National Chief of the Assembly of First Nations Perry Bellegarde said violence had plagued Aboriginal communities for too long.
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“As you know, that limit has been in place for almost 20 years”, Trudeau said of the cap, which he said would disappear in the government’s first budget.
“I promise you that I will be your partner in the years to come, and hope that you will be mine”. “Every child and young person living in Canada deserves a real and fair chance at success, First Nations students are no less deserving”. He promised funding for education and a “respectful” relationship.
He also reiterated numerous pledges he made on the campaign trail before the October vote that saw large numbers of First Nations people turn out to the polls and 10 indigenous people elected – two of whom were named to Mr. Trudeau’s cabinet.
“I know that renewing our relationship is an ambitious goal, but I am equally certain that it is one we can, and will, achieve if we work together”, Trudeau said.
Among the government’s top priorities, he said, will be the creation of a national public inquiry into missing and murdered aboriginal women.
On Dec. 15, Trudeau will deliver another major address – this time at an event in Ottawa where the Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) will deliver its final report on the residential schools saga.
She says the level of violence that aboriginal women face in this country is far worse than we could imagine, but she is hopeful.
Robinson says it’s important that Ottawa take the wishes of families into consideration before the inquiry begins.
She also hinted that the inquiry could last longer – and cost more – than the two-year, $40-million envelope that was originally projected.
Ministers Jody Wilson-Raybould, Dr. Carolyn Bennett and Patty Hajdu today announced the first phase of a national inquiry on missing and murdered Indigenous women, which includes meeting with families, national Aboriginal organizations (including AFN), provinces and territories and interested parties and experts.
“I really like when they say it has to be a collaborative collective approach in order to be successful”, said Anderson-Pyrz. This can not and will not be another report to sit on a shelf.
That’s why the federal government is launching what it calls the first phase of an inquiry into the phenomenon. “That’s one of the pieces we’re starting with because we think that getting those attitudes will allow us to help shift those attitudes so that those women are treated differently in society in general and in the justice system in particular”.
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“Here, we now have a new prime minister who is stepping forward, actually coming to our assembly”.
