INAC Minister says MMIW Inquiry process has begun

December 1, 2015

murdered and missing womenBy Joey Krackle
The Minister of Indigenous and Northern Affairs (INAC) Honourable Carolyn Bennett stated on Nov.30 that the process on the inquiry for Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women (MMIW) has already begun.

“The first phase of the Murdered and Missing Indigenous Women inquiry has begun,” said Bennett. “We have started to talk to the families involved to get their views on the scope, length, if we should have one commissioner or three and the terms of reference.”

Informed sources have stated that a formal announcement is expected on or before Dec. 6, the anniversary of the shootings at the Polytechnique in Quebec. Furthermore, the Trudeau government hopes to begin the inquiry this spring or early summer.

In a Mandate Letter dated Nov. 13 to Bennett, Prime Minister Trudeau requested that she works towards initiating an inquiry into Murdered and Missing Indigenous Women. The letter stated that she: “develop in collaboration with the Minister of Justice, and supported by the Minister of the Status of Women, an approach to, and a mandate for, an inquiry into murdered and missing indigenous women and girls in Canada, including the identification of a lead minister.”

Anishinabek leadership have urged the federal government to engage families and communities in order to have a successful and meaningful inquiry with effective recommendations and they are pleased that this process has begun.

Anishinabek Nation Women’s Council member Donna Debassige agrees.

“I am very pleased that the federal government is finally taking the first step towards calling this long-awaited inquiry, and is seeking advice from our families,” says Debassige. “Our families will be able to provide valuable first hand information on what needs to be done in order to achieve a successful outcome. We will have valuable input into the scope, terms of reference, length and type of inquiry. I believe that we should also add missing and murdered Aboriginal boys and men to this most important inquiry. I look forward to the forthcoming announcement.”