Five-year-old Scarlett Marshall holds a sign to honour missing and murdered Indigenous women and girls in Canada, while her grandparents, Ida Johnson-Denny and Jeffrey Denny, look on, in November 2024. Photo by Ardelle Reynolds /Cape Breton PostArticle contentFamilies of missing and murdered Indigenous people in Nova Scotia are getting a hand up when they need it most.THIS CONTENT IS RESERVED FOR SUBSCRIBERS ONLY.Subscribe now to access this story and more:Unlimited access to the website and appExclusive access to premium content, newsletters and podcastsFull access to the e-Edition app, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment onEnjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalistsSupport local journalists and the next generation of journalistsSUBSCRIBE TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES.Subscribe or sign in to your account to continue your reading experience.Unlimited access to the website and appExclusive access to premium content, newsletters and podcastsFull access to the e-Edition app, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment onEnjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalistsSupport local journalists and the next generation of journalistsRegister to unlock more articles.Create an account or sign in to continue your reading experience.Access additional stories every monthShare your thoughts and join the conversation in our commenting communityGet email updates from your favourite authorsSign In or Create an AccountorArticle contentA renewed federal-provincial agreement will provide increased funding for Nova Scotia’s family information liaison unit, a program co-ordinated through provincial victim services. Article contentArticle contentA portion of funding also goes to the Nova Scotia Native Women’s Association for its work on community outreach and prevention.Article contentArticle contentThe agreement was announced Wednesday by Jaime Battiste, MP for Cape Breton-Canso-Antigonish, on behalf of federal Justice Minister Sean Fraser, at the Native Women’s Association in Millbrook.Article contentThe new five-year agreement provides a total funding amount of almost $2.2 million, an increase of almost $800,000 from the previous five-year pact. The funding is provided by Justice Canada through the Federal Victims Strategy’s victims fund.Article content“Families of missing and murdered Indigenous people have experienced unimaginable pain,” Battiste said. Article content“They deserve more than words. They deserve real support. This investment in Nova Scotia’s Family Information Liaison Unit will help families get the help they need to find answers, honour their loved ones, and begin to heal. It also responds to recommendations from the national inquiry, like better co-ordination, cultural support, and services that put families first.”Article contentArticle contentThe liaison unit, with its additional funding, will add a full-time case co-ordinator with victim services and a full-time community outreach position at the native women’s association.Article content“Through Nova Scotia’s Victim Services, we strive to provide supports that are culturally responsive and easy to navigate so that people can access justice and move toward healing,” Nova Scotia Justice Minister Becky Druhan said in a release.Article content“The family information liaison unit is an important resource for Indigenous families, and I’m so pleased to see it continue and expand.”Article contentThe liaison unit provides specialized support services to families of missing and murdered Indigenous people in a family-centred, culturally grounded and trauma-informed manner.Article content Jaime Battiste, the Liberal MP for Cape Breton-Canso-Antigonish. Photo by Cape Breton Post fileArticle contentIt helps gather information from government sources about the family’s loved one, including assistance in addressing unanswered questions.
Additional funding will help families of missing, murdered Indigenous people in Nova Scotia
