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More cases of missing and murdered aboriginal women

Oct 6, 2010 | 7:25 AM

PA Now Staff

Candlelight vigils for missing and murdered aboriginal women around the country shed some light on disturbing numbers in Saskatchewan.

A report from the Native Woman's Association of Canada (NWAC) shows Saskatchewan has more then it's share of cases.

Out of 13 provinces and territories Saskatchewan is home to 10 percent of all missing and murdered aboriginal women.

The report shows aboriginal women who were mothers, in their 20's or those living in urban centres were among the highest categories in murder and missing persons cases.

Those numbers in Saskatchewan are all higher than the national average.

The NWAC study also shows murdered aboriginal women and girls were more likely to be killed by strangers.

Connie Farber is the director of Prince Albert's Indian Metis Friendship Centre said she thinks the statistics were disheartening.

“I thought it would be higher numbers of women that live on the streets and I thought it would be more indicative to what we actually see here. I guess the reality is that it affects people that we didn't assume it affected,” she said.

While over 75 percent of murder cases of Aboriginal women in Saskatchewan have resulted in charges, still 22 per cent remain unsolved.

“I guess the epidemic is very worrisome, in that Prince Albert probably has a higher incident as well because we have some of the penal institutes here and you know with that come a whole different bunch of problems,” said Farber

Farber believes community awareness is key to bringing down some of those numbers.

sfroese@rawlco.com