A report based on the findings of engagement on expanding the Sexualized Assault Response Team (SART) to rural Yukon communities draws attention to a lack of awareness and a lack of available resources as well as a host of barriers and challenges to accessing services.
Per the “what we heard” report, most victims had little familiarity with the resources available to them and how to access these resources that support victims.
First Nations government staff and community service providers were also unfamiliar.
Fear and stigma, lack of confidentiality, ongoing impacts of colonization and historical trauma from residential schools, racial bias and discrimination—particularly in health care—and more are considered problems with accessing SART services.
The lack of availability of evidence collection kits outside of Yukon hospitals presents “a significant barrier for victims unable, or who do not wish, to travel to larger centres,” as noted in the report.
Justice Minister Tracy-Anne McPhee spoke to the report in the Yukon Legislative Assembly, and the opposition parties had a chance to respond before the report went public on April 3.
“Efforts are underway to tackle several critical issues, which include: a lack of awareness of what sexualized assault is and the services available to address it; lack of transportation for victims to access services not available in the communities; and access to training for service providers in communities,” McPhee said.
“While we are moving forward diligently, we are also mindful of the importance of getting it right. This is challenging work, but it is critical that we continue making progress and supporting those who are victims of these terrible crimes.”
The opposition parties agreed the report doesn’t really contain any new findings.
Yvonne Clarke, Yukon Party critic for the Women and Gender Equity Directorate, said the gaps in services in rural Yukon are well known.
In an April 9 email statement, Clarke said the real question is what the Yukon government is going to do about it, given that rural communities often have challenges in meeting needs.
“When there are calls for additional support from the government, they are sometimes ignored,” she said.
“We look forward to hearing how the government responds to this report, and for what action they plan to take.”
Lane Tredger of the Yukon NDP told the News by phone on April 5 that they see lots of useful information in the report but no new recommendations.
For example, they said better transportation to and from communities has shown up in the Yukon government’s plan for addressing missing and murdered Indigenous women and girls and a report commissioned by the Yukon First Nations Chamber of Commerce.
“That’s a recommendation that’s been in report after report after report, and we still haven’t seen action on it,” Tredger said.
Tredger suggested that reimbursement for costs like fuel doesn’t cut it in these cases.
“That’s just not a workable option for so many people,” they said.
“Anyone who doesn’t have access to a car, someone who might have been experiencing intimate partner violence and shares a vehicle with their partner might not have access to it, or they might just not own a car, or they might not have money for gas up front, and they can’t wait to be reimbursed later.”
Tredger wants to see a territory-wide transportation system in place. They indicated it doesn’t need to be run by the government, but it needs to cover a lot of ground.
“There’s pieces of that around the Yukon, but there’s nothing comprehensive,” they said.
When asked by Tredger in the legislature on April 8 about when the government will act on recommendations in the multiple reports, McPhee indicated that while there isn’t a bus system, there are some options for people to travel between communities.
An action plan in response to the “what we heard” report can be expected to come, McPhee said.
“Work is already underway in many areas to improve services to victims, including some alternatives to individuals who need travel to access services outside of their communities. We have done work including access to shared transportation resources, increasing the victims of crime emergency fund and supporting nongovernmental organizations to provide travel assistance to victims,” she said.
“These are very important initiatives and important initiatives that should not be criticized.”
Tredger gave an example from British Columbia in the pre-amble to their question about whether the government will work with First Nations development corporations and private businesses to come up with intra-community transportation.
McPhee said she won’t import a system from B.C. and impose it on Yukon communities.
Contact Dana Hatherly at dana.hatherly@yukon-news.com