Violence against Aboriginal women, a social phenomenon

Abstract

"Dawn Crey. Ramona Wilson. Daleen Kay Bosse. These are just three of the estimated 500 Aboriginal women who have gone missing or been murdered in Canada over the past thirty years" (Finding Dawn, 2006). Sadly, Indigenous women remain the targets of racist and sexist crimes, because of entrenched post-colonialist views in Canadian society. Despite the United Nations' plea to resolve the issue of missing and murdered Aboriginal women in Canada, Prime Minister Stephen Harper refuses to lead an inquiry into the matter. As a result, Indigenous friends and families of the victims have joined together to increase public awareness in hopes of bringing justice to the loved ones they tragically lost. This paper will demonstrate how colonialist views continue to oppress Aboriginal women today, and what initiatives are helping to correct this social bias.