Why are Indigenous Women Disappearing Across Canada?

[@derekwilliams1169]

Thank you for highlighting this issue. As a Canadian, as an indigenous person, as a person from BC Canada and as someone that knows a murdered indigenous woman. We need to show the public, inform people and never stop talking about these issues.

[@CantHandleThisCanYa]

Look at your own reservations first, thanks!

[@strongmermaid4651]

Think you missed a few check boxes 😅

[@amemooress6291]

​@@CantHandleThisCanYaMy dude, no one pointed fingers except you. 😅 Tone down the racism.

[@WarnockRafferty]

Kinda a non issue

[@ianofliverpool7701]

60.000 people go missing each year in Canada, the figure of 1200 since 1980 is about 27 each year. So not a startlingly high figure.

[@SpikeyTech]

Our government loves gushing about how much they care about our indigenous peoples by renaming roads, wearing printed shirts, making holidays, etc. It's easier to pretend that you care than to change the status quo. Policy failure is not being able to walk a few blocks in downtown Winnipeg without seeing homeless tents, stolen bikes, or urban decay in general

[@lawrencecrocker4870]

and yet, i wasnt given thousands of dollars and free college like they were and didnt turn out like that. They are given a LOT of help simply because of their skin color. They wont help themselves.

[@CantHandleThisCanYa]

It's easy to throw taxpayer money at the -complainers- 'indigenous'

[@highbrass7563]

Highly accurate mention yours is. Here in Hamilton. Things are horrible. Trudeaus Canada.

[@falcolf]

@@highbrass7563it's not necessarily Trudeau. If you think Polliviere will save us from how corrupt our government is? He won't - he'll make it far worse. Neither him or Trudeau will fix this.

[@brandonh674]

@@CantHandleThisCanYawhat’s your problem? You’re hopping under every comment trying to degrade anyone talk about the issue at hand. If you’re so against having support for indigenous woman why even watch the video? Much less comment. Can’t handle the truth can you?

[@lukeymuffler6265]

Watched Wind River the other day. End of the movie shows this: “While missing person statistics are complied for every other demographic, none exist for Native American women. No one knows how many are missing”

[@jeremybrooks9527]

That's a good movie

[@BL-sd2qw]

My gosh 😱

[@I_TheLandlord]

That movie is very good. The scene by the trailer is so visceral. Except for the dude getting blasted through the window which is hollywood BS lol

[@BL-sd2qw]

@I_TheLandlord What scene?

[@aitzepe]

Wow. That's brutal. 😢💔

[@ExoticTerrain]

It’s not just Canada, it’s a real problem in the US also. Thank you for bringing some light to this issue.

[@BTM666-t7r]

It is really prevalent on the reservations in Montana.

[@wakeinfright5498]

And Australia. Look into how many Indigenous deaths whilst incarcerated had autopsies performed by coroners labelling the individual as Caucasian to skew statistics.

[@InquisitorXarius]

@ExoticTerrain prove it, also your words can be interpreted with good reason as whataboutism.

[@godparticle3833]

​@@InquisitorXariusYour words can be interpreted as stupid.

[@mehere8038]

@@InquisitorXarius I disagree

[@mooka4515]

As a Canadian, I thank you for shining a light on this injustice and tragedy. As Canadians, we can and should do far better.

[@frakismaximus3052]

No we shouldn't. We already have laws against murder etc, we are not responsible for other people's choices in life 🇨🇦

[@theundone777]

​@@frakismaximus3052 okay cool, so we should stop investigating the disappearances of white people in Canada then, as well. You know, to be equitable.

[@CantHandleThisCanYa]

@@frakismaximus3052and we aren't responsible for what happens on reservations. They wanted autonomy, they can investigate on their own without our help or tax dollars

[@gssthh]

​@@frakismaximus3052 Youte advocating a shitty justice system. Would you rather the police concentrate on speeding motorists and shoplifters?

[@CantHandleThisCanYa]

@@gssthhyou can't place the blame on Canadian police when the reservations routinely refuse them access to investigate. They wanted autonomy? Ok, done! No more complaining

[@MrLeeforce]

75% were harmed by their spouses or some one who knew them. Those are statistics from the RCMP. Making pretend that it’s a racial issue solves no problems. It only allows this harm to continue

[@Mygg_Jeager]

Over 75%. It was high 90's last I read - but that was here in BC.

[@TheAlaskanfrog]

Hot take. Indigenous men I worked in Small arctic villages in Alaska. The population is 99% native Alaskan. This question is kinda like asking why 99% of Americans are killed by Americans. Most small villages are very isolated from the rest of the world, so justice or finding the victims is much much much harder. No resources to investigate and bring justice Combined with extreme substance abuse, you have a situation with an unfortunately high child and woman abuse problem It’s a real issue that these communities I love struggle with.

[@CantHandleThisCanYa]

They can't take responsibility for anything. They spent thousands of years conquering and grnociding each other but everything is whitey's fault

[@mercurio822]

Yeah, trying to blame white people for everything in this day and age while you just have to look closer to home to find the real problem.

[@pugachevskobra5636]

Hot take; this is pure nonsense.

[@HammerJammer81]

@@pugachevskobra5636 his take is 100% accurate

[@arthurwintersight7868]

@@pugachevskobra5636 - If someone said, without evidence, that most white women are being killed by non-white men, in what world would that person not lose their job over making such insanely racist comments? Yet here we are, making a highly racialized suggestion that women of a particular ethnic group are being killed, not by the men in their lives (who suffer from high rates of substance abuse), but by strangers from another ethnic group... and we're making this claim without solid evidence.

