Highway of Tears" (Tallman, 2015, p. 58). -
Indigenous Women as Homicide Victims
Although Indigenous women and girls only make up 4% of Canada's female population, they have made up roughly 16% of female homicide victims from 1980-2012, as told by the RCMP (King and Hodwitz, 2020, p. 315). -
RCMP Deputy Commissioner Warns About Budget Cuts
In comparison to the initial $5 million, funding for 2013/2014 was marked by a drastic reduction to only $806,109 for the 2013/2014 year, which the deputy commissioner warned would greatly impact their ability to conduct investigations. -
Estimate of MMIWG Goes Up to 824
"After conducting a comprehensive study, University of Ottawa Ph.D. student Maryanne Pearce estimated that this number [was actually higher]" (Tallman, 2015, p. 48). -
NGO Human Rights Watch Releases Report Documenting Violation of Indigenous Female's Rights by RCMP
This report is important as it highlights that the RCMP has failed to take the cases of Indigenous women seriously, often blaming the victim for their disappearance (Tallman, 2015, p. 60). -
E-PANA Task Force and Funding Reduction
Due to the reduction in funding received by Project E-PANA, its investigatory team was reduced from seventy to twelve officers since 2010. -
Prime Minister Harper Downplays Need For A National Inquiry Into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls
Then-Prime Minister Harper and his cabinet "explicitly framed the occurrences of missing or murdered Indigenous women and girls (not acknowledging Two-Spirit people) as individual acts and as crime" (Saramo, 2016, p. 208). This did not "satisfy the families of missing and murdered women, girls, and Two-Spirit people, their supporters, nor organisations and researchers interested in analysing deeper, root causes" (Saramo, 2016, p. 208). -
Prime Minister Harper's Interview with CBC on MMIWG
During an interview with CBC, Harper stated that an inquiry into MMIWG "'really isn’t high on our radar, to be honest’"(Saramo, 2016, p. 208). Also, at another time he was quoted to say that "‘we think the issue [of MMIWG] has been studied to death’, " extremely insensitive words for an extremely sensitive subject (Saramo, 2016, p. 208-209). -
RCMP Releases First Edition of Missing and Murdered Aboriginal Women: A National Operational Overview
The information released by the RCMP detailed that, in this review, there are a total of 1,181 MMIWG, there are 225 unsolved cases, there are similarities across all female homicides (male assailant, known by victims, and ~90% of female homicides are solved, with little difference between Indigenous and non-Indigenous victims.To learn more, read the report at https://www.rcmp-grc.gc.ca/wam/media/460/original/0cbd8968a049aa0b44d343e76b4a9478.pdf -
Indigenous Women Make Up 20% of Women Killed by Homicide in Canada
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Conservative Government Tables A Report From A Committee Exploring MMIWG
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RCMP Updates National Operational Overview
In this update, the RCMP reported a 9.3% reduction in unsolved homicides involving Indigenous women, the overall solve rate for female homicides was 82%, Indigenous women accounted for 10% of Females missing in Canada, and 11 women had been identified as missing since the 2014 Overview. To read more, visit: https://www.rcmp-grc.gc.ca/wam/media/455/original/c3561a284cfbb9c244bef57750941439.pdf -
Indigenous Women Make Up 24% of Women Killed by Homicide in Canada
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Prime Minister Trudeau Announces A National Inquiry Into MMIWG
To learn more about the grassroots efforts to demand an inquiry into MMIWG, read Saramo's Unsettling spaces: Grassroots responses to Canada’s missing and murdered Indigenous women during the Harper government years. -
Missing and Murdered Podcast: Who killed Alberta Williams?
Alberta Williams' story was part of an eight-episode CBC podcast called Missing and Murdered. The podcast helped uncover new information that was never used by the RCMP, including a witness who was never interviewed by the police. -
Indigenous Women Make Up 19% of Women Killed by Homicide in Canada
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The National Inquiry into Canada's MMIWG Crisis Commences
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Alberta Williams' Memorial
Alberta’s brother, Francis Williams created a memorial cross where her body was found in 1989. Her murder remains unsolved. -
RCMP Provides Updates on Initiatives Regarding Indigenous Communities
Unlike the other reports, this article showcases the RCMP's Indigenous community projects but does not address the MMIWG crisis in a meaningful way. To read this update, go to: https://www.rcmp-grc.gc.ca/wam/media/1830/original/c9e8444da1a3ddb48aefaeb3f48a7306.pdf -
Indigenous Women Make Up 22% of Women Killed by Homicide in Canada
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The Government of B.C. Sends Submission to the National Inquiry into MMIWG
This submission contained the historical context of relations between B.C. and its Indigenous population, reflections, and an overview of Indigenous community programs and services. To learn more about specifics of the submission, go to: http://www.llbc.leg.bc.ca/public/pubdocs/bcdocs2019/695511/bc-submission.pdf -
Indigenous Women Make Up 27% of Women Killed by Homicide in Canada
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Government of Canada Announces National Inquiry into MMIWG is Extended by Six Months
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Monica Jack's Killer is Charged
Garry Taylor Handlen was charged for the murder of Monica Jack. -
Indigenous Women Make Up 30% of Women Killed by Homicide in Canada
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Monica Jack's Killer is Convicted
Garry Taylor Handlen was convicted of the first-degree murder of Monica Jack. -
The National Inquiry into Canada's MMIWG Crisis Publishes Final Report
This final report contains information regarding the successes and challenges of the inquiry, establishing a new framework, encountering oppression, healing families, communities, and nations, and calls for justice. To view both volumes of the final report or the executive summary, go to: https://www.mmiwg-ffada.ca/final-report/ -
The National Inquiry into Canada's MMIWG Crisis Concludes
So far, no next steps or appropriate action have been taken to address the MMIWG crisis in Canada. -
Indigenous Women Make Up 22% of Women Killed by Homicide in Canada
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The B.C. Government Releases a Report Titled Reflection on Ending Violence Against Indigenous Women and Girls:
The B.C. Ministry of Public Safety and Solicitor General's report describes the province of B.C.'s involvement in the National Inquiry into MMIWG, reflections, and next steps for ameliorating the MMIWG crisis in B.C. and beyond (Farnworth & the Government of B.C.). For more information, go to: http://www.llbc.leg.bc.ca/public/pubdocs/bcdocs2020_2/715253/715253_mmiwg_overview_report.pdf