Indigenous women
make up two per cent of
Canada’s population, but

one in four

murder victims




‘It could
have
been me’


Thirteen remarkable
women share their
own stories

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An accountant, a chief, a nurse, a student, a counsellor—each of them came close to being on Canada's list of missing and murdered Indigenous women. Thirteen remarkable women tell their extraordinary stories of terrible violence and formidable resilience—stories that, as one survivor hopes, will serve as 'a pay-it-forward of women sharing their pain and triumph.’ By Nancy Macdonald
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Warning: This page contains information about sexual assault and/or violence


Paula

‘Am I not valuable enough a human being that you can't even help me when I'm getting raped?’

Paula Potter, 49
Counsellor and elder

HER STORY

Nahanni

‘Many of us have been abused, as were our mothers and grandmothers. It has become normalized.’

Nahanni Fontaine
Special adviser
government of Manitoba

HER STORY

‘I bought the house where I was abused. I ripped it apart and made it mine. It’s beautiful now.’

Gail K. Gus, 51
Crisis care and wellness coordinator

HER STORY


Sadie

‘I’m telling my story because I can. So many Indigenous women were not able to get away.’

Sadie-Phoenix Lavoie, 21
Student

HER STORY

‘The men have their own laws. And the women are too afraid to speak.’

Anonymous, mid-30s
Nurse

HER STORY


Ashley

‘I'm hoping my story might encourage another woman to tell hers: a pay-it-forward of women sharing their pain—and triumph.’

Ashley Richard, 24
Student

HER STORY

Lisa

‘I remember the sudden heat when he’d punch me. But what I remember most is how alone I felt.’

Lisa Muswagon, 34
Accountant and owner,
Native Model Studio

HER STORY

‘I found the courage to tell my mom. She just cried—she hadn’t been able to protect me.’

Shae Doiron, 31
Contractor

HER STORY


Lani

‘People always say: “Your story is so tragic.” It’s not. It’s triumphant.’

Lani Elliott, 45
Administrator and former RCMP special constable

HER STORY

KIM

‘There is so much stigma attached to rape, to sexual abuse. This needs to be addressed publicly.’

Kim Jonathan, 41
Interim chief, Federation
of Saskatchewan Indian Nations

HER STORY

Mona

‘Aboriginal women are disposable. My sister was dropped off outside Calgary and froze to death.’

Mona Woodward, 52
Support worker,
community leader, activist

HER STORY

‘I am speaking out to honour my eldest child, who I lost to suicide. All she had ever known was violence.’

Anonymous, mid-30s
Administrative assistant

HER STORY


Winona

‘My friends take their siblings for granted. I never did. Growing up without family can break you.’

Winona Williams, 30
Student and
daughter of Mona Woodward

HER STORY



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Reporter: Nancy Macdonald Editor: Dianna Symonds Photo editor: Liz Sullivan Art director: Stephen Gregory 
Digital production editor: Amanda Shendruk 
 Video producers: Jimmy Jeong, Tiffany Brown Olsen and Liz Sullivan Photographers: Jimmy Jeong, Nancy Macdonald, Derek Mortensen, Sergi Sanchez and John Woods Videographers: Jimmy Jeong, Tiffany Brown Olsen, Sergi Sanchez and John Woods Video editors: Tiffany Brown Olsen and Michelle Turingan Created in association with Project 97