Projects

Calls for Justice

The Carrier Sekani Family Services Calls for Justice program encompasses and oversees the Highway of Tears Initiative, which addresses historical and systemic issues that have contributed to women and girls going missing and being murdered along the Highway 16 corridor.

The Calls for Justice program advocates for the safety of Indigenous women in alignment with the 33 Recommendations from the 2006 Highway of Tears Symposium and the 231 Calls for Justice from the National Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls (MMIWG).

The program has worked alongside the Highway of Tears Governing Body, which represents families and loved ones of those who have been lost along the Highway of Tears. We also provide violence prevention and awareness education for individuals, communities, and service providers situated along the Highway of Tears corridor.

View the 231 Calls for Justice here.

CSFS & Northern FIRE Research Projects

In collaboration with the Northern Feminist Institute for Research and Evaluation (Northern FIRE) at the University of Northern British Columbia (UNBC), Carrier Sekani Family Services has been conducting research evaluating best practices for reducing violence toward Indigenous women, girls, and 2SLGBTQQIA+ people along the Highway of Tears.

In 2023, our team conducted a series of focus groups in communities along the Highway to evaluate what was being done to reduce violence against Indigenous women, girls, and 2SLGBTQQIA+ people in northern British Columbia. In February 2025, CSFS and Northern FIRE released a report called “When is the Solution Going to Start Happening?” summarizing the findings from the project. The final report can be viewed here: UNBC Message from Mary and Julie- January 19 2024.pdf.

In Fall 2025, our team conducted another series of research focus groups in communities across northern BC and online via Zoom in preparation for the 20th Anniversary Commemoration of the Highway of Tears Symposium in April 2026. The purpose of the focus groups was to assess the 33 Recommendations from the 2006 Highway of Tears Symposium Report. We sought to find out what has been done since 2006 and what still needs attention to prevent further violence against Indigenous women and girls.

In Spring 2026, we held an online survey to gather further feedback on the work that still remained to be done to implement the 33 Recommendations. The initial findings from the focus groups and survey were shared at the 20th Anniversary Highway of Tears Symposium in April 2026.

Northern FIRE is now compiling and analyzing all of the data gathered during this research project. The findings will be summarized in a written report that will be shared publicly on our website and social media in Spring 2027. Please stay tuned for the report’s release.

When is the Solution Going to Start Happening

Pillars of Hope and Strength

Carrier Sekani Family Services is leading the creation of two artistic pillars, the Pillars of Hope and Strength, to commemorate the women and girls who have gone missing or been murdered along the Highway of Tears and to honour their family members. The Pillars will serve as important awareness markers and peaceful visiting places for families and the broader community to remember these women and girls.

The first pillar, called the Pillar of Hope, was recently constructed at Cottonwood Island Park in Prince George, BC with the blessing of the Lheidli T’enneh First Nation. The completed Pillar of Hope was unveiled during a ceremony at the 20^th Anniversary Highway of Tears Symposium in April 2026.

The second pillar, called the Pillar of Strength, will be built on Lax Kw’alaams territory in downtown Prince Rupert across from the waterfront and Mariner’s Park at 100 First Avenue East. We hope to unveil the Pillar of Strength in Fall 2026.

20th Anniversary Highway of Tears Symposium

On April 7-10, 2026, Carrier Sekani Family Services (CSFS) hosted a 20th Anniversary Commemoration of the 2006 Highway of Tears Symposium at the Prince George Civic and Conference Centre.

This event brought together MMIWG family members, advocates, Elders, community members, RCMP, and government of all levels to discuss the 33 Recommendations that came out of the 2006 Symposium. Guided by the theme “Where We Have Been, Where We Are Now, and Where We Are Going,” participants provided input into the successes and challenges of the 33 Recommendations and discussed ways to create a safer future for Indigenous peoples across northern BC.

Billboards

In partnership with members of the Highway of Tears Governing Body, Carrier Sekani Family Services created and unveiled four new billboards along the Highway of Tears in August 2022, which were visible until October 2024.

Located between Prince George and Smithers, the billboards featured images and messaging of hope and strength to highlight the value of Indigenous people in the north and encourage viewers to reflect on what we all can do to make the Highway and the communities surrounding it a safer place.

Stories of Hope and Strength

Carrier Sekani Family Services received funding from Women and Gender Equality Canada to create a series of short films highlighting the hope and strength that exist in Indigenous communities and, in particular, within Indigenous women and girls in northern British Columbia and across Canada. The film series, titled “Stories of Hope and Strength,” was completed in 2024 and consists of eight short films that capture generational messages of hope and strength among Indigenous women and girls.

The films can be viewed on the project’s Youtube channel at Stories of Hope & Strength – YouTube.

Community Safety Toolkit

We are in the process of revising our National Community Safety Toolkit. Once completed, the revised Toolkit will be shared with Indigenous communities across Canada in person and on our website called Our Spirit, to be launched shortly.