[@zacyule4674]

Thank you for shedding a light on this horrible issue

[@vikrantparmar1973]

Exactly Zac it is indeed such a horrible incident, and even more horrifically, only one of God knows how many such cases, May the Lord continue to protect the innocent and lead the guilty to their prejudice, AMEN

[@TheLoxxxton]

But because of the 'unsolved ' nature of these horrible crimes who knows how many of the crimes are indigenous on indigenous?

[@backabeyond]

Bringing light to what? Poverty and it’s devastating effects? Yea, we know. Or do you mean some poor people deserve more than others?

[@BlackNewty]

@@backabeyond What is your point here? Just asking, because you seem angry this topic is being discussed. Yes we are aware that being poor is difficult, however awareness of an issue is not like cake. Just because some get some awareness doesn’t take awareness from others.

[@BlackNewty]

@@TheLoxxxton It’s just as likely as anyone else. No need to demonize any one culture.

[@billhacks]

My heart breaks for the the victims and their families of Canada yet I must point out that this happens to women and girls all over the world. Most of them have one thing in common, they are vulnerable. Mexico, Brazil, Columbia, Africa, Australia, China, Korea, Russia, the middle east and just about, if not everywhere else. A lot of this can be prevented if people would simply look out for each other. Humans tend to have a blind spot when it comes to people who aren't in their social circles. We all need to start thinking like a community and bring awareness if we stand a chance in stopping these horrible things from happening to the vulnerable. Love each other and look out.

[@darlenefraser3022]

This. I would also like to know what the tribal councils are doing about it. Nothing as usual, just complain at the government.

[@CantHandleThisCanYa]

@@darlenefraser3022that's all they know how to do: complain and take money

[@blackswan1983]

​@@darlenefraser3022they need more access to treatment in their own communities. It doesn't help when their youth are sent away for HS or they have to fly somewhere else for basic surgery.

[@AtomicMama42]

Pretty sure in Mexico the issue isn't white men and truckers killing women along the highway

[@squarific1183]

@@darlenefraser3022 you're a cold, cruel person. Billhacks' comment taps into something universal, observing that people on the fringe are targets; Indigenous people are pushed to the fringes by a country that spent centuries trying to destroy them. Even IF Canada had completely changed (it hasn't), the residual trauma would take ages to address. If the RCMP and police forces can't address the problem, how in the heck do you expect residential tribal councils, whose mandates are to provide community and education services, to solve a massive, cross-province violence epidemic? And for the record: they do plenty regardless. Who do you think is generating social pressure and launching independent inquiries? This is just such a nasty comment. Shame on you.

[@scottsherwood9665]

Thank you for exposing this ongoing tragedy. I am from Canada and my wife and daughters are indigenous.

[@hibby21]

this is a very complicated issue as police have no jurisdictions on reserves and often not allowed on the property. most of the crimes occur on the reserves and they need help but refuse it. the cops deff drop the ball on cases but theyre also limited on how theyre allowed to help. most crimes that occur on a reserve are never reported

[@CantHandleThisCanYa]

Yeah the 'indigenous' want autonomy but then complain when crimes on reservations get ignored. They want to complain about everything to get more free money. Maybe they should take the lesson that they were conquered by a more advanced tribe. It's just what they've all done throughout their own history, but we can't bring that up because it's not whitey's fault!

[@CantHandleThisCanYa]

But the 'indigenous' need someone to blame, so it falls to white people to get blamed

[@amyparker9816]

Hmmm, I wonder why many Indigenous people distrust cops? Could it be because the RCMP was literally created to force them into residential schools? Because they are responsible for some of these disappearances? Because a lot of them seem more like to shoot an Indigenous person than help them while responding to a wellness call? It’s a mystery 🙄

[@mehere8038]

I'm curious then, do they offer training to those who those communities have appointed as local police for the reserve? That would seem like an obvious first step, to offer training & resourses such as forensic facilities etc to the locally appointed police, which in turn would build relations, leading to better long term working relationships. Europe has the same issue with it's borders doesn't it, but police communicate well across borders to enable their counterparts to do their job

[@hibby21]

@mehere8038 I do know some training and resources are offered but I don't know the extent of it. it's tough over come generations of mistrust. there is active efforts being made to build relations but there's still some that don't want that.

[@propernoun1583]

4000 native women over 40 years is still less than one eighth of the total homicides in Canada in that time period. The problem seems to be mostly connected to the fact that Canada is huge, and reserves tend to be off the grid, making them easier targets compared to people living in urban areas.

[@RHCole]

Doesn't change that less resources go toward their disappearances

[@pugachevskobra5636]

The problem seems to be the absolute indifference shown to Indigenous people in Canada. There are multiple notable examples of this (the Jack family disappearance that Simon mentioned); it has been studied at length by multiple outlets and researchers all across the world. I mean Simon gives you the literal history of how indigenous people have been treated for centuries and you still managed the miss the point. It's not just the region or its remoteness; it's the combined attitudes of law enforcement and the media that allow thousands of people to just slip through the cracks.

[@bobothefearless]

It's the same in the US

[@propernoun1583]

@@pugachevskobra5636 I was just saying the vast majority of murder/missing person cases don't fall under this category. All murders are bad, but the focus is more heavily placed on ones that happen in populated areas, or to people who are relatively well off. It's also significantly easier to abduct someone poor, by themself, and in the middle of nowhere. The police department is already stretched thin and doesn't have the resources to be able to pursue every isolated kidnapping case, especially when the chance of solving the crime is near zero.

[@ryv2484]

@@pugachevskobra5636Ugh, you are making it about that. OP is likely right. There are places so remote in canada that the last person to step foot there was a trapper 120 years ago, and the people committing these crimes know that, and use it.

[@ShepherdsCreek]

I live in Northeast BC and this is such a massive problem here. Even when it is well known who the murderer is, rarely do they face justice, and when they do, it's a slap on the wrist.

