Should the MMIWG Inquiry be granted an extension? Is Lynn Beyak a racist? Is the AFN relevant?
Pam Palmater, Niigaan Sinclair and Tim Fontaine weigh in on these issues and more as we put 2017 In Focus and look ahead to 2018.
The National Inquiry into MMIWG
A formal request for an extension was expected by the end of 2017 but that never came. It was seen as another misstep in a year that saw nearly two dozen people leave the inquiry.
There was also numerous calls for the commissioners to step down, including lead Comm. Marion Buller.
Lynn Beyak and her take on residential schools
In the spring of 2017, then little-known senator from Dryden, Ont., Lynn Beyak, said in a speech said some good came out of the residential schools and some of the religious teachers were well intentioned. Just a few weeks ago, she was turfed from the Conservative caucus by party leader Andrew Scheer for posting and refusing to remove racist letters from her Senate website.
The coming legalization of marijuana
Some First Nation communities are getting actively involved and looking to set up shop in the marijuana business.
But not everyone wants weed in their communities.
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It’s Unfortunate that the MMWI gets politicized and leaders making comments that it’s a failure. Considering the scope of what it entails dealing with families, Murdered/ Missing, Judicial system, Child/ Family services/ Residential school and policing just to mention some of the areas that are covered, it’s a huge undertaking.
The process needs to continue and one agenda might not be the same agenda when it moves from one community or to.another Province but the underlining issue is the families and communities need to be heard. Dealing with the circumstances of the missing and murdered is a lot of hurt and pain but in the end the information from this inquiry will be used in whatever capacity necessary to help address this issue that’s affected our Nations from East to West.
It’s Unfortunate that the MMWI gets politicized and leaders making comments that it’s a failure. Considering the scope of what it entails dealing with families, Murdered/ Missing, Judicial system, Child/ Family services/ Residential school and policing just to mention some of the areas that are covered, it’s a huge undertaking.
The process needs to continue and one agenda might not be the same agenda when it moves from one community or to.another Province but the underlining issue is the families and communities need to be heard. Dealing with the circumstances of the missing and murdered is a lot of hurt and pain but in the end the information from this inquiry will be used in whatever capacity necessary to help address this issue that’s affected our Nations from East to West.