National Chief Open Letter on the National Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls

National Chief Open Letter on the National Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls

October 11, 2016

The Honourable Carolyn Bennett, Minister of Indigenous and Northern Affairs
The Honourable Patty Hajdu, Minister of Status of Women
The Honourable Jody Wilson-Raybould, Minister of Justice
Marion Buller, Chief Commissioner, National Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls

Dear Ministers:

It was a long journey for many families to finally see a National Inquiry into Murdered and Missing Indigenous Women and Girls become a reality. Family members, the Assembly of First Nations and many others made strong, clear calls for action and justice and your government’s positive response was an important signal of real steps towards reconciliation.

The Inquiry’s Chief Commissioner, Marion Buller, is quoted as saying “We’re going to go carefully and respectfully, so don’t expect to hear from us right away.” An inquiry of this nature will not be easy, and many understand the need to ensure things are done properly. We note, however, that at this time anticipation is building and lack of communication is creating genuine frustration. Families have demonstrated strength and courage, and they are anxious to move forward.  It is not difficult to understand the growing concern in the absence of any information regarding the Inquiry’s status or plans to launch.

A family member, Christine Simard-Chicago, recently told us:

On behalf of my family, we are disappointed about the lack of communication that continues from the Federal Government throughout this entire Inquiry process. Since the December announcement and pre-inquiry sessions, the approach the Federal Government and Commissioners have taken is very disrespectful and hurtful. The pain of telling our story and waiting for the Inquiry to start adds to the hurt that we feel already.  The process has opened our wounds that continue to fester because of the lack of communication and movement forward of the Commissioners and Government. Please be transparent and communicate with us so that we know what’s going on. It’s not fair to my family and it’s not fair to the other families that are left in the dark.

Good communication builds trust, and that requires transparency and accessibility. Communication with families, Indigenous peoples and all Canadians would go a long way to foster confidence and support.

The current government has made many promises to Indigenous peoples, including the promise of building a strong relationship that values, among other things, mutual respect, sharing and partnership.  This October, Canada will report on its compliance with international obligations under the Convention on the Elimination of all Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW); the Inquiry is expected to reflect Canada’s obligations under CEDAW and the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples.

As Prime Minister Trudeau said in his speech to the Assembly of First Nations Special Chiefs Assembly last year, “We have made this inquiry a priority for our government because those touched by this national tragedy have waited long enough. The victims deserve justice, their families an opportunity to be heard and to heal.”

To the Commissioners, Honourable Ministers and the Prime Minister, we say that wait must now end. We encourage the Commissioners to immediately reach out and inform First Nations, Indigenous peoples and organizations and most of all, the families, to clearly communicate the plans and timing for the national inquiry.

Sincerely,

Perry Bellegarde
National Chief