November 12, 2025
Almost 20 years have passed since the 2006 Highway of Tears Symposium called attention to the urgent need to protect Indigenous women, girls, and 2SLGBTQQIA+ people from violence in northern B.C. The resulting report outlined 33 recommendations to guide action in areas like victim support, emergency response, and community development.
CSFS’ Calls for Justice team has been working with the Northern Feminist Institute of Research and Evaluation (Northern FIRE) at the University of Northern British Columbia (UNBC) since 2023 to revisit those recommendations to understand what progress has been made, what is being done in individual communities, and what still needs to change.
The team is gathering stories, experiences, and insights directly from community members through a series of focus groups held across the region. These conversations go beyond statistics and reports; they reflect lived realities and local knowledge that are essential to driving meaningful change.
CSFS Justice Policy Advocate Emily MacLise shares that the response so far has been overwhelmingly positive. “Many participants have been personally impacted by the Highway of Tears or MMIWG2S+,” she says. “They’ve told us they appreciate having a safe space to share, connect, and feel heard.”
Each session begins with a welcome and opening prayer from a local Elder, followed by discussions on the 33 recommendations. What has changed in their communities since 2006 and what still needs to be done? Cultural and emotional supports are available for participants throughout.
Many participants have joined through word of mouth, so sharing event details with friends, family, and networks can make a big difference. Event pages for each focus group are available on Facebook — feel free to share them!
The findings from the focus groups will be shared at the 20th Anniversary Commemoration of the Highway of Tears Symposium in April 2026 and published in a final report.
“Our hope is that this work will lead to real action,” says Emily. “Action that stops the violence and addresses the systems that have failed Indigenous women, girls, and 2SLGBTQQIA+ people for far too long.”
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Last modified: Wednesday 03-Apr-24 12:36:29 PDT
CSFS gratefully acknowledges Noeleen McQuary, the artisan who created the traditional Carrier baskets used in the CSFS branding on this webpage, and in other print and online media.
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