The Reality of Human Trafficking Among Indigenous Women by Wah Sha De

The Reality of Human Trafficking Among Indigenous Women

By Wah Sha De | For Ms. Walling's Blog Spot | Posted on January 17th, 2020

Image Posted by Maria Charitou, 2011

The rise of human trafficking on Indigenous women has struck up as a huge issue in Canada. Due to the prolonged endurance against racial violence, many Indigenous women have built up traits of vulnerability which results in oppression against them. Unfortunately, Canada has not properly taken this situation into account. From the lack of awareness and insight on this vice, it has caused more young Indigenous women to go missing and murdered and even, exposed to human trafficking. As such, it’s becoming a more prevalent public issue that’s being largely ignored in Canada.

From this insight, what are the prominent factors that affect more Indigenous women in Canada to intervene with human trafficking? The prime root causes of these issues are linked to intergenerational trauma and lived experiences that one has encountered. These factors have led the Indigenous community to take action for themselves and create plans that tackle human trafficking, which often times, is the product of Missing and Murdered Indigenous woman. Although there is a spectrum of awareness among the communities, the Government of Canada should provide better services that would curb this vice. 

“There are those who prefer to pretend it isn’t an issue here, but many women and girls in Canada are vulnerable.” 

- Shae Invidiatra, Free Them 

A former victim of human trafficking gives an insight into the reality of human trafficking in Canada and how it has negatively impacted her life. She was adopted in Thunder Bay, Ontario, by a non-Indigenous family during the Sixties Scoops reported by CBC. At the age of eight, she was sexually abused by a family friend. Three years prior to that horrific event, she was given in to the Children’s Aid Society and put into a group home. 

From there, she was introduced to the sex trade by one of the girls in her group home. As she recalled her first time in the customers’ crib, she quoted “The more you laughed, the more $100 bills were left under the Kleenex box.” Henceforth, a woman who ran a brothel enrolled her. At the age of 12, she was manipulated and held in control, and her boss often emphasized her insecurities. She went through many difficult obstacles during her youth, such as being held captive for 43 hours in which she was being raped and beaten. 

Unfortunately, this type of story is not new. There are many more victims who are facing this issue in Canada. Thus, countless incidents of human trafficking among Indigenous women have been reported. According to Statistics Canada, human trafficking cases tend to result in pending decisions on the appeal. Due to this regulation, there is a small number of supports. 

Therefore, imagine being taken away from your innocence. Not only does this affect a person, but their families and communities as well. Victims of human trafficking usually develop a negative outlook on life and a constant fear of reprisals from their former traffickers. Although this is a heavy topic to discuss in public, many victims have spoken on their experiences to bring awareness to other young individuals, especially Indigenous women, as they are treated with the worst violence. 

With this input, how can our generation spread further awareness to curb this vice? Well, there is a report, more specifically, the “Final Report” by the National Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls which covers the calls to action on sex trafficking and informs the public about the sexual exploitation among Indigenous women. Furthermore, there should be a movement to help decrease the risk of Indigenous women becoming potential victims of human trafficking. If we can address this issue across the nation, we can share this information with others around us and work in a safer environment and prevent others from this vice.

Works Cited

“Indigenous Women and Girls at Great Risk of Human Trafficking, Survivor Says.” Global Citizen, www.globalcitizen.org/en/content/indigenous-human-trafficking-canada/. 

“Human Trafficking Is Happening in the GTA-and It Has to Stop.” Locallove, 30 July 2019, locallove.ca/issues/human-trafficking-is-happening-in-the-gta-and-it-has-to-stop/#.XiEU2C0ZOgQ.

Images/iStockpho, Kamionsky/Getty. “Daphne Bramham: Human Trafficking Is Pervasive and Largely Ignored in Canada.” Vancouver Sun, 12 June 2019, vancouversun.com/opinion/columnists/daphne-bramham-human-trafficking-is-pervasive-and-largely-ignored-in-canada.  

Z, Lara. “Final Report.” MMIWG, 29 May 2019, www.mmiwg-ffada.ca/final-report/.