With the long-awaited national Inquiry on Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls finally getting underway, the family and friends of the many, many victims are being given a chance to move forward.
At the same time, Canadians in all communities are at last going to see a grave and tragic national crisis addressed at the highest level.
Whether the inquiry will lead to answers and workable recommendations remains to be seen. What is known is that it is high time that political considerations have been pushed aside to make way for this much-needed investigation.
There are more than 1,100 documented cases of murdered and missing aboriginal women and girls in Canada since 1980.
The federal government recently announced the five-member commission to lead the inquiry, as well as the terms of reference to guide the commission's investigations.
“The spirits of the missing and murdered indigenous women and girls will be close in our hearts and in our minds as we do our work,” said Marion Buller, the judge who will chair the commission.
“The families' and the survivors' losses, pain, strength and courage will inspire our work.”
Alberta's minister of indigenous relations calls the commission's work vital.
“Our government has always supported the call for a national inquiry into missing and murdered indigenous women and girls,” said Minister Richard Feehan. “We are working to ensure provincial powers are available to the commission to support their critical work in our province.
“I am also mindful that today's announcement may be extremely difficult for affected families and loved ones to hear. It is important that their voices and concerns are heard in coming months.”
This inquiry may end up pointing the finger of blame at persons in high places in Canada – but that should not and must not deter the commission from making sure its work is thorough, searching and comprehensive.
Only by uncovering the hard truths surrounding the loss of so many of Canada's indigenous women and girls can the nation move forward and can those responsible be brought to account.
The commission's interim report is due to be completed by November 2017.
“We must work together to improve the safety and security of indigenous women and girls across Alberta and Canada,” says Minister Richard Feehan.
By undertaking this long-awaited nation inquiry the federal government is also protecting the safety and security of all Canadians.
- Singleton is the Mountain View Gazette editor.
