OTTAWA – Assembly of First Nations (AFN) National Chief Perry Bellegarde today expressed serious concern that the federal government and the RCMP are withholding important and sensitive information about violence against Indigenous women and girls, and is demanding that this information be shared immediately with First Nations so that it can help inform work to address and prevent violence.

“It is absolutely unacceptable that important information on a priority issue is being withheld from First Nations,” said AFN National Chief Perry Bellegarde.  “The federal government and the RCMP must immediately release all the information they have to First Nations so we can better understand the current situation and work together toward solutions.”

RCMP Commissioner Bob Paulson yesterday confirmed comments made last week by Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development Canada Minister Bernard Valcourt that 70 per cent of Aboriginal women murdered in Canada were victims of violent acts by Aboriginal people.  This figure only applies to cases that have been solved.  An RCMP report released last May citing at least 1,181 indigenous women and girls were murdered or went missing between 1980 and 2012 did not include this information.

National Chief Bellegarde is sending a letter to the RCMP formally requesting that this information be shared with First Nations.

“That the Minister of Aboriginal Affairs is withholding important ...