[@rinnesasori5602]

Is there no Street Justice?

[@ShepherdsCreek]

@rinnesasori5602 there definitely is

[@gssthh]

Unfortunately police these days are more interested targeting motorists to meet their targets. They're not interested in justice any more. They just want a fine paid.

[@queenmaeve2861]

I live in Central Alberta and everyone is sure that there is a group of serial killers specifically targeting Indigenous women and the police don't do anything about it. The main "hunting ground" can be mostly traced down to a single street in Edmonton and still nothing. Only one person has ever been arrested in connection to the "Edmonton Killing Fields" and got basically nothing as punishment

[@InquisitorXarius]

Robert Pickton

[@mushroom_dinosaur]

Mashkodi Bizhiki'ikwe. I am a Canadian. I have been following this case through the news. Not once have I heard that name. Instead, it's been the English translation, Buffalo Woman. Not using the proper language to refer to her feels so dehumanizing. Simon, thank you, from the depths of my heart, for making this video and calling us the f out. Thank you and all of your crew. 🧡🧡🧡

[@jeffdroog]

As another fellow Canadian,I can tell you this is not a candian problem.This is failure of the RCMP,and the local government bodies.Most CANADIANS,are not contributing to this problem,but rather,our justice system is terrible.

[@neiladams3259]

Not saying you're wrong, but perhaps it's the media you're following? I'm pretty sure every CBC article I've read about the four women murdered by Jeremy Skibicki has included both names: Mashkodi Bizhiki'ikwe and Buffalo Woman.

[@TrippyDaHippie409]

It’s not dehumanizing to use the translation of the language you speak it would be more dehumanizing to try to pronounce it and completely butcher it and be disrespectful

[@CantHandleThisCanYa]

It's not dehumanizing when virtually nobody speaks your language. Names and titles are translated all the time in and from other languages. You people always have to find something to whine about

[@angelachouinard4581]

Simon readily admits he mangles names from all kinds of peoples and countries. But you can't learn it correctly if you don't say it. I prefer people try, names are important.

[@TraTranc]

I have a friend who lives in Canada, coincidentally in that area, and has personal ties to the RCMP officers involved in the case. The issue is that, despite how remote that area looks like, the "Highway of Tears" is a major transcontinental route for goods moving on trucks. For some of the cases that took place there, the Canadian Police has up to 5,000 potential suspects. No Police force in the world can keep up with that. Some suspect that there could be no less than three different serial killers active on that stretch of road.

[@Nyctophora]

I take your point that it is a massive issue. But there could be improvements made to safety, for example by providi9ng low cost, safe public transport, and more police presence along the routes. Prevention needs to be stepped up because prosecution just isn't happening.

[@mehere8038]

Ivan Milat's chosen space of road was similar. Amazing what a whole taskforce on the case & a half million dollar reward for information will reveal though isn't it - and then they used the latest computer tech at the time to narrow it down to only 230 suspects on their shortlist

[@mrfingers4737]

Dont believe anything your rcmp buddies tell you. They're not really police.

[@blarfroer8066]

Another issues is that parts of the RCMP either don't care or are actively taking part in the crimes.

[@mrfingers4737]

@blarfroer8066 That's been the longest running joke in Canada. I know rcmp families that are so dirty its hard to believe.

[@sarahschmidt8678]

Happening in the US as well. Just as much.

[@wolfsbaneamp]

Alaska especially 😢

[@TrippyDaHippie409]

@@wolfsbaneamp yeah definitely the natives themselves doing it in Alaska and it’s basically a big open secret there

[@wolfsbaneamp]

A hippie being racist? Wild.

[@TrippyDaHippie409]

@@wolfsbaneamp making a statement because I’ve seen the prison statistics for Alaska does not make me racist nice try though

[@InquisitorXarius]

Prove it

[@anonanon3867]

As a Canadian, thank you so much for covering this nightmarish issue.

[@cory7328]

I have a close friend who is Indigenous Canadian. She works amazing hard for her community and I am glad To see you making a video about their struggle.

[@ilostmypickle]

💖

[@darielmac1]

Simon, you and the team have put a voice to the one's who can't. You all have earned so much credit in my books. Thank you for putting light to this dark, tragic story of Canada.

[@logancash8825]

I grew up near the highway of tears and lived in Prince George for a while, coverage of these disappearances rarely even reach provincial news, let alone national news, the police response is often "meh", it's heartbreaking to watch

[@falcolf]

As a British Columbian female I'm afraid to drive up alone that way. ☹️

[@toddmotown2087]

Because it's so common, they don't do anything to talk care of themselves

[@JoeyLaison]

