APTN National News
OTTAWA — Indigenous Affairs Minister Carolyn Bennett will use the backdrop of the Grand Hall in the Canadian Museum of History to announce the details of the national inquiry into missing and murdered Indigenous women and girls Wednesday in Gatineau, Que., across the river from Ottawa.
Bennett will outline the terms of reference (ToR) and announce the five commissioners who will lead the country through the inquiry at 8ET.
The Indigenous Affairs minister will be joined by Canada’s Attorney General Jody Wilson Raybould and Status of Women Minister Patty Hadju.
APTN National News will be live on TV and online for the announcement starting at 8.
The ToR is expected to give the commissioners a broad mandate to delve into the root causes of the issues that has Indigenous women and girls experiencing violence at a much greater rate than the general population.
Police forces, including the RCMP, are expected to be a major focus of the inquiry.
Following the announcement, there will be a private session with families followed by a feast at the Wabano Health Centre in the city’s east end.
A number of news conferences are planned to respond to the details of the inquiry and the commissioners.
The Native Women’s Association of Canada, whose report, Sisters in Spirit, brought national attention to the issue will follow the government’s announcement at the museum.
Pauktuutit Women of Canada will hold a news conference early Wednesday afternoon. The Inuit organization was critical of the government after it was leaked that none of the commissioners were Inuk. Qajaq Robinson, is a lawyer who was born in Nunavut, but is not Inuk.
According to sources, the announcement was set for July 6 but was postponed. The government never explained the delay.
