Trudeau calls for nation-to-nation partnership

The inquiry, the ministers said, will also consider the underlying “root causes” that are contributing to the tragedy, including poverty, racism, sexism, and marginalization of indigenous women and girls.

However, former Prime Minister Stephen Harper refused to authorize an inquiry.

“Working together as partners, I am confident that we can make meaningful and immediate progress on the issues that matter most to First Nations communities”, Mr Trudeau said.

At 206 women between 1980 and 2012, Alberta has the second highest rate of missing and murdered indigenous women next to British Columbia.

Bennett said the government is committed to creating the best possible design for the inquiry, and eventually finding “concrete action” that will stop “this national tragedy”.

Liberal leader Justin Trudeau won a parliamentary majority in a general election on 19 October.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is set to speak with aboriginal leaders gathered in Gatineau, Que., about the Liberal plan.

“Chief Ava Hill from Six Nations said this morning “(Trudeau) is an expressionist for true partnership.I’m glad he’s listened to us.We need to keep his feet to the fire to ensure follow through.”

Indigenous Affairs Minister Carolyn Bennett, Justice Minister Jody Wilson-Raybould and Status of Women Minister Patricia Hadju are expected to hold a press conference Tuesday at 12:30 p.m. local time to announce the inquiry. The victims deserve justice, their families an opportunity to be heard and to heal.

“We have been fighting for this for so long, and it’s got me very emotional”.

Trudeau, in announcing a public inquiry, is seeking a rapprochement with the 1.4 million descendants of Canada’s original inhabitants, who make up 4.3 percent of the country’s total population.

The announcement, made on Tuesday in Canada, will also see the Trudeau government lift the two per-cent cap on First Nation funding, implement the recommendations of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission and review all legislation and policies impacting Indigenous rights. “What we hope it achieves is a comprehensive national strategy as well as a local and regional community strategy on reducing the incidents of violence”, she said.

“I really like when they say it has to be a collaborative collective approach in order to be successful”, said Anderson-Pyrz. Instead, in September 2014, the Conservatives unveiled several measures to address violence against aboriginal women and girls, including funding for shelters, increased support for police investigations and the creation of a missing persons index.

Robinson says it’s important that Ottawa take the wishes of families into consideration before the inquiry begins.

Canada’s relations with indigenous people suffered dramatically under Harper’s 12-year Conservative government.