Canadian here, did my high school years in Prince George, graduated 2015. I lived on Queensway with my grandmother, our the family homestead has been there longer than its been a part of the city. I got to live less than a blocks distance from a path the infamous Queensways "escorts" would take their clientele- and their substances. This is important later. I was a really unobservant autistic kid at the time, but even then I saw some really effed up stuff living there. I learned about the highway of tears from terrified Native women trying to raise awareness at the then Fort George, now Lheidli T'enneh memorial park (The park is literally built on their cemetary, but thats a whole different story of disrespect), and I learned even more about it from the few Native girls who would talk about *why* they were the way they were. Only 3 of the girls there ever spoke directly about the missing indigenous women. All three knew or were immediate family with at least one victim. The girls were all taught to walk in groups when leaving the school, they were hypervigilant of strangers and vehicles, they did their best to have at least a brother or male cousin with them when hanging out in town, and they'd arrange carpools with family and family friends as often as possible. It was as though each of them lived with the fear of a personal stalker. I couldn't blame them either, the local news would occasionally mention political movements to raise awareness about the highway of tears- but rarely mentions, never mind repeated, any alerts or bulletins about missing indigenous. Now, walking the opposite direction of the escort pit, it was about a 35-ish minute walk to a grocery store. I hated making that walk, but sometimes a teenager loser wants to eat an entire cheesecake without judgement, and refuses to spend bus fare. I cannot even recall how many times I found torn or filthy womens clothing, clothing too filthy to have merely been left there since my last walk. Single womens boots or sandals, always womens, rarely a pair. Panties, bras, empty purses that were in too good a condition to be thrown out by escorts. Not to mention that particular little stretch wasn't nearly as convenient as the downhill walk to the fun time pit. I was an autistic kid, and wasn't going to risk getting in trouble calling 911 to report something that might just as easily be nothing. But I knew I had to tell someone, because it didnt feel right. I was only dumb enough to tell a cop once. I wont go into detail, even though I doubt he recorded anything. But I told a cop about the unusual location of only womens clothing, and was told that anything on queensway was just escorts and yahoos. I want to reiterate again, this little stretch was uphill and not that great for "business" it was an extra long walk uphill from an easier location for your average entrepeneur. That cop had me fearing he'd call my grandma for thinking I'm a better detective than whatever the cops had going on. Years later, my aunt told me she's pretty sure that the highway of tears is likely in large part a sort of dark secret truckers club, maybe multigenerational or master/apprentice system taking advantage of hitchhikers. And as paranoid an idea that may be, it makes a frightening amount of sense. Especially remembering how my grandmother would complain about commercial trucks speeding on parts of queensway that were not designed for commercial vehicles... Anyways, I'm super tired, my brain is connecting new dots, and I think I want to call my grandmother to do a reality check on my thought process. The highway of tears is horrifically real, if you want to genuinely help, I'd suggest reaching out specifically to Indigenous groups in the area with any potential information as well as the cops.

[@ariellebonsor9975]

As a Canadian in BC ,specifically Vancouver island, decent coverage of this issues Whistle old boy. Canada’s isn’t all lovely wilderness and polite population. We have a lot of dark horrible things hiding under our warm toques 😢 But i very much appreciate the light you have cast on this Horrific country wide issue of Colonialism and murder.

[@theScotian24]

F'n WAAAAAAAAAAAH I refuse to feel guilt over your peoples problems. They werent caused by me, or my relatives.

[@Thenewboidahlia]

🧡🧡🧡🧡🧡🧡 thank you for speaking about the MMIW 🧡

[@MeowMeow-sy2mi]

I live in Prince George BC. Thank you so much for addressing this on your platform 🥹💗

[@THETRIVIALTHINGS]

How is drinking and substance abuse a fault of colonialism?

[@RachelRichards]

They try to blame white people for everything. It's just crazy leftist propaganda.

[@joelanderson5285]

People who use colonialism as an explanation for indigenous failure see such populations as having hypoagency, they are nearly objects being acted upon by the "white man" who has hyperagency. This is a common feature of identity politics distorted thinking.

[@reidequi3976]

Because alcohol and other substances either weren’t present in North America or had much weaker alternatives. That’s also why obesity is such a problem in native communities, there wasnt much sugar in a native persons diet on average. Most of my family is obese and either have or had an unhealthy relationship with alcohol. Colonist really and truly ruined native Americans and the Inuit, and destroyed their very way of life right down to the traditional foods they had eaten for hundreds of years. Between total erasure and utter disregard for our health, native people will always be the last one to get a slice of the proverbial cake. Growing up in very very rural Alaska I saw a LOT of abuse of all kinds tword children and woman that wasn’t addressed due to how remote we were. Can’t exactly call the cops when you’re 500 air miles from anchorage one way.

[@joelanderson5285]

@THETRIVIALTHINGS Because they do not see natives as having agency.

[@atodaso1668]

@@reidequi3976 No, its because they are lazy

[@TheDragonMamma]

As a First Nations woman with a daughter, this is why I explain to people that I will never return to my home country. I’m from Vancouver, my mother’s family looks down on us since that side comes from the European Nobility. I remember growing up my English relatives were showing my cousins and I camping basics. They told my cousins it was a good skill to learn, but turned to me and basically said it was more important for me to pay attention because for me it would be essential life skills for if I wound up homeless. I believe I was 6 or 7.

[@MeowMeow-sy2mi]

I wonder if some of these murders have been a serial murderer.

[@smultronpojke4010]

iirc some of Robert Pickton's victims were indigenous

[@SoundShinobiYuki]

Many. There’s an extremely long Wikipedia list of women who are known to have been last seen on the highway of tears (both missing and never found or found dead later) and at least two serial killers were later convicted after committing multiple murders on that road. And then there’s the infamous Robert Pickton.

[@emilyjades]

There was one that was linked to a missing indigenous woman, the guy they identified had been dead for a while

[@seclusionworks7547]

Cody Legebekoff operated along the Highway..if he is just one, the reasoning stands there are more.

[@tysondennis1016]

Thanks for putting this issue in the spotlight. 🧡

[@ilostmypickle]

💖

[@ImOscarWallace]

Thanks Oliver for this script. It is really nice to see Canadian stories anywhere on KZbin.

[@junestanich7888]

We have the same thing in the US and it’s equally disgusting that women are preyed upon like this.

[@alinac5512]

I heard of this issue years ago and I am appaled at how little effort and investigation seems to go into potential serial ki**ers like at the highway of tears...

[@partygrove5321]

Yeah, those phantom white guys. LOL

[@Iselas181]

This makes me so mad, I live on the highway of tears, and I have seen so much pain in the communities. It is terrible.

