Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls Health and Cultural Support Program
Access to cultural and emotional support services and mental health counselling for Survivors, their family members, and Indigenous People affected by the issue of Missing and Murdered Indigenous women, girls and 2SLGBTQI+ people.
Content Warning!
This webpage deals with topics which may negatively impact the reader due to its subject matter. If you are a Survivor, a family member, or Indigenous person impacted by the issue of Missing and Murdered Indigenous women, girls and 2SLGBTQI+ people, trauma-informed supports are available to you.
For immediate emotional assistance, call the Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls Crisis Line toll-free at 1-844-413-6649.
Family members seeking information about their missing or murdered loved one can access Family Information Liaison Units.
On this page
About the program
The Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls Health and Cultural Support Program was implemented in 2018, partly in response to the Interim Report of the National Inquiry on Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls. It funds access to community-based, trauma-informed cultural and emotional support services and mental health counselling.
Who is eligible
Trauma-informed cultural and emotional support services are available for Survivors, their family members, and Indigenous People impacted by the issue of Missing and Murdered Indigenous women, girls and 2SLGBTQI+ people, regardless of Indigenous status or place of residence within Canada.
Family members include:
- a parent or guardian
- a spouse or partner
- anyone who was raised by, lived with, or experienced a relation to someone who has been Missing or Murdered
If you are not eligible for this program, you may be eligible for other support service programs under the Trauma-Informed Health and Cultural Support Program.
Services available
Cultural supports
Elders, Knowledge Holders and Traditional Healers provide cultural supports through local Indigenous organizations to assist clients on their healing journeys. Specific services are determined by the needs of the clients, and may include:
- dialogue
- ceremonies
- prayer
- Elder services
- Traditional Healing
Emotional support
Community-based emotional support workers hired by Indigenous organizations provide trauma-informed, culturally-grounded support to people impacted by the issue of Missing and Murdered Indigenous women, girls and 2SLGBTQI+ people. They offer emotional support and comfort by listening, talking, and providing referrals to additional services.
Mental health counselling
Mental health counsellors are psychologists and social workers, who are in good standing with their provincial and territorial regulatory body, and registered with Indigenous Services Canada.
A counsellor can work with individuals or families and will listen, talk, and assist individuals to find ways of navigating trauma and healing journeys as determined by the client.
Eligibility for mental health counselling in British Columbia may be different from the rest of Canada. For any questions about eligibility in that province, please contact the First Nations Health Authority's First Nations Health Benefits and Services.
For service providers: Forms related to mental health counselling are available on the Indigenous Services Canada Forms webpage.
Transportation
Wherever possible, assistance with transportation is offered when professional mental health counselling and cultural supports services are not locally available. Assistance with transportation to see Elders and Traditional Healers away from home is also available.
Accessing services
Please contact the Indigenous Services Canada regional office in your province or territory to access services through the Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls Health and Cultural Support Program.
If you are in British Columbia, contact the First Nations Health Authority.
Other support service programs
Other trauma-informed health support services are available. You may be eligible for support services under the following programs:
- Indian Residential Schools Resolution Health Support Program
- Federal Indian Day Schools Health and Cultural Support Program
- Expanded Trauma-Informed Health and Cultural Support Program
- First Nations Child and Family Services, and Jordan's Principle Settlement Trauma-Informed Health and Cultural Support Services
- Federal Indian Hospitals (Hardy) Settlement Support Services