Where's the Justice?

One of the Canadian Federatio of Students National Aboriginal Caucus' long-standing campaigns is the ‘Where’s the Justice?’ campaign. The campaign addresses the federal government’s reluctance to implement the recommendations of the Royal Commission on Aboriginal peoples completed in 1999. The campaign aims to raise awareness of the roots of violence, poverty, and discrimination faced by Aboriginal people, and encourage Aboriginal students to get involved in their local students’ union and the Federation.

Stolen Sisters

"There is one fundamental fact: her murder was a racist and sexist act. Helen Betty Osborne would be alive today had she not been an Aboriginal woman.”
- Report of the Aboriginal Justice Inquiry of Manitoba

According to Canadian government statistics, young Indigenous women are five times more likely than other women of the same age to die as the result of violence. The Caucus has been active on a campaign called “Stolen Sisters” to fight violence and discrimination against Aboriginal women in Canada and to shed light on the numerous cases of violence against Aboriginal women that have gone unnoticed by governments.

The Caucus is working to push the federal government to work with Indigenous peoples’ organisations and policy to implement plans of action to ensure effective action is taken to stop violence against Indigenous women. Postcards to the Prime Minister, urging him to take action, can be requested from the Caucus for circulation on campus and in the communities, or by downloading and printing the link below.

Download the Stolen Sisters campaign postcard

Visit Amnesty International’s Stolen Sisters Campaign website

The Canadian Federation of Students developed the “No Means No” campaign more than ten years ago to raise awareness and to reduce the occurrence of sexual assault, acquaintance rape, and dating violence. The “No Means No” campaign consists of various materials, including research on the incidences of sexual violence in Canada, buttons, stickers, posters, and postcards.

The campaign continues to be widely popular on campuses and in the greater community where thousands of materials are ordered every year and circulated across Canada. In addition, the Federation has also given permission to filmmakers to use campaign materials in their works.

No Means No has succeeded in changing the culture surrounding acquaintance rape and dating violence in Canada. It was not so long ago that the campaign launch was met by a counter-protest with men on university and college campuses carrying placards with slogans like ‘No means Yes’.

Today, thanks in large part to public education provided through the No Means No campaign, people have a greater understanding of their rights and responsibilities in sexual relationships. However, date rape and dating violence continues to occur on campuses and in our communities requiring the Federation to continue promoting this campaign.