Research Projects
The Carrier Sekani Family Services (CSFS) Calls for Justice team has been collaborating with the Northern Feminist Institute for Research and Evaluation (Northern FIRE) at the University of Northern British Columbia (UNBC) to conduct research evaluating best practices for reducing violence toward Indigenous women, girls, and 2SLGBTQQIA+ people along the Highway of Tears.
“When Is the Solution Going to Start Happening?”
In 2023, the CSFS and Northern FIRE research team conducted a series of focus groups in communities along Highway 16 to evaluate what work was being done to reduce violence against Indigenous women, girls, and 2SLGBTQQIA+ people across northern British Columbia.
In February 2025, we published a final report titled “When Is the Solution Going to Start Happening?” that summarizes the findings from the project. The final report can be viewed at the following link: “When Is the Solution Going to Start Happening?”
Highway of Tears 20th Anniversary Symposium: Indigenous Women and Girls Creating Systemic Change
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 2006 Highway of Tears Symposium. 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.
After the focus groups finished, our team held an online survey to gather further feedback on the 33 Recommendations from those unable to attend an in-person focus group. We also conducted a literature review evaluating progress made toward implementing the 33 Recommendations.
The initial findings from the focus groups, survey, and literature review were presented at the 20th Anniversary Symposium in April 2026. The research team is now analyzing and compiling all of the data.
The findings from the research project will be summarized in a final report that will be shared publicly on our website and social media in the spring of 2027. Please stay tuned for the report’s release.
Media
All media inquiries can be directed to Andrea Palmer, Director of Communications at apalmer@csfs.org.