[@aproxamillionwasps474]

I know a woman who works with indigenous communities to try and help them. The large majority REFUSE to access the addiction services, counselling services, and resources to help pay for higher education. All they have to do is show up. They don’t. At a certain point grown adults choosing poverty stops getting them sympathy. They are mad about the missing and murdered women, but refuse to let the RCMP in. They refuse to admit that it’s men in their own communities perpetrating the abuse. The Canadian government has babied them for too long and now anything that isn’t handing out cash to be spent on anything they want is seen as not helping. 🙄

[@ajdean2974]

Lol what a wild 3rd hand take. Listen to the end of the video or maybe even do the SLIGHTEST bit of research into why indigenous populations don't exactly live the RCMP. But your probably won't, because this is not even thinly veiled racism hiding behind already gross victim blaming

[@RachelRichards]

​@@ajdean2974- Stop excusing irresponsible behavior. You infantilize them.

[@MrLeeforce]

Well said. So well said and truth-full. A truth that so many will not accept. If only more would accept this truth, then some actual progress could be made…

[@owensspace]

Thank you for covering this. It’s difficult to stop this disturbing issue

[@Legosunfloer4637]

Thank you for shedding light onto this issue, these women are missing or gone but they are never forgotten 🧡

[@alia7368]

Thank you for continuing to support the MMIW

[@nellieharper2572]

Big shout out to Olivier Guiberteau for writing about this! And, of course, mad props to Simon for approving this episode!! It means SO MUCH that someone like you would use your platform to highlight issues like this. Olivier could not have a more Canadian familiar name lol I want to appreciate this more but it's hard when some people are being apparently oblivious to the issues presented and the sheer conplexity involved, in the comments... Man. It's weird seeing faces that look like mine in a video on a popular channel. And some folks are vehemently blaming people like my dad for missing women provinces over.

[@ajdean2974]

As much as i love all the silliness and mispronunciations on all your other channels, thank you so much for talking so respectfully about this topic. Really hoping thst this video can reach a wider audience

[@dmm118]

I'd ask the indigenous men...

[@CantHandleThisCanYa]

But then they can't blame whitey

[@super539]

BINGO !

[@johnpk5831]

They don't want to do that. It'd ruin their narrative.

[@Hobohunter23]

exactly. lol.

[@DeyvsonMoutinhoCaliman]

But won't they be called racist if they jail indigenous men that killed those women?

[@CantHandleThisCanYa]

Yup. Has to be blamed on someone of euro descent

[@murphy9924]

The episode of Yellowstone, where casey tells his son about people who dont have to abide by res laws, Sums it up.

[@slipfox1364]

Where I live we mostly let the natives handle crime themselves, they don't want our help and often these issues are internal which makes it harder to punish as the reservation is mostly governed internally

[@nigel6956]

Over 90% of murdered native women are committed on the rez, by their own people. The RCMP have always had a difficult time getting any witnesses to put a name to the crime, forcing a cold case. If the nations don't fix themselves, they will continue to suffer. It's very easy to try and blame everything on one set of people, but, we cannot ignore the reality that accountability is a necessary action to create healing.

[@theScotian24]

Exactly. Just like some other 'communities'.

[@nigel6956]

@@theScotian24 Actually it's every community. That's why the whole concept of one race killing another is a huge problem is void.

[@clairemercer3099]

Preditors can see a mark a mile off. First Nations need to provide support in the reservations and the rest of Canada needs to take their crisis seriously.

[@theScotian24]

It isnt "the rest of Canada"s issue.

[@TheDejectedArtist]

Thumbs up to any video that outlines the failure of the RCMP

[@louissimard3962]

Miigwetch (Thank You) Simon and producers from showing this on your platform.

[@NemesisNecrosis]

oh good someone highlighting this issue to an international audience. Maybe our government and people would take it more seriously with more eyes on us.

[@mikepettitt]

I grew up in Winnipeg. Thank you for telling this story and keeping these issues in the public consciousness.

[@MrLeeforce]

This story sadly is far from the truth…. It’s a narrative that’s easy to hide behind. Everyone can watch a video like this, give their thumbs up and move on with their day rather than addressing the real problems…. If people were willing to speak the truth, we could make a real difference on these topics…. In the meantime, everyone will watch videos like this full of misinformation and just be happy hating instead of working together….

[@jacquilewis8203]

This is a hard watch. But a necessary one.

[@jamesedwards8175]

Without even watching it - it's because we Natives are seen as a nuisance minority by those in power and it's easier for them to ignore our plight than to fix it.

[@laughs150]

Ok James lmao

[@ShirleyTimple]

This. The state is choosing to ignore it because it achieves their goal without them having to create special indoctrination schools for natives, as they did

[@cantsay2205]

No, it's native guys killing and trafficking your own women.

[@CantHandleThisCanYa]

Got conquered by a more advanced tribe, like 95% of native history, but still complain only about whitey.

[@Noah-hd2je]

You can't have it both ways. If you want autonomy then they are going to ignore you. If you want the government to help then you must give up your autonomy. It's the same for everyone really but most people don't have the choice.

[@sarah-janemelnychuk541]

As an Indigenous Canadian I have to say I really liked the thought put into the discussion here. I know of an Indigenous man who was a black out drunk and now that he’s aging and has no memory of what he did he thinks he was a great father. In fact, both him and his sister find it easier to blame the victim then to look more closely to their role in the abuse. On the other hand, the inability to look inward when it comes to wrongdoing is the result of intergenerational trauma. Truth hurts. We can’t work towards reconciliation when truth is ignored or dismissed not on a micro as well as macro level. The good news is, that many families are dealing with intergenerational trauma and the young kids are growing up with greater stability. It’s not easy to be the kid and be making healthier decisions. You look to your parents to bring that support but it’s not always possible. It’s hard work breaking the chain to allow for the next generation to benefit.

