On Wednesday, the Canadian government announced the details of the long-awaited The National Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls, which will examine the causes of the high rates of violence against indigenous women.
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Indigenous Affairs Minister Carolyn Bennett, Justice Minister Jody Wilson-Raybould and Status of Women Minister Patty Hajdu attended an event at the Canadian Museum of History in Gatineau, Que., marking the end of the government’s work to design the scope of the study.
They are also expected to meet the families of some victims following the announcement.
Bennett further stated, “Canada is grateful to the survivors, families, loved ones and grassroots women’s organizations, front-line, feminist Indigenous organizations, national Indigenous organizations, as well as well as provinces and territories, and experts who provided input during the pre-inquiry process”.
The investigation, one of Justin Trudeau’s campaign promises, comes more than a decade after indigenous groups first requested it. The previous Conservative government refused to launch an inquiry despite explicit requests from Indigenous communities and the United Nations to do so.
Williams said that, while optimistic, she’s concerned the newly announced inquiry will focus on systemic issues without fixing them, and urged the government to develop a plan to implement the findings, along with more than 700 recommendations already generated from other reports.
“They also, in doing so, have the ability to provide oversight and watch what happens to the referrals that they make”, she said.
Members of the Coalition on Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls are also preparing to respond publicly immediately following the announcement.
The five-person commission is well poised to succeed with the appointment of B.C.’s first female First Nations judge, Marion Buller, at its helm.
But she survived, which gave the long-time Edmonton advocate a unique insight into the thousands of Indigenous women who have not survived in Canada. “It must ensure the basic human rights of indigenous women and girls are fulfilled”.
The federal government has appointed five commissioners to lead the public inquiry, which will begin its work on September 1.
The inquiry is slated to last more than two years and importantly, these new commissioners will have the power to decide who will be called as witnesses and what form the new review will take.
She said it was a “total slap in the face” for victims and their families when offenders receive sentences as light as four years in homicide cases.
She added that there were concerns with the inquiry, including that affected families do not appear to have a chance to reopen cases through the legal system, or receive comprehensive trauma counseling.
“We have missing and murdered women here”.
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“We are Inuit. We have our distinct, rightful place to have a voice”, Meeka Otway, secretary-treasurer of Pauktuutit, said at a news conference in Ottawa. “This is especially critical given that numerous systemic issues that need to be changed are within systems that fall under provincial jurisdiction, including child welfare, health services and most police services”.
