The federal pathway
Support line
This website deals with topics which may negatively impact the reader due to its subject matter. If you are affected by the issue of missing and murdered Indigenous women, girls and 2SLGBTQI+ people and need immediate emotional assistance, call 1-844-413-6649. You can also access long-term health support services such as mental health counselling, community-based emotional support and cultural services and some travel costs to see Elders and traditional healers. Family members seeking information about their missing or murdered loved one can access Family Information Liaison Units.
In response to the national inquiry, the Government of Canada has come together to create a plan for departments to support systemic change to address the crisis of missing and murdered Indigenous women, girls (MMIWG) and Two Spirit, lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, and intersex (2SLGBTQI+) people.
On this page
About the federal pathway
On June 3, 2021, the Government of Canada launched the Federal Pathway to Address Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women, Girls and 2SLGBTQQIA+ People. It is a key component of a much broader effort to end the national crisis of missing and murdered Indigenous women, girls and 2SLGBTQI+ people, so that they are safe and free from violence, no matter where they live, work or travel.
The federal pathway is part of the larger national action plan, 2021 Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women, Girls, and 2SLGBTQQIA+ People National Action Plan: Ending Violence Against Indigenous Women, Girls, and 2SLGBTQQIA+ People. The national action plan, centered around the National Family and Survivors Circle Inc., was co-developed by:
- representatives of First Nations, Inuit, Métis and Indigenous grass roots organizations
- Indigenous, provincial and territorial governments
- Indigenous urban and 2SLGBTQI+ leaders
Like the national action plan, the federal pathway will evolve to remain effective in ending the national crisis of missing and murdered Indigenous women, girls and 2SLGBTQI+ people.
To learn more, consult:
Progress we've made
5 years of action
2025
- RCMP released guides for families of missing persons and homicide victims
- Indigenous Justice Strategy released.
2024
Manitoba Red Dress Alert pilot project received funding.
2022
Over $120 million invested through the Pathways to Safe Indigenous Communities Initiative
2021
Federal Pathway launched, supported by over $2.2 billion in federal funding to support a suite of initiatives, including those in the MMIWG Horizontal Initiative.
The Government of Canada tracks progress we've made implementing the federal pathway. This ensures accountability so that concrete differences in the lives of Indigenous women, girls and 2SLGBTQI+ people can be made.
Consult the Calls for Justice reporting tool to learn more about the progress of the federal pathway.
Federal Pathway Annual Progress Report
June 3, 2026 marks the 5th anniversary of the launch of the federal pathway.
To read the progress reports, consult:
National Indigenous-Federal-Provincial-Territorial meetings on Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women, Girls and 2SLGBTQI+ People
On January 10, 2023, the Government of Canada held the first national roundtable on missing and murdered Indigenous women, girls, and 2SLGBTQI+ people. Over 250 people participated in the roundtable, including:
- Indigenous partners, organizations and leaders
- families and survivors and Indigenous women, girls, 2SLGBTQI+ people
- representatives from federal, provincial and territorial governments
Since then, annual Indigenous-Federal-Provincial and Territorial meetings on Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women, Girls and 2SLGBTQI+ People have been held in Ottawa and online. The fourth annual Indigenous-Federal-Provincial-Territorial meeting was held in February 2026, and meeting presentations and plenary discussions focused on strategies to combat human trafficking, Manitoba's development of a Red Dress Alert pilot, and the safety implications of major projects.
This initiative is supported by investments from Budget 2023, which proposed $2.5 million over 5 years, starting in 2023-24, to establish a standing roundtable with all levels of government on missing and murdered Indigenous women, girls and 2SLGBTQI+ people.