[@erikahollinsky8337]

Sending tons of love and best wishes so you can keep smashing those chains! Everything will be so much better if that catches on! ❤

[@harrisonmiller6475]

Can you do an episode on the California Missions in 18th century California?

[@fl00fydragon]

The first step to solve a problem is to shine a light to it and admit it exists, thank you for making us aware of this injustice that was swept under the rug.

[@sun-youngsunnykim8794]

Thank you for talking about our indigenous women and girls. I live in British Columbia.

[@ericthompson3982]

I know it's bad in Canada, but it's bad in the US, too.

[@TrippyDaHippie409]

Can’t speak for Canada, but I can surely speak for the US. They wanted to be separate. They are governed by their own laws on the reservation. They have their own police force to say that, but they wanted to be separate and this is the outcome there’s not much state or federal government can do because of the past or even will do because of the past

[@Rei-xq3zm]

I have to say it is important to specifically talk about it in Canada though. Here in Canada a lot of us are lulled into complacency by looking down on the US. I think it’s necessary to point these issues out explicitly in Canada.

[@TrippyDaHippie409]

@@Rei-xq3zm from my understanding it seems like y’all’s situation is a lot more complicated and has the potentiality to be a lot worse than what’s happening in America with our natives so yeah I whole heartedly agree with your comment

[@Rei-xq3zm]

@@TrippyDaHippie409 i unfortunately dont know much about the US’s situation but there is a particularly painful history of violence and (many would argue) genocide in Canada that has very long lasting effects. Many of us learn about it growing up but it seems like the issues are still very pressing and the government does little more than lip service.

[@ericthompson3982]

@Rei-xq3zm That's fair, and I take your point. I do think it's important to face the complacency around violence everywhere, but I do acknowledge what you're getting at.

[@angelachouinard4581]

Thank you so much for doing this, Simon & company. This is such a shame on Canada.

[@hughjass1044]

I'm Canadian and a retired truck driver. I travelled that highway more times than I care to remember and let me tell you, it's not a very nice place at all for anyone alone or in trouble whether you're an indigenous woman or simply a broken down traveler. I've always had a very strict policy against hitch hikers but there were a few times along that road when I felt I just had to give a person a lift because their safety was at risk. It's a very long and very lonely road, with sometimes 100 km or more between towns so to get stuck alone in that environment can mean death by any of a variety of causes. Once or twice the person riding with me didn't look that well off so when I hit the fuel stop, I'd buy them dinner and in one case even a pair of mitts. They were always so thankful for my generosity but in each case, I had a certain feeling of trepidation when I dropped them off because I didn't know what was next for them. One young woman rode with me from Houston all the way to Edmonton and I was so relieved when her sister came to collect her at the terminal. At least I knew she was safe.

[@ilostmypickle]

Thank you.

[@oriontigley5089]

Why aren't the Natives doing more to stop this? Their reserves are autonomous

[@jonsnow9762]

They need to be integrated into the rest of Anglo-Indian society

[@CantHandleThisCanYa]

Because they can't take responsibility for anythjng

[@TheKazragore]

​​@@CantHandleThisCanYaCongratulations! You've both announced yourselves as part of the attitude problem! Have a cookie to dunk into your mug filled with liquid self-superiority.

[@frakismaximus3052]

RCMP Commissioner Bob Paulson confirms that 70 per cent of the solved murders of indigenous women were committed by indigenous men. That statistic was cited by Aboriginal Affairs Minister Bernard Valcourt at a meeting with Prairie chiefs in March, and it was backed by Commissioner Paulson in a letter this week to Treaty 6 Grand Chief Bernice Martial.

[@KateeAngel]

Why do anti-native racists always flock to any discussion on indigenous issues?

[@Tuturial464]

Highway of Tears i presume?

[@van3158]

Canada only has one road after all…

[@Nyctophora]

Thank you for covering this with a channel with your clout. One of the things that makes me angry is that these women and girls weren't hitchhiking because they were 'silly girls' - they were hitchhiking because that was the only way they could get to work. They couldn't afford cars and there was no adequate public transport. They wanted to work and support themselves. There is so much wrong here.

[@desireedeschene9760]

As a metis woman and mother thank you for this. It was much needed to be out and in the open. To put the glaring spot light on an issue that is mostly unseen and unheard. I was wondering if you could add one more topic to the list Canadian residential schools. My great Grandmother suffered in them. I just think you would take the time and effort to present it and highlight the damages done.

[@nbarealtalker]

The level of “insecurity” these communities experience as a whole is very clearly due in large part to their corrupted leadership. Every single year literally BILLIONS of dollars are “invested” in these communities and yet the majority of them never change, never look different, never get running water and never show economic improvement of literally any kind. And there is a well documented record number of politicians claiming indigenous heritage (for the financial perks and social clout) that you’d never know were anything but white by looking at them. And many of them have been busted for lying about it. In short, being indigenous has become something that seems to come either with social stigma or political celebration and nothing else in between. It’s very sad what our country did to them. But it might be even sadder where we are keeping them along with many of their “leaders”.

[@OfftheWallTales]

ABSOLUTELY more like 4,000. I’m from the US but we have it set so reservations aren’t technically American soil and thus the same rights aren’t afforded to the native Americans. If you don’t believe me, maybe just start with a search for interviews of people who worked in hospitals on reservations. I saw one of a white nurse who said they only had a doctor on call who would okay medications and treatments from home without ever seeing a patient. I adore nurses and the ones with experience sometimes are more alert and aware than doctors. But I can’t imagine going to an ER and knowing not only am I being seen by at least a PA, but there isn’t a single doctor on. Horrifying. But does the 1200 figure cover women who went missing but returned? Obviously if police brush you off and don’t help, you won’t keep turning to them so I know some families were likely reunited and didn’t tell cops. Plus it makes sense why people would go missing, considering reservations are often small, crowded, lacking jobs and with no opportunities. Add in the remoteness and you have a slew of hopeless people who do anything to numb that pain, which then can lead to abuse and finally to people leaving. But I wouldn’t be surprised if that 1,200 includes multiple women who returned home and just weren’t updated in the system. But I do know far more have gone missing, considering hitchhiking is often the only way around remote areas like that.

