Feds launch phase one of inquiry

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau says his first priority in a renewed relationship with Canada’s aboriginal people is an inquiry into missing and murdered indigenous women.

AFN national chief Perry Bellegarde said aboriginal people had always been calling on the government to bring an end to the crisis.

“As you know, that limit has been in place for almost 20 years”, Trudeau said “It hasn’t kept up with the demographic realities of your communities, nor the actual costs of program delivery”.

“It’s a new relationship between the prime minister of Canada and his cabinet with Indigenous Peoples”. He promised funding for education and a “respectful” relationship. “We have much work to do together”.

As the inquiry advances, Canadians will be also be able to follow its progress, and engage in the discussion on a website and via social media, she said.

Cooper said she believes some of the factors that have contributed to the phenomenon of missing and murdered aboriginal women include underlying issues such as poverty and discrimination.

“Listening to people is so important, and I’m particularly pleased when the announcement was made today, that the first phase of this inquiry will involve people going into the communities and listening to people”. “The victims deserve justice, their families an opportunity to be heard and to heal”.

That report came days after a United Nations watchdog called for an inquiry into Canadas missing and murdered indigenous women.Trudeau has made working with the aboriginal community to rectify ongoing issues a priority. “First Nations students are no less deserving”.

The Canadian government forced more than 150,000 First Nation children to attend these schools from the 19th Century until the mid-1990s. However, some feel the government dropped the bill when it was opposed by the AFN, which complained that First Nations had not been appropriately consulted.

“Finally, we will conduct a full review of the legislation unilaterally imposed on Indigenous peoples by earlier governments. Let’s get to work”, Bellegarde said. “So, for us, it is making sure that everybody has a chance to shape this”.

“The previous government certainly showed no respect, limited consultations, continued to push policies without the consent and involvement of the First Nations of this country”, he said. “That’s one of the pieces we’re starting with because we think that getting those attitudes will allow us to help shift those attitudes so that those women are treated differently in society in general and in the justice system in particular”.