Nation to Nation
An anticipated announcement from the federal Liberal government on a national inquiry into the disproportionately high number of murdered and missing Indigenous women and girls is expected by July 6, Nation to Nation has learned.
Much remains to be revealed about the inquiry including its start date, commissioners, mandate and length. Indigenous Affairs Minister Carolyn Bennett has said she expected to hold the inquiry’s announcement before the end of the spring House of Commons session which ended June 17.
The announcement on the inquiry is now expected between June 30 and July 6, according to sources.
U.S. President Barack Obama is scheduled to address MPs and Senators in the Chamber on June 29.
The Justin Trudeau government released a report in late May on its 17 pre-inquiry consultation meetings with about 2,000 people including families of the murdered and the missing, survivors of violence, women’s organizations, provincial and territorial officials and academics.
The report said the consultations resulted in a number of key points that are expected to influence the inquiry’s operation and mandate.
There was a desire the inquiry’s leadership represent the diversity of Indigenous communities and regions and follow a timetable sensitive to the needs of survivors and their families, the report said.
The consultations also heard a strong desire for the inquiry to embrace a broad scope that would include a wide array of individuals and organizations, including families, front-line workers and Indigenous leaders, according to the report. There were also voices calling for the inquiry to include violence against LGBT and two spirited people, the report said.
There were also calls for the inquiry to blend the spiritual into its make up in a way proportional to the diversity of the voices who will ultimately determine its outcome, the report said.
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