IRC: How To Participate In The National Inquiry Into Missing And Murdered Indigenous Women And Girls

If you want to share your story with the National Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls, here is what you need to know:

• There are six steps to share your story (explained in more detail below).
• The National Inquiry is guided by the following principles: participant centered, collaborative, holistic, and is rooted in compassion.
• Families, survivors and loved ones have choices in how to share, in a comfortable and safe way.

The six steps to follow are as follows:

1. Registration

It all starts with you choosing to become a participant and reaching out to us. There are five ways you can register with the National Inquiry to share your lost loved one(s) story or your own truth as a survivor of violence.

• Phone us toll free at 1 (844) 348-4119
• Fax us at (604) 775-5009
• Send us a letter at PO Box 500, Station A – Vancouver BC V6C 2N3
• Email us at profile@mmiwg-ffada.ca
• In-person during one of our community visits before a hearing which will be posted on our website

Please include your name, phone number, email, and location when you contact us so that we can reach out to you. The current wait period is one week before you will receive an initial email or call from one of our health team staff to set up a telephone meeting.

2. Initial Contact And Conversation

The first person you will hear from will be a member of our health team. This is an important step that allows us to gather basic information to help us to understand what is needed to support you as you journey through the process of telling your story. Once you are ready, you will then be referred to a member of the legal team to begin the next step in the process.

3. Sharing Your Story

A member of the legal team will contact you next. These legal advocates will help to prepare you to share your truth in the best way possible. Counsel will also help families and survivors to gather the documents needed (including coroner, police, and crown reports), so your truth is told in the best way.

Here are the ways you can share your truth:

• Before a Commissioner in a public community hearing.
• Before a Commissioner in a private and confidential hearing.
• In a circle, with members of your family, or other families, loved ones or survivors, before a Commissioner.
• Before a Statement Gatherer in a private place with no Commissioner (the Commissioners will then read/view your statement and take your truth into account in making their findings and recommendations).
• By artistic expressions like artwork, a song, poetry, or a video or audio tape that you have prepared.

4. Preparation

The next person you will speak to will be from the Community Relations team. They will work with you on planning to tell your story. It may be planning your travel to and from a community hearing or to a location to be with a Statement Gatherer.

5. Sharing Your Truth

Community hearings will take place across the country. This is where you will speak before one or more of the Commissioners either in public or in a confidential setting. You will have a schedule of the events for the hearing and will know when you are expected to speak before a Commissioner. You will have your health supports beside you, as well as one of our legal team members to help you through the process. There will be both Opening and Closing traditional ceremonies that you can voluntarily participate in.

6. After-Care

After you have shared your truth with the National Inquiry, you will continue to work with the health team on your aftercare needs and support.

Once you have gone through the six steps we would also ask you to tell us about your experience participating in the National Inquiry. This will help us understand and improve how we work. It will help us do our work better as well as recognize achievements that build resiliency and strength to ensure the National Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls is an empowering and healing process.

Other Information

If you need to speak to someone immediately, please contact the 24/7 toll free support line at 1 (866) 292-8144 (available in English, French, Cree, Ojibway & Inuktitut).