[@ilostmypickle]

I appreciate your openness. I watched a Canadian documentary a while back that focuses on one of our Northern towns, Dawson Creek. You may be interested in it to get a deeper perspective. It's eye-opening and hard to watch. Why are people vanishing in Dawson Creek, B.C.? | The Fifth Estate KZbin

[@cameronmadden8723]

id love to see a video about americas situation on this

[@luisa.acevedo3326]

Ahh, the Canadian dystopia.

[@thorn.charmer]

Liking and commenting so the algorithm shows this to more people. I have never seen this topic covered quite like this. This is a horrible problem in the US too. Thank you.

[@locklearlumbee83]

Ya'll should highlight this issue in the US as well.

[@ilostmypickle]

Fair point. That would be equally significant.

[@napzalotz9105]

If your not in the system then your off the grid. They were born off the grid, even if your born into the system like most are, you can still fall through the cracks. But you stand alone when your off the grid.

[@noodles9749]

The highway of tears is the most moving documentary that I've ever seen.

[@TatsuMurasaki]

Truly tragic. Makes my blood boil in sympathy every time I hear of it. Thanks for covering it!

[@jessedawg4693]

This is an issue across the United states too!!!! Di a video about that as well and how no one acknowledges or cares!!!

[@KevinVeroneau]

I gave up on the Canadian justice system many years ago.

[@christophermerlot3366]

So did I and I'm not native.

[@emarti3853]

This channel gets really depressing, but I appreciate the opportunity to learn

[@mh8748]

Local communities simply don't want to talk about this...

[@erenjaeger1738]

How yk this, explain?

[@tylerandrews4375]

Studies have shown a majority of the missing native women either A: left on their own to get away from broken homes. Or B: were murdered or kidnapped by OTHER NATIVE MEN.

[@ilostmypickle]

What studies, please?

[@Goldrunner1169]

​@@ilostmypickle no studies, hes just lying.

[@StephySon]

A reminder, while the focus on this video is on Canada Everything here applies to indigenous woman in the United States as well

[@EShirako]

Regrettably true. 😕

[@issy7465]

The content you have been releasing lately has been exceptional!

[@CindyandRicoTheCoonhoundCross]

Thank you, Olivier, for writing this script. Thank you, Simon, for presenting it. Maybe world wide attention in this genocide will help bring changes. We Canadians need to do something about this tragedy.

[@frakismaximus3052]

No we don't.

[@caldera11]

But they won't talk about the actual genocide in canadian history of the iroquois committed against the huron tribe.

[@CantHandleThisCanYa]

They won't acknowledge their own thousand year plus history of conquering other tribes and committing genocide..... why should we give a flying f--k when they only want to blame Europeans??

[@emilyjades]

Thank you for covering this!

[@tacitus6384]

It really speaks volumes, and tragically so. A few years back Canada had that "buried indigenous children under churches", with 0 evidence, and it set the political world on fire, and a lot of churches were vandalized and burned down, and politicians fell over each other to apologize for the "racist history of colonialism". Well, years onwards and precisely 0 mass graves have been found, as it was based on dodgy, bad evidence to begin with. 0 apologies or retractions have been issued. Meanwhile, an ACTUAL issue affecting indigenous people, particularly women, such as this one, flies under the radar and receives very little notice from the media. No government buildings being attacked for failing to protect them, no politicians issuing groveling apologies, nothing. It's really disgusting when you think about it.

[@davidseamans6151]

We have it here in Australia (PS I am from Calgary). We have indigenous spokespeople standing up and saying this is not a problem that government can solve. It is cultural and they have to take responsibility for themselves. What kind of media noise would be generated if white Canadian (or, as per my example, Australian) governments went in and cleaned it up? The brouhaha would be overwhelming. So there is no one that will fix this except the indigenous cultures themselves. Until they take the responsibility rather than the media (quite correctly you mention 0 evidence of indigenous children buried under churches) back slapping, nothing will change. BTW like in Australia, follow the dollar path of where investigations and reparations go. Adds an interesting dynamic to the problem that it is in no one’s interest to solve. PS I have knowledge that in my ex- in-law family of western culture whites, this has happened as well so let’s not be too self-righteous. It is not right but it happens everywhere.

[@KateeAngel]

You are lying. Multiple mass graves have been found

[@cleverandtricky]

Thank you for covering this.

[@the80hdgaming]

If you want another unsolved missing persons story, look into the Melanie Ethier disappearance in New Liskeard, Ontario... She was 15 at the time of her disappearance in 1996. To this day, it still remains unsolved.

[@jc6800]

Thanks, Simon & Co. 🫶🏼 for covering this topic. Hopefully it shines a light where it's most needed.

[@Thesongstaysthesame]

It’s not “failure of the system” It went exactly as planned.

[@84marcow]

This is a problem throughout all of the North American Continent. But as bad as it is, it is mostly perpetrated by their own communities. Unless their culture changes, these statistics will not improve.

[@cameronshea1997]

As an indigenous canadian, I really appreciate that you guys covered this issue. violence against indigenous women is so, so common, thank you for bringing attention to this

[@CantHandleThisCanYa]

Yes, it's so, so common by indigenous men

[@TheHikeChoseMe]

ya caused by indigenous men. what do you want the gov to do about it? arrest indigenous men? then yall be whining about how thats racist or something.

