Photo by CP
A SOLEMN MOMENT – A ceremonial fire is lit today at the beginning of the National Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls taking place in a large tent on the Whitehorse waterfront. Inset: MARION BULLER Photo by THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jonathan Hayward
Canada needs to hear the truth about the violence endured by generations of indigenous women and girls
Canada needs to hear the truth about the violence endured by generations of indigenous women and girls so the country has a better understanding of systemic violence, is able to find solutions and heal, says the chief commissioner of a national inquiry.
Marion Buller said this week’s Whitehorse hearings at the National Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls will hear stories of courage, resilience, healing, reconciliation and growth.
“Today is a turning point in our national history,” she said this morning as the hearings formally opened.
“Now there is a national stage for the stories and the voices of the missing and murdered indigenous women and girls through their families.”
Many are expected to publicly share their stories starting with testimony from survivors as well as victims’ families. The hearings will continue until Thursday.
“We will hear about mothers, grandmothers, sisters and aunties, nieces, cousins and dear friends. They are and were real people who loved and were loved, who dreamed and hoped, who laughed and cried,” said Buller.
“This is a sorrowful but essential part of our national history. We need to recognize and understand colonization and racism. We need to heal and we need to craft solutions.”
Other community meetings have been delayed until the fall, but Buller said the hearings are going ahead in Whitehorse because of the willingness of people in the city to participate.
Families have the option of testifying privately to a statement-taker or speaking publicly inside a white tent, where the interior walls are decorated with brightly coloured blankets created by volunteers and chairs are set up in a circle.
Buller said the setting was designed to provide comfort and safety to families and survivors.
The hearings begin as the inquiry faces scrutiny across the country over delays and poor communication.
Families and advocates in Whitehorse have said they are eager to share their stories, but have questions about how they will be used.
See more coverage in Wednesday’s edition by Star reporter Sidney Cohen, who is attending the hearings.
By LAURA KANE
The Canadian Press
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Comments (10)
Up 24 Down 18
BnR on Jun 1, 2017 at 7:44 pm
Its easy to dismiss this inquiry, for any number of reasons, as shown by the usual array of comments. I even had a similar knee jerk reaction.
However, if you are a caucasian, take a moment before you comment and try putting yourself in our First Nations brother and sisters shoes.
Perspective is everything. Obviously, by the evidence we have been hearing, this means a lot to many people.
Go ahead and post your thumbs down, I'm expecting it. But some of you will "get it".
Up 33 Down 3
a lot to think about on Jun 1, 2017 at 4:44 pm
To 'You know not.."
We know who's doing the killing.
The underlying issues are alcohol, drugs, unemployment, FAS, poor parenting, no stability.
Underneath that is a society in collapse.
Underneath that is a plunge into modern living from a well structured and functional system that was in place for thousands of years before non-indigenous people showed up.
Question is, what do we do about it? 'Holding police accountable' seems to be the biggest message. 'We haven't been treated well' - is an understatement, but not in terms of the crimes not being taken seriously.
We all have to deal with the situation we have on hand now. People don't want to go back to 'old ways' living in the bush in a traditional society with no interference from or benefits of modern living. (medicine, tools, machines, guns, cars, quads, modern housing, roads, schools, stores, etc etc)
So what CAN we do? Stop babies being born with FAS would be a huge priority if I were asked. Healthy babies first. Whatever it takes, build Healthy Mothers centers way out in the bush. Great food, whatever it takes.
Extensive care for babies and children next. The right amount of structure, full spectrum learning: traditional and modern, which would give them options and a sense of placement and being that few people have, First Nations or not.
Then on to the older kids, and the teenagers.
Last should be the adults, but them too, especially alongside the kids, because you need healthy adults too.
Up 28 Down 6
Don't shoot the messenger on Jun 1, 2017 at 4:25 pm
Hopefully this comment gets posted. I'm sorry to all the people who have missing family members, but here's what's going on in my opinion. There is one word that caused most of the missing women. Feminism. It taught women to stand up to men, and I don't think that has had any benefit for the native community. The typical man that runs family households in Native culture might be called stereotypical today but unfortunately for a lot of families it's the law of the land. Want more proof? Why are Men not included in this inquest? There are plenty of missing and murdered Aboriginal men as well. There shouldn't be a gender bias even if I mentioned what I did above. It goes way deeper than this for sure. It's very simple to see if you choose to. I doubt anyone would dare even mention any of this at the inquest. My question is why not? If not, then there is obviously an agenda. Even if I'm wrong, it can still be part of the discussion. Because to me it sure makes a lot of sense. Do you want to find answers? Or continue chasing your tail forever.
Up 13 Down 18
You know not of what you speak on Jun 1, 2017 at 1:09 pm
Whenever there are stories on this subject, always, always, the same attempts to white wash the issues related to this. Why don't we let the commission do work, draw its conclusions and go from there. Trying to make it a straight forward thing like a "native problem or natives killing natives is the easy thing to do. What are the underlying reasons for this situation is where the real dirt is I suspect.
