The federal government launched its long-awaited inquiry, with five commissioners and a $54-million budget, and local Indigenous leaders are hopeful the inquiry will be transparent.
Advertisement
On Tuesday, Justice Minister Jody Wilson-Raybould, the first Indigenous woman to hold the position, who held back tears during the ceremony, told CBC’s Power & Politics that she doesn’t want the inquiry to release a report that would simply “sit on a shelf”.
Charlie Angus, the NDP’s indigenous affairs critic, said Wednesday’s announcement was a long time coming and he supports the work of he commissioners.
“It’s because of these courageous women and families, who knew something was very wrong, that we are here today”, Bennett said during a press conference at the Canadian Museum of History near Ottawa.
BBC reporter Joanna Jolly went on the trail of the murdered and missing to find out why so many of Winnipeg’s Aboriginal women and girls have been killed.
Five commissioners, to be led by Marion Buller, B.C.’s first female First Nations judge, will hear many stories like Tolley’s and will have to present recommendations for action.
Under the Inquiries Act, the commission has the authority to “summon witnesses and compel documents”.
Provincially focused inquiries have been conducted and recommendations made, but the lack of follow-through has left many profoundly skeptical about the prospect of real change.
As we promised, as the commission beings its work, we will not wait to take immediate action on the issues on violence against indigenous women and girls.
The process – created to be arm’s length from government once it is up and running on September 1 – is expected to last at least two years and cost at least $53.8 million – $13.8 million than was originally expected.
“The Federal Inquiry is a step forward and we recognize the efforts to bring healing, closure, and a sense of security. Until that time, our entire country will live under its shadow”, said Patricia Hadju, Canada’s minister of status of women. They debated for some time whether the drums belonged there, before deciding they did.
As we’ve reported, an inquiry like this was one of the campaign promises of Justin Trudeau, the prime minister of Canada. The federal government announced funding Wednesday of $16.2 million over the next four years for victims’ services and to create liaison units to assist families.
In 2010, the Native Women’s Association of Canada created a database of information concerning 582 missing and murdered aboriginal women and girls.
Since then, Pauktuutit has asked the department of Indigenous and Northern Affairs to appoint a sixth, Inuk commissioner; a demand Kudloo said has gone unanswered.
Families will not have the chance to pursue or reopen cases through the justice system, and they will only have access to culturally based trauma counselling during their appearance before the Commission, not before or after, NWAC said.
“We need to get at the root causes of why this situation exists in the first place, whether that be poverty, marginalization, discrimination and address those in a substantive way”, she said.
Advertisement
Systemic issues that contribute to violence will be examined along with policing, child welfare practices and policies.
