Vancouver, BC - February 13, 2019- The Coalition on Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women

and Girls in BC stands with Secwepemc women, led by Jody Leon, Ida Manuel and other

Secwepemc women seeking justice for horrific and deadly violence against women that has

occurred in Secwepemc territories and across BC, and that has recently been raised in the trial

of Curtis Sagmoen including direct protection of these women from retaliation or harm for their

voices of advocacy.

All violence against women and girls is wrong and justice must be found for these women, their

loved ones, and communities especially given the recommendations of such in the National

Inquiry recommendations.

All women and girls must be able to live free from violence and the threat of violence. The

colonial justice system has never fully served the needs of Indigenous peoples and women who

have faced violence. Far too often justice is never found for women, girls, LGBTQ2S people,

Indigenous people, or for those at the intersections of these identities. Women and loved ones

seeking justice must be supported and be safe to advocate for and find justice.

The government must take tangible steps now to deal with the underlying causes of violence

against all women and girls, because despite lofty promises, nothing seems to have changed on

the ground.

Provincial courts have recently heard the case of Sagmoen, who has been accused of

threatening and assaulting women in sex work in four separate incidents. Sagmoen was on trial

in Port Coquitlam the week of February 4, in Vernon February 11, and again in September for

various charges. RCMP also discovered the remains of 18-year-old Traci Genereaux on the

Sagmoen family farm, but no charges have been laid and Sagmoen has not been named a

suspect.

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For comment please call: Kukpi7 Judy Wilson, Union of BC Indian Chiefs, 250-320-7738

Statement supported by:

Atira Women's Resource Society

Aboriginal Front Door Society

Aboriginal Women's Action Network

Battered Women's Support Services

BC Assembly of First Nations

BC Government Employees Union

BC Native Women's Association

Butterflies in Spirit

Carrier Sekani Family Services

Downtown Eastside Women's Centre

First United

Lorelei Williams, Family Member & Activist

Neskonlith Indian Band

Provincial Council of Women of BC

Salima Samnani, Lawyer

Union of BC Indian Chiefs

Vancouver Aboriginal Community Policing Centre Society

Vancouver Council of Women

West Coast LEAF

UWU/MoveUP