National Inuit org “encouraged” by launch of MMIW inquiry

ITK President Natan Obed said “considerations with respect to murdered and missing Inuit women and girls are unique” and that ITK is ready to “tackle the Inuit-specific causes and find Inuit-driven solutions to strengthen our communities.” (FILE PHOTO)

(Updated 3:55 p.m., Dec. 8)

Canada’s national Inuit organization is “encouraged” by the Dec. 8 launch of a national inquiry into missing and murdered Indigenous women, Natan Obed, the president of Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami, said in a written statement.

Three Liberal cabinet ministers — Indigenous Affairs Minister Carolyn Bennett, Justice Minister Jody Wilson-Raybould, and Status of Women Minister Patty Hajdu — declared the launch of the first phase of the inquiry at a press conference in Ottawa.

That first phase involves what they call an “engagement process” — a series of regional consultation meetings with survivors, family members of victims, Aboriginal leaders and representatives of territorial and provincial governments.

The Liberal politicians said they will design the inquiry only after that work is done.

That means they’re providing no detailed information yet on how the inquiry will work.

“The views and ideas expressed by all participants will allow the government to develop the inquiry, including the mandate, the terms of reference, the format of the inquiry, and the timeline,” a federal government statement said.

Their Dec. 8 announcement fulfills a Liberal election promise and carries out one of the 94 recommendations of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission.

Obed, who is in Paris attending the COP21 global climate change conference, said Inuit “are ready to do our part.”

But he also said the issue of murdered and missing Inuit women and girls is “unique.”

“We are ready to work with all organizations that represent Inuit to tackle the Inuit-specific causes and find Inuit-driven solutions to strengthen our communities,” Obed said in his statement.

Pauktuutit, the national Inuit women’s association, said in an earlier statement, on Dec. 4, that they have already begun talking to Bennett and her officials about “the need to ensure the full and equitable participation of Inuit women at all stages of a national inquiry.”

‘We have recommended to the minister that a pre-consultation meeting be held specifically with Inuit families and others from across Inuit Nunangat, including Inuit in urban areas, at the first opportunity, and I hope that she and her cabinet colleagues will support our approach,” Pauktuutit president Rebecca Kudloo said.

Pauktuutit also said that Bennett will meet with Inuit family members in Ottawa on Dec. 11, and that Pauktuutit is working with Tungasuvvingat Inuit to reach out to families in Ottawa who may want to participate.

“Pauktuutit requires more information about the mandate, scope and timeline of this inquiry and continues to call for the immediate development of a national action plan to address Inuit-specific priorities,” the organization said.

The three Liberal ministers said they will start their main regional meetings in the New Year.

And the federal government will soon post an online discussion guide and online survey to help focus those meetings.

“This includes questions about who should conduct the inquiry, the length of the inquiry, who should be heard, and what issues should be considered,” the federal government said.

The Native Women’s Association of Canada, through its Sisters in Spirit project, began gathering statistics on the issue more than five years ago.

In 2010, NWAC published a report that identified 582 missing and murdered Indigenous women and girls across Canada. In 2014, the RCMP identified 1,181 missing and murdered Indigenous women.

The national MMIW inquiry website is available here.

(More to follow)