Indigenous women more likely to face violence in their lifetime
Indigenous people are overrepresented as victims of violence in Canada, and Indigenous women in particular experience disproportionately high rates of violence. Violent victimization against Indigenous people is rooted in the history of colonization that impacted and continues to impact Indigenous families and communities and Canadian society.
Overall, more than 6 in 10 Indigenous women (63%) experienced either physical or sexual assault in their lifetime (since age 15). More precisely, almost two-thirds of First Nations (64%) and Métis (65%) women experienced violent victimization in their lifetime, while the proportion among Inuit women (45%) was the same as the proportion among non-Indigenous women (45%).
Results from the 2018 Survey of Safety in Public and Private Spaces (SSPPS) and the 2019 General Social Survey (GSS) on Canadians' Safety (Victimization) are being released today in the Juristat article "Violent victimization and perceptions of safety: Experiences of First Nations, Métis and Inuit women in Canada." This article focuses on Indigenous women's experiences of self-reported violent victimization and examines the types of violence experienced, perceptions of neighbourhood disorder and safety, and confidence and trust in the police and the justice system. In addition, homicide data highlight the prevalence and characteristics of homicide of Indigenous women in Canada. A second report using the same data sources, entitled "Women's experiences of victimization in Canada's remote communities," explores similar experiences and perceptions among women in remote areas.
Contact information
For more information, or to enquire about the concepts, methods or data quality of this release, contact us (toll-free 1-800-263-1136; 514-283-8300; infostats@statcan.gc.ca) or Media Relations (statcan.mediahotline-ligneinfomedias.statcan@statcan.gc.ca).