The federal government has launched the first phase of its highly anticipated national inquiry aimed at understanding why almost 1,200 indigenous women and girls have been murdered or gone missing in Canada.
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Their fate has been a festering wound in many of Canada’s 600 native communities, with allegations of mishandled murder investigations or failures to look into missing persons cases.
“Aboriginal women continue to be over-represented among Canada’s missing and murdered women given their percentage of the Canadian population”, the report said.
“I can’t believe this is actually happening”, said Williams in the CBC Vancouver newsroom as she watched Indigenous Affairs Minister Carolyn Bennet make the announcement Tuesday.
“We have made this inquiry a priority for our government because those touched by this national tragedy have waited long enough”, he said at an assembly of First Nations chiefs in Gatineau, Quebec.
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau unveiled a five-point plan on Tuesday to reset Canada’s relationship with its indigenous people during his address to a group of First Nations leaders in Gatineau, Que.
The move marks a political U-turn from the policies of Trudeau’s predecessor, Stephen Harper.
“There is no relationship more important to me – and to Canada – than the one with First Nations, the Métis Nation, and Inuit”.
Hajdu said: “We recognize that a number of factors, like racism, marginalization, sexism, and poverty have contributed to the ongoing tragedy of murdered and missing Indigenous women and girls”.
The first phase of the national inquiry will consult the families of missing and murdered indigenous women to seek input on the design of the process.
“This is going to be done in a different way, in a more substantive fashion, where families and victims are going to be heard from first and foremost”.
He also promised to lift the 2-per-cent cap on annual funding increases for First Nations programs in the first federal budget, fully implement the recommendations of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission report and fully review all legislation “unilaterally” imposed on First Nations by the previous Conservative government. “After years of denial and deflection, it is my hope we can make real strides in achieving justice for families and achieving safety and security for all our people. In February 2015, we held a gathering of the families of missing and murdered Indigenous women and girls to ensure that their voices, crucial to the process, are heard”.
She also hinted that the inquiry could last longer – and cost more – than the two-year, $40-million envelope that was originally projected.
“We will get this right for the spirits and the memory of those we have lost”, she said, as she wrapped up her remarks.
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Canada and three other countries – Australia, New Zealand and the United States – were the only nations to vote against the UN indigenous text in 2007.
