SASKATOON – The Government of Canada’s launch of a formal public inquiry into missing and murdered indigenous women is welcome news for a Saskatoon-based group of concerned citizens. In its 10-year history, Women Walking Together has repeatedly called for an inquiry into the cases of about 1,200 women.
The group officially got its wish on Tuesday, as Justice Minister Jody Wilson-Raybould announced the start of a two-phase inquiry.
“This cannot just be another report,” Wilson-Raybould said.
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Over the next two months, the federal government plans to meet with families of victims. Their input will develop the scope and desired outcomes of the inquiry.
The second phase will be the study itself.
One of the co-chairs of Women Walking Together, Darlene Okemaysim-Sicotte, said family involvement is crucial.
A national inquiry was included in the Liberal Party platform in the 2015 federal election. Initially proposed as a two-year, $40-million dollar initiative, Indigenous and Northern Affairs Minister Carolyn Bennett said it could be expanded if needed.
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The inquiry could be especially beneficial to the Prairie provinces with high populations of urban indigenous people, according to Robert Henry, indigenous studies faculty member at the University of Saskatchewan.
“Whatever the recommendations are, let’s take them in and improve the relations between indigenous people and police. Not only in Saskatoon, not only provincially, but at a national level,” Henry said.
He noted there have been previous studies that didn’t lead to concrete, substantial change.
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An RCMP-led study in late 2013 looked into reported incidents of missing and murdered aboriginal women in Canada. It included findings that aboriginal women were nearly three times more likely to experience violence, and aboriginal women were “over-represented” in the number of women missing or murdered in Canada.
The 94 recommendations resulting from the Truth and Reconciliation Commission were also mentioned Tuesday, as Prime Minister Justin Trudeau pledged to implement each one.
He also announced plans to end a two per cent cap on federal funding for reserve programs and increase spending on First Nations school infrastructure.
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