B.C. Increases Funding to Address Violence Against Indigenous Women, Girls, and 2SLGBTQQIA+ People

The B.C. government has announced new funding to expand its efforts to end violence against Indigenous women, girls, and 2SLGBTQQIA+ people. The Path Forward Community Fund, which has already invested nearly $21 million since its launch in 2022, will receive an additional $5 million this year, helping Indigenous communities create their own solutions to gender-based violence. Managed by the B.C. Association of Aboriginal Friendship Centres, the fund supports 86 community projects, including workshops on anti-violence and events that focus on issues affecting Métis and 2SLGBTQQIA+ communities. This funding is part of a broader initiative to address systemic racism and violence as outlined in B.C.’s Gender-Based Violence Action Plan. It also complements the work done under the National Action Plan to End Gender-Based Violence and responds to the final report of the National Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls. The provincial government remains committed to ensuring the safety of Indigenous women, girls, and 2SLGBTQQIA+ people.