May 5, 2025
Manitoba Government Announces Support for MMIWG2S+ Families on Red Dress Day
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One year following the announcement of a transformative resource for families and survivors of MMIWG2S+, the Manitoba government has partnered with five Manitoba organizations to provide low-barrier, direct support to MMIWG2S+ families through revenue generated from Manitoba’s MMIWG2S+ Healing and Empowerment Endowment Fund, Families Minister Nahanni Fontaine, minister responsible for women and gender equity, announced today.
“Red Dress Day honours the memory of missing and murdered Indigenous women, girls, two-spirit and gender-diverse relatives while bringing awareness to this national crisis,” said Fontaine. “Our government understands the need for tangible, meaningful supports directly for MMIWG2S+ families and the best way to make these funds as accessible as possible is to work directly with partners who already have widespread reach and deep community connections across Manitoba.”
In May 2024, the Manitoba government announced an initial investment of $15 million to establish the MMIWG2S+ Healing and Empowerment Endowment Fund. Managed by The Winnipeg Foundation, revenue generated by the fund ensures MMIWG2S+ families and supporting organizations can access vital resources to support healing and empowerment, noted the minister.
More than $350,000 generated over the last year is now being provided to five organizations representing distinct First Nations, Métis, Inuit and urban Indigenous populations across Manitoba who will provide direct support to MMIWG2S+ families: Manitoba Keewatinowi Okimakanak (MKO), Southern Chiefs’ Organization (SCO), Giganawenimaanaanig (GGW), Infinity Women’s Secretariat (IWS), and Tunngasugit.
Immediate family members with an established connection to an MMIWG2S+ loved one may be able to access low-barrier funding through the above-noted organizations to help cover costs to search for loved ones, attend court proceedings and pursue meaningful healing opportunities through counselling or ceremony or other eligible supports.
The MMIWG2S+ Healing and Empowerment Endowment Fund was the first foundational initiative of Mino’Ayaawag Ikwewag: All Women Doing Well, Manitoba’s provincial strategy to support the safety, protection and empowerment of Indigenous women, girls, two-spirit and gender-diverse relatives.
This investment aligns with the Calls for Justice in the final report of the National Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls including the call to provide continual and accessible healing programs and support for the children of MMIWG2S+ people and their families.
To learn more about the MMIWG2S+ Healing and Empowerment Endowment Fund or to make a donation, visit https://mycharitytools.com/gift/wpgfdn/donate?fund=5920.
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