OTTAWA — The sister of Claudette Osborne was hoping more would come from a round table into missing and murdered Aboriginal women.
“I am definitely not walking out of there going yipee,” said Bernadette Smith, Osborne’s sister. “I left there with apprehension with what are they going to do?”
The round table in Ottawa brought together premiers, aboriginal leaders and families on Friday.
“I definitely would have liked to see more money that addressed different needs across the different provinces,” Smith said.
In the past 30 years nearly 1,200 Aboriginal women have been murdered or gone missing in this country.
Rinelle Harper was so close to being added to the list.
Last fall she was brutally attacked and was at the round table to share her story, sitting next to Manitoba’s premier.
“You don’t accomplish everything in one day by any means but the dialogue has started,” said Premier Greg Selinger.
Bernice Catcheway wasn’t able to make it to Ottawa but would have liked to have been there.
Her daughter, Jennifer, went missing in 2008. She would have liked to see an inquiry instead of a round table.
“I am tired of talking and talking now we need action and all we are doing is talking,” said Catcheway. “How many more have to go missing this is a serious situation that continues and when is it going to stop.”
The Federal government is adamant an inquiry isn’t needed.
“We are not supporting a national inquiry,” said Kellie Leitch, the minister of women. “The consensus in the room was very clear it is about taking action.”
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