[@Onora619]

And the people in charge won't stop it. They don't care. This has been going on for centuries. Only individuals care and we're not enough. Unless we can make them care they won't do anything. The people in charge of fixing things don't want to.

[@kaytlinhampton920]

Thank you for covering this; its devastating what it has done to this country and to these families. It needs more international attention to see more change.

[@asylumental]

Im a canadian who lives in british columbia where the highway of tears is, thank you for bringing exposure to this issue on a global scale. Its absolutely terrible, and sad to drive along that highway

[@asylumental]

Though I will say, the actual drive from Prince George to Prince Rupert is absolutely beautiful, and through terrace/Prince Rupert is a rainforest full of old growth, surrounded by trees towering 100-200ft above you

[@spacekid2077]

I went to a treatment centre on the trail of tears for native people and my mom was more scared about me being on highway 16 than she had been when I was in active addiction

[@spacekid2077]

One of my friends was drowned by a gang in Kamloops and police wouldn’t accept statements so they said he got drunk and fell in the river

[@nqgamer]

We have the same issue in Australia with our Indigenous folks. Massive DV issues and no one wants to talk about it.

[@CartoonHero1986]

"Canada wants to talk about this, but they also don't" is the best way I have heard this summed up in a sentence. It is one of those things here that not only would force us to acknowledge systemic failures for the Indigence Victims, but the amount of victims in general that just go overlooked by police along the Trans Canada Highway over all. Meaning going beyond just talking about the problem and one aspect of that problem requires action that will open the flood gate to address and fix all other aspects related to the problem that will come rushing out with it. Our Political Parties have also kind of made the topic of the Highway of Tears into a Campaign Issue that they always talk about how their policies will "fix it" but they all do the same thing and eventually just ignore the disproportionate number of Native peoples are still going missing well congratulating themselves for a "job done." But all they did to bring down Trans Canada Highway Casualties was making it harder to speed or drive under the influence to give the optics of a it being safer, while the murder and missing persons rates barely change unless members of the RCMP or other police forces take it upon themselves to treat those cases more seriously.

[@ilostmypickle]

Campaign Issue...yep.

[@BigRed105B]

This is an unfair depiction of a problem in Canada that is occurring around the world. As the granddaughter of an indigenous woman and the descendant of many mixed European-indigenous couples who lived in eastern Canada over the past 300 years, I am proud of my heritage and the many strong women in my family. Videos like this just perpetuate the image of indigenous Canadian women as victims, instead of acknowledging the important role they have played in the history of our country. While it’s true that a greater number of indigenous women by population are murdered and missing, this is mainly due to the poverty and remoteness of indigenous communities, resulting in increased levels of alcoholism and violence as well as the lack of educational and work opportunities. Women and girls who leave these situations often choose not to return.

[@Nyctophora]

I disagree most respectfully that raising awareness of crimes against women and girls makes them look weak and perpetuates stereotypes. A person who suffers from a crime isn't weak - they are someone who deserves justice, which these people have not had! It heartens me to know that you have a strong heritage from several places. But I always knew that we women are strong. What we are being denied is justice and what hurts my sister, hurts myself. Surely you would not deny a voice to those who have suffered injustice, their hurts ignored, their lives glossed over as if they had never mattered? No, we must, we must let these crimes be known until they can no longer be ignored.

[@Rei-xq3zm]

Pointing out these issues is not an act of disrespect on indigenous communities. There is clearly an issue and it is vital that we are aware of it and solutions can be implemented for the issues you pointed out like poverty, alcoholism, and education/work opportunities. Indigenous women are being hurt and killed and that is not indicative of weakness, it is just indicative of a need to help their communities.

[@scottrawicz7613]

I met a woman who looked familiar. She said she was Chippewa, and her biological mom was tricked into signing her for adoption. I had seen the story on Unsolved Mysteries. They were reunited. The Woman said it was a big thing to do this to prospective "American Indian" mother's up in Canada, Back in the 60s-70s. The daughter would be late 50s early 60s. I met her in the 90s

[@NotimeforThis-fd4ye]

This is scary and kind of fascinating in that I wonder how many people this really happened to

[@davidmichael9659]

“We don’t let police on our reservations” … “please help with all our murders” …. “But still no police allowed”… 😂 🤦‍♂️

[@atodaso1668]

Yes, they don't want the reserve to be investigated, and they never talk about the native gangs

[@iziahdelorme8698]

All but 8 reserves are under rcmp jurisdiction

[@sjogre7789]

Glade, you covered this. ✌🏻❤️🙏🏻

[@sega4212]

as a Canadian, these issues get swiped under the rug far too much. As bad as the country is right now, Indigenous rights aren’t spoken about enough

[@frakismaximus3052]

Ok that's just ridiculous.

[@CantHandleThisCanYa]

Are you f kidding me? There are always news stories about them whining

[@sega4212]

@ how is it ridiculous? Very curious to hear because I live in Quebec and as far as news, we see nothing about what’s going on up north. They have significantly less in their territory than what we have. Bad water, small housing, high prices, hardly any security, disease, lack of healthcare. Imo there’s nothing ridiculous about it Canada doesn’t treat them well that’s just the truth

[@CantHandleThisCanYa]

@@sega4212they aren't swept under the rug. It's blasted in our faces constantly.

[@kentario1610]

I was recently wondering if you might cover the starlight tours, I'm so glad you're covering this!

[@StreetRocketJoe]

As an American with native blood. I had no this was going on. I can’t imagine a first world country that is so openly racist towards any group. Unbelievable and inexcusable.

[@CantHandleThisCanYa]

They aren't openly racist, thanks. We're just really tired of them wanting it both ways… Either they want autonomy or they want our tax money and our police to be involved. Can't have both.

[@theScotian24]

Its tragic. Native men should start protecting their women instead of selling them off/deleting them.