The B.C. government is announcing new funding and a pilot project aimed at addressing violence against Indigenous women, girls and Two-Spirit+ people across the province.
More than $3 million will be invested through the Canada–B.C. agreement on gender-based violence, including support for Indigenous-led programs and safety initiatives.
Provincial officials say the funding includes more than $1 million for the Path Forward Community Fund and $600,000 to develop a Missing Indigenous Person Notification pilot project.
The notification system is intended to help improve response times when Indigenous people go missing. According to the province, it will be developed in partnership with participating First Nations, with input from community members, Elders and knowledge keepers.
Public Safety Minister Nina Krieger says working directly with Indigenous communities is key to improving safety outcomes.
“It’s crucial that we work alongside Indigenous communities in B.C. to address violence and make communities safer,” she said in a statement.
The funding builds on existing work through the Path Forward Community Fund, which has invested more than $22 million since 2022 into Indigenous-led safety and healing programs across the province.
More than 100 projects have been supported so far, including community safety teams, outreach programming and services focused on people experiencing gender-based violence.
Officials say discussions are ongoing to determine which Nations will take part in the notification pilot, and additional details are expected as the program develops.
The funding announcement coincides with the release of the province’s 2026 Path Forward Impact Report, which tracks progress on addressing systemic causes of violence against Indigenous women and girls.
The report marks seven years since the release of the National Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls, and outlines ongoing commitments tied to calls for justice.
Provincial leaders say more work remains, but emphasize continued investment in Indigenous-led solutions as key to improving safety and support systems across BC.