Up 17 Down 1
Groucho d'North on Jun 1, 2017 at 8:16 am
Of course I have an opinion on this matter, but there is nothing I can say better than Joan Jack , a lawyer from the Berens River First Nation who ran for the leadership of the Assembly of First Nations. Read her short article from a couple years back and ponder why nothing gets done to address this long-term problem.
http://www.winnipegfreepress.com/opinion/analysis/aboriginal-women-fear-their-own-kind-the-most-285701831.html
Up 47 Down 6
north_of_60 on May 31, 2017 at 1:36 pm
Yet another inquiry. However it would be better use their resources to address the root of the problem which everyone is pretending to ignore. More than 90% of the murders and violence involving aboriginal women are committed by other aboriginals, usually by people they know well.
What have aboriginal leaders done since the last inquiry to address the conditions in their communities that cause girls to drop out of school and get involved with gangs, drugs, and risky behavior?
This is a predominately aboriginal problem that begins at an early age in their communities. If they spent less money on Chiefs and Councilors and more on raising healthy children, then this problem would be solved. The aboriginal communities are the only ones who can fix this.
Up 32 Down 6
define the problem with facts on May 31, 2017 at 12:21 pm
"As the chart shows, between 1980 and 2012, 62 per cent of aboriginal women murders involved a spouse, family member, or "other intimates". (add in acquaintances and you are close to 100%, according to this CBC article).
Aboriginal women are 4x more likely to be murdered than other Canadian women are. In other words they are being killed at about 4 x the rate, by people they know! Especially by their own partners and family members.
http://www.cbc.ca/news/indigenous/focus-on-family-violence-in-cases-of-missing-murdered-aboriginal-women-misguided-1.3140580
Up 42 Down 6
define the problem with facts on May 31, 2017 at 12:01 pm
Violence endured at the hands of their own spouses, partners, family members and acquaintances, (approx. 85% of the time - same as other demographics in Canada). The difference being the rate at which the men in their lives assault and kill them. PS - the solve rates for murders of Indigenous women are the same as they are for other demographics as well.
Up 17 Down 24
A small headline for a large story on May 31, 2017 at 11:21 am
My apologies to all of those involved, but, the pessimist in me has to come out.
Here is the most recent list of murdered and missing aboriginal women (mostly names to me).
http://www.winnipegfreepress.com/local/grim-number-jumps-in-study-241776001.html
Here has been the investigations attitude towards the events; Murder starts at home. Although we've seen recent cases where this has been true, there have been numerous cases that have involved racism, poor treatment/neglect, or disregard leading to these murders being unsolved. The murders of the 80's and 90's can be linked to a general apathy on the behalf of the investigators towards the victims.
RCMP - "Native Violence starts at home"
https://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/national/rcmp-to-release-update-on-missing-murdered-aboriginal-women/article25033744/
From there we get to deal with the investigators of these cases
http://www.huffingtonpost.ca/2015/12/10/rcmp-racist-bob-paulson_n_8777126.html
http://www.cbc.ca/radio/thecurrent/the-current-for-january-5-2016-1.3389695/racism-within-rcmp-stirs-debate-over-bad-apples-or-systemic-problems-1.3389736
Although these commissions + discussions may open a wound, my question is who is going to actually investigate the missing?
Stephen Harper argued the same, "There will be no national inquiry, we need to begin to act, and stop discussing a problem that let's killers walk around free [not verbatim]"
If Racism is being brought to the forefront now, in our modern and accepting society, and being realized as prevalent and worth discussing; then what do you think it was like in the 70's - 80's 90's for aboriginals to complain or request investigations?
We can even see current examples of RCMP treating aboriginals as second class citizens (don't really need to travel nationally to recognize the Silverfox's, Thomas's, Timmer's, in our own backyard).
Another problem that has reared it's head is the horrible band wagon effect;
"Let's include two spirited, lesbian, gay, and transgender issues!" The issues are being diluted and rarely speak to the elements that have caused this to happen.
Trace this history of aboriginals and the prevalence of residential schools, the housing system + systemic racism + assimilation they faced, combine that with an RCMP that is known for it's "old boys club" with initiation practices and "cliques", topped with the recent findings of RCMP involvement and participation.
It's telling when articles from 2014 still highlight the attitudes of "some" of the RCMP
http://globalnews.ca/news/1571356/rcmp-investigating-claim-of-members-racist-comment-on-facebook/
In all sincerity; it's great to see that you're bringing some of these stories out, however, a person just needs to read the court transcripts to have their heart drop. I still have yet to read of one person convicted for the crimes that have been done to aboriginals. This "society" is happy to charge and convict aboriginals but rarely convicts their own. That might be a telling point as to why justice isn't seen in some of these matters
Up 37 Down 6
Not Convinced on May 30, 2017 at 5:08 pm
“This is a sorrowful but essential part of our national history. We need to recognize and understand colonization and racism. We need to heal and we need to craft solutions.”
Isn't this supposed to be an INQUIRY into how and why these women and girls went missing?? Sounds like Marion Buller has already made up her mind about the reasons....
Also I feel that if all of these cases are not miraculously solved in the next year or two, everyone will be just as, if not more, upset than before and we'll be doing this all over again.