Saskatchewan RCMP hope the Missing and Murdered Aboriginal Women report released last week will bring awareness, hope and intervention. 

RCMP "F" Division Assistant Commissioner, Brenda Butterworth- Carr, Saskatchewan Association of Chiefs of Police (SACP) Troy Hagen and RCMP Superintendent, Tyler Bates addressed the media today providing the 'Saskatchewan specific' perspective on the issue of missing and murdered Aboriginal women. 

According to the report, there are 1,181 missing and murdered Aboriginal females in Canada. The data was compiled with the assistance of Statistics Canada and policing agencies across Canada. 

"We need to continue to focus our attention is on prevention initiatives. Together we must continue to certainly raise awareness and collaborate. We need to deal with the types of causes of behaviors that have been identified," said Butterworth-Carr. 

According to the RCMP report, the total number shows that Aboriginal women are over-represented compared to non-Aboriginal women in Canada. 

"There are certain factors that will make an individual more susceptible to violent victimization," according to the report. Such factors are employment status, use of intoxicants and involvement in the sex trade. This demonstrated the need not only for police services but other options such as social services, health and education.

Hagen of SACP says the police services are involved in community events such as marches to bring awareness to the issue. 

"A number of risk factors obviously associated to Aboriginal women are proportionately identified in the report. It's the SACP's desire to work with government agencies and stakeholders to do what we can to work proactively and supportive," said Hagen. 

One of the stakeholders who were present was Erica Beaudin, representing Federation of Saskatchewan Nation (FSIN) Women's commission, a provincial partnership committee member. 

"The report had lower numbers than what we had anticipated; we anticipated there would be higher numbers when you put together the missing and the murdered," said Beaudin. "I am hopeful the government will look at this report and consider it a valid piece of research and that there will be results coming from that report that will translate into funding dollars for...community resources."

In the report, it concludes the RCMP will be responding differently, focusing on prevention efforts, strengthening the data, and standardizing policies and procedures.

"The biggest issue is to show what we aren't doing, what the government is not doing and that is funding us properly," said Beaudin.

Beaudin said there is a need for Indigenous communities and Indigenous organizations especially in the cities to be recognized from the government for resources to help solve the issues such as missing and murdered Indigenous women.