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National Inquiry Into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women Called “Genocide” – Premier, PM React

Ottawa – (with files from CP) The commission behind the report into National Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls, called the tragedy, a genocide that was decades in the making. Other politicians are careful in how they are reacting.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said that violence against Indigenous women and girls is sadly not a relic of Canada’s past, and the justice system has failed them.

But he stopped short of calling the damage and death a genocide.

Chief commissioner Marion Buller did not pull punches. “This report is about deliberate race, identity and gender-based genocide.”

Premier John Horgan has issued the following statement about Reclaiming Power and Place, the final report of the National Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls:

“As British Columbians and Canadians receive this final report of the national inquiry investigating the disproportionate levels of racialized, sexualized and systemic violence experienced by Indigenous women, girls and two-spirit peoples, we recognize the enormous courage of the survivors and families who have brought us to this moment.

“There is no statement I can make that will do justice to your lived experiences, or the pain you have endured. It has taken immense courage and leadership to share the truth of the trauma that you, your families and your communities have experienced and continue to experience. In honour of the women, girls and two-spirit peoples who have been stolen and those who have survived, we are committed to learning from your stories, to taking action and to enacting change.   

“This report brings to the forefront the magnitude of the gendered impacts of colonial violence, one  so severe the inquiry has called it a ‘Canadian genocide.’ We will be reviewing the report and recommendations in detail and considering them along with historic recommendations from survivors, families and communities, and the work currently underway in B.C. – as well as our government’s broader commitment to implementing the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples and the Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s Calls to Action.

“Dismantling the underlying and systemic issues that result in Indigenous women experiencing violence at a much higher rate than non-Indigenous women is fundamental to our government’s work toward true and lasting reconciliation. We are actively working in collaboration with Indigenous partners and communities to build relationships based on the inherent right to self-determination and we believe that this is an important part of addressing the conditions that result in violence.

“We are committed to developing a path forward to end violence against Indigenous women and girls that will be directly informed by survivors, family members and communities. Community-based engagement to collaborate on taking concrete steps together will soon begin and will continue through the summer and early fall.”

Kukpi7 Judy Wilson, Secretary-Treasurer of the Union of BC Indian Chiefs stated, “For too long we have waited for action on this issue, and this report covers much of what we already know. We need safe and accessible housing, transportation, and services for Indigenous women, girls, and Two-Spirit people. We need to address the “Canadian Genocide” — it’s the worst form of discrimination that has continued over hundreds of years and into today with the blatant sexism and racism that is rampant in this country. We need a child welfare system that seeks to reunite families, not to tear them apart in a continuation of the legacy of residential schools. We need this change today, we cannot wait any longer.”

Grand Chief Stewart Phillip, President of the UBCIC, stated, “The Federal Liberals are ramming through a controversial pipeline expansion whose industrial man-camps will further put Indigenous women, girls, and Two-Spirit people at risk, and yet they say they are a feminist government? With the release of this report, we know that we must see a dedicated budget and action plan for the implementation of these recommendations before the Federal election this fall.”

Janice Abbott, CEO of Atira Women’s Resource Society, stated, “We support the strong and necessary language used in the report and call on all Canadians to set aside their stereotypes and fear to embrace the recommendations in support of a kinder, stronger, more inclusive Canada, one that holds close not only the women who have been disappeared and their families and loved ones, but all First Nations, Metis and Inuit women everywhere – those struggling to survive right now in a climate of profound anti-Indigenous racism and misogyny, whose children continue to be stolen by the State and who continue to be vulnerable to violence, abuse and exploitation. This is not our past. This is our present. Change is already too late. There is no time to waste.”

Laurel McBride, of Vancouver Rape Relief and Women’s Shelter stated, “We are pleased to see the call for the state to take all necessary measures to prevent and hold accountable those responsible for violence against Indigenous women, two spirit, gay and transgender people; for the implementation of a guaranteed annual livable income; and for programs and services to promote the safety and security of those in the sex industry.  We urge all levels of government to take seriously Reclaiming Power and Place’s findings and to make the implementation of these calls for justice an immediate priority.”

Regional Chief Terry Teegee, of the BC Assembly of First Nations, stated, “The recommendations outlined in this report must be quickly and fully addressed to bring about a prompt end to the ongoing genocide of our people. While many of the social issues have been known for decades, we have continued to experience apathy, and outright hostility at times, as we have worked towards collaboration and progress within the Canadian justice and social services systems – this must end now.”

Jenny Kwan, MP for Vancouver East, stated, “The federal government must commit to implementing all the recommendations with dedicated resources and a time line that is publicly accountable. Anything less would be disrespectful to all those who have shared their stories and advocated for justice.”

Representatives from the Neskonlith Indian Band Chief & Council spoke with unity, noting that “Thousands of MMIWG Survivors & Families across the Nations have shared their stories, now is the time for action!”

Responding to “Reclaiming Power and Place: The Final Report of the National Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls,” Amnesty International urges all governments in Canada to move beyond the piecemeal approach to ending the violence that has tragically failed First Nations, Inuit, and Métis women, girls, two-spirit people, families, and communities.

The National Inquiry’s final report states, “Colonial violence, as well as racism, sexism, homophobia, and transphobia against Indigenous women, girls, and 2SLGBTQQIA people, has become embedded in everyday life – whether this is through interpersonal forms of violence, through institutions like the health care system and the justice system, or in the laws, policies and structures of Canadian society. The result has been that many Indigenous people have grown up normalized to violence, while Canadian society shows an appalling apathy to addressing the issue.”

The report further states, “Nothing will improve the current situation unless there is will to address the root cause of this ongoing crisis, the profound multi-institutional indifference toward violence directed at Indigenous women, girls, and 2SLGBTQQIA people.”

Amnesty International welcomes Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s comments, which commit the government of Canada to “develop and implement a National Action Plan to address violence against Indigenous women, girls, and LGBTQ and two-spirit people.”

Alex Neve, Secretary General of Amnesty International Canada (English) said, “Governments in Canada, indeed Canadian society as a whole, have ignored and downplayed the shocking levels of violence faced by Indigenous women, girls, and two-spirit persons. We hope the Inquiry report will be the catalyst for all governments to finally commit to the kind of comprehensive, systematic, and coordinated national response necessitated by what is truly a human rights emergency. As a crucial step in that direction, as we look ahead to the federal election in October, we call on all federal political parties to similarly commit to a National Action Plan in keeping with Call for Justice 1.1.”

The report’s “Calls for Justice” require both broad and specific changes to numerous institutions, programs, and policies, as well as increased funding across all jurisdictions in Canada, to truly address the root causes of violence against Indigenous women, girls, and two-spirit people. Amnesty International welcomes the recommendation for “long-term sustainable funding of Indigenous-led, low-barrier shelters, safe spaces, transition homes, second-stage housing and services for Indigenous women, girls, and two-spirit people” such that all Indigenous women, girls, and two-spirit persons have access to culturally-appropriate services wherever they reside.

FYI:

To review the B.C. submission to the National Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls, visit: https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/justice/about-bcs-justice-system/recent-inquiries

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