May 1, 2025
Manitoba Government Taking Action to Make Indigenous Women Safer in Winnipeg
The Manitoba government is enhancing safety and support for Indigenous women in Winnipeg by providing more than $350,000 through the Mino’Ayaawag Ikwewag Strategy to the Downtown Community Safety Partnership (DCSP) to establish a new Indigenous Women’s Support Team, Families Minister Nahanni Fontaine, minister responsible for women and gender equity, announced today.
“This investment is part of our government’s commitment to the empowerment and protection of Indigenous women, girls, two-spirit and gender-diverse relatives, communities who already face disproportionate rates of violence,” said Fontaine. “The new Indigenous Women’s Support Team will ensure the people who need them most can access culturally safe and appropriate supports.”
The new Indigenous Women’s Support Team increases the presence of the DCSP in downtown Winnipeg to provide culturally safe supports and services for Indigenous women, noted the minister, adding this will increase response times and connections to resources for people in need and provide another layer of safety for community members in downtown Winnipeg.
The DCSP is a non-profit organization that provides 24-7 assistance to vulnerable and at-risk individuals, as well as prevention and outreach focused on long-term solutions. A visible presence in downtown Winnipeg, the DCSP enhances the safety, health and well-being for everyone who works, resides or visits in the community, noted the minister.
“The creation of this Indigenous Women’s Support Team was in direct response to community calls for a specialized approach to protecting vulnerable women in downtown Winnipeg,” said Greg Burnett, executive director, DCSP. “This unit will be staffed by Indigenous women who will make sure their response meets the unique needs of the people they serve, keeping everyone safe.”
To learn more about the Mino’Ayaawag Ikwewag: All Women Doing Well Provincial Strategy, visit www.gov.mb.ca/wage/minoayaawag-ikwewag.html.
This investment also supports The Safer Neighbourhoods, Safer Downtowns Public Safety Strategy and can be viewed at: https://gov.mb.ca/justice/pubs/publicsafety_strategy.pdf.
The DCSP is a partnership between the Manitoba government, the City of Winnipeg, the Downtown Winnipeg BIZ, the Winnipeg Fire Paramedic Service, the Winnipeg Police Service and True North Sports + Entertainment. To learn more, visit https://www.dcsp.ca/.
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