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Questions and Answers
The Highway of Tears Governing Body was formed to provide direction and support for the implementation of only some report recommendations.
False
A shuttle bus service was implemented along Highway 16 in June 2016.
True
The B.C. government has pledged $10.2 billion for improvements along Highway 16.
False
The Highway of Tears is a 550-kilometre section of road between Prince George and Smithers.
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$75 million has been spent on highway webcams, bus shelters, and highway pull-outs.
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A documentary film titled 'Finding Dawn' highlights the reality faced by non-Indigenous women in Canada.
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The Highway of Tears refers to a 719-mile stretch in Canada.
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The disappearances and murders along the Highway of Tears date back to 1980.
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Disproportionate Indigenous women victims along the Highway of Tears are mainly due to car ownership rates in the area.
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The harsh terrain and remote areas along the Highway of Tears make it easier for violent perpetrators to conceal evidence.
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One of the recommendations from the Highway of Tears Symposium was to establish counseling and mental health groups led by non-Indigenous workers.
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Commissioner Wally Oppal endorsed the Highway of Tears Symposium Recommendation Report in 2012.
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Study Notes
The Highway of Tears is a 719-kilometre stretch of Highway 16 in British Columbia, Canada, between Prince George and Prince Rupert. This corridor has been the site of numerous disappearances and murders of Indigenous women, primarily hitchhikers, dating back to 1970.
Causes
The disproportionate number of Indigenous women victims is attributed to poverty and lack of public transportation in the area. Many disadvantaged Indigenous women have been forced to hitchhike due to low rates of car ownership and mobility. This leaves them vulnerable to violent attacks, as perpetrators feel a sense of impunity in isolated and remote areas with soft soil and carnivorous scavengers that can easily conceal evidence.
History and Recommendations
In March 2006, various Aboriginal groups held a symposium to address the issue. The symposium led to the Highway of Tears Symposium Recommendation Report, which contained 33 recommendations to improve public transit, deter hitchhiking, and prevent violence towards Indigenous women. Some of these recommendations included a shuttle bus operation along Highway 16, improved educational, health, and social services for Indigenous people, and the establishment of counseling and mental health groups organized by Indigenous workers.
In 2012, B.C. Inquiry Commissioner Wally Oppal endorsed the Highway of Tears Symposium Recommendation Report in his Missing Women Commission of Inquiry recommendations. He demanded urgent transportation improvement along Highway 16 and suggested implementing a shuttle bus service to deter young women from hitchhiking.
In June 2016, a bus service was announced along Highway 16, which was jointly funded by the federal government and the British Columbia government. In June 2017, a subsidized transit service began operations on alternating days along a 400-kilometre section between Prince George and Smithers.
Media and Awareness
There are various media and awareness campaigns to address the issue. For example, a podcast episode of Crime Junkie and a documentary film titled "Finding Dawn" highlight the reality faced by Indigenous women in Canada.
Current Efforts
The Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure has pledged $10.2 million through 2024/25 in provincial and federal funding for improvements along Highway 16. In addition, $1.5 million has been spent on highway webcams, bus shelters, and highway pull-outs so buses can stop on the side of the road. The B.C. government also plans to spend an additional $75 million to expand cell coverage to at least another 550 kilometres.
The Highway of Tears Governing Body was formed to provide direction and support for the implementation of all report recommendations, including the installation of billboards to honour the missing and murdered Indigenous women and girls.
Although progress has been made, there is still a long way to go in addressing the systemic and societal discrimination that contributes to the disproportionately high rate of violence towards Indigenous women along the Highway of Tears.
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Description
Learn about the history, causes, recommendations, media awareness, and current efforts to address the disappearances and murders of Indigenous women along the Highway of Tears in British Columbia, Canada.
