For five and a half years, Carol Wolfe searched for answers in her only daughter’s disappearance.
“People would say that her smile would light up the room. I would say she lit up my world, my heart, and my spirit,” said Carol.
Carol expressed her loss at the final day of the Saskatoon stop of the national inquiry for missing and murdered Indigenous women and girls (MMIWG).
“My daughter Karina was stolen,” Carol expressed through sign language which was then spoken aloud by an interpreter.
The remains of Karina Wolfe, 20, were found near the airport in November 2015, more than five years after she went missing.
Jerry Constant pleaded guilty to Karina’s murder and was sentenced to life in prison.
“My family is broken. My heart is broken. We are just broken,” Carol expressed.
Throughout the week, the inquiry expected to hear more than 80 individuals testify to three commissioners in both public and private settings. As well, a number of people were able to walk on site and leave their story with a statement gatherer.
“In terms of wait listing, we are utilizing our wonderful statement gatherers to help those people and take their statements,” said Marion Buller, the chief commissioner.
Krista Shore travelled from Regina and was disappointed with the organization of the inquiry.
Shore’s mother was murdered 21 years ago and she says she registered to share her story on a public stage but was never called back.
“I have to sit and wait to hear if the commissioner will approve to hear me or not. That is not traditional law system. If we want to be Indigenous and honour people, we sit there until people are heard,” said Shore.
As the inquiry wraps up, the chief commissioner told reporters statement gatherers will collect the remaining Saskatchewan stories of those who registered but never got the chance to testify.
This week was the only scheduled stop for the inquiry in Saskatchewan. Next week the inquiry will travel to Maliotenam, Que.