Inuit presence hard to miss at closing ceremony for inquiry into missing and murdered Indigenous women and girls
“The amauti I made, that I dedicated to my late sister, Lily, it was like she was standing on the stage and standing for justice”
June 3 marked the release of the final report from the National Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls. Many attendees came dressed in red, and in dress from across Indigenous traditions and communities. (Photo by Kahlan Miron)
When Prime Minister Justin Trudeau received the final report from the National Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls, he shared the stage with a red amauti.
Created by InukChic’s Martha Kyak, it was one of several examples of how the presence of Inuit was hard to miss at Monday’s closing ceremony at the Canadian Museum of History in Gatineau.
The closing ceremony showcased a red amauti created by InukChic’s Martha Kyak. On Facebook, Kyak wrote: “The amauti I made, that I dedicated to my late sister, Lily, it was like she was standing on the stage and standing for justice.” (Photo by Kahlan Miron)
Like many in attendance who wore red, the amauti was a nod towards the Red Dress project, which aimed to draw attention to the staggering number of missing and murdered Indigenous women and girls.
On Facebook, Kyak wrote: “The amauti I made, that I dedicated to my late sister, Lily, it was like she was standing on the stage and standing for justice.”
A sealskin could also be seen draped from the podium on the stage. And among the various Indigenous ceremonies included in the event, elder Meeka Arnakaq lit a qulliq, staying on stage throughout the event to keep it alight.
That particular qulliq had travelled with the commissioners to the hearings.
“And at each hearing, it was tended by an Inuk woman … who listened, who provided support to the commissioners, and hence it holds all the stories of loved ones,” said Lisa Koperqualuk, who co-hosted the event.
The release of the final report is the culmination of over two years spent gathering difficult stories and discussing the means of change.
Speakers and attendees mourned lost loved ones through speeches, prayer and moments of silence. Pictures of the missing and murdered—carried as posters by those in the crowd, or gathered on tables near the entrance—also served as powerful reminders.
But the day was a recognition of truths, too, and the audience and speakers both made one point clear: that day was not an ending, but one more step towards action.
Artworks from the Legacy Archive, which was collected over two years by the National Inquiry, were also present at the Closing Ceremony on June 3. “Each piece stands at a place where one’s truth and experience is revealed, as a tool to fight racism and resist colonial beliefs, and as a platform to raise awareness about Indigenous issues and encourage activism,” states a document from the inquiry. (Photo by Kahlan Miron)
It was a theme emphasized by all four commissioners when they took the stage. The audience’s reaction also spoke volumes: when Prime Minister Justin Trudeau promised the report would “not be placed on a shelf to collect dust,” he was met by loud applause, cheers and drum banging.
In many ways, the ceremony was as much about the future as it was about the past. This was symbolized through the next generation passing the final report to present-day leaders—an act that happened twice.
As part of the tikinaagan (or cradleboard) ceremony, youth presented the report to Trudeau after the four commissioners bundled and touched the report with sacred materials from Inuit, First Nations and Métis peoples, and grandmothers and family members acknowledged the bundle before it was passed on.
“The final report is a gift, to all Canadians and Indigenous nations and peoples in Canada, from all those who share their sacred truth,” explained closing ceremony co-host Valerie Courtois.
“It is presented by youth, from our next generations of leaders, and will be presented to the [prime minister.]”
Justin Trudeau receives the final report from the National Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls. (Photo by Kahlan Miron)
During the tikinaagan ceremony, families of victims and survivors were encouraged to stand—whether they were in the room or watching from home.
Then, youth from each province and territory passed a report to their representative ministers. Nunavut’s Elisapee Sheutiapik took part in this event.
While the closing ceremony was an acknowledgement of Indigenous truths and experiences, another truth needed to be recognized as well.
“This process has tested me to my core,” said commissioner Qajaq Robinson, who was born in Iqaluit and raised in Igloolik. “As a non-Indigenous person, I struggled to come to terms with my role in Canada’s genocide … shame, guilt denial. That urge to say no. No, no, that’s not what this is. This is not who I am. But it’s the truth, it’s our truth, it’s my truth, it’s your truth.”
Nunavut’s Elisapee Sheutiapik with the final report. Ministers from each province and territory received copies of the final report from youth from their region. (Photo by Kahlan Miron)
“It might challenge who we think we are, who we hope to be, but who we will be and who we are is ultimately defined by how we respond now that we know.”
Later, Trudeau seemed to echo the sentiment. “This is an uncomfortable day for Canada,” he said. “But it is an essential day.”
As people left they were encouraged to take copies of the report, as well as other tokens, like a red ribbon. Organizers invited attendees to tie the ribbons in public places, to serve as a visual reminder of the missing and murdered.
Qajaq Robinson: “As a non-Indigenous person, I struggled to come to terms with my role in Canada’s genocide … shame, guilt denial…”
I’m sorry you feel this way, Qajaq. But I reject the notion that guilt can or should be categorically passed along to all non-indigenous people of this country, especially people who had nothing to do with any of these crimes. This is not to say we can’t join in wanting to create a more equitable country, and to help fix past wrongs, but this idea that we should carry along guilt is a toxic and misplaced one.
Qajaq’s statement has been taken out of context. She was speaking as to her ancestor’s role in colonization.
Perhaps that’s true, though it doesn’t look like it based on what has been reprinted here. Still, I know how important it is to control the narrative. The prevailing trend, it seems, is to submit as an article of truth the words and experiences of specific groups who, in a given situation, have a preferred identity (those somehow marginalized, in this case indigenous women) as objective truths that count as a reality for everyone. This is a distortion of the ways we count what evidence and truth really are. Forgive me if I am being a bit abstract, here’s an example from the article: “But it’s the truth, it’s our truth, it’s my truth, it’s your truth.” Truth here (for example, that these events constitute a ‘genocide’) is determined because the marginalized group has determined it to be so. There is no debate allowed here, we are all simply asked to accept the verdict. Please note, I’m not bringing this up to debate the semantics of genocide, only to point out where we seem to have arrived in terms of how we are determining what constitutes ‘reality’ in all this. I find this process very distorted, if not a bit dangerous.
As A Male. As A Father. As A Member of the Opposite Sex. I often wonder why Missing and Murdered Women and Girls get all the Attention and Notoriety from the Government of Canada, Television Media and Social Media and the Boys and Men get no Headline Notoriety. My handsome 19 year old son Robert Matthew Dakota Adams was Brutally Murdered on March 19, 2018 and no Women’s Organization or any other Inuit Organization contacted me nor my Family to give their Condolences and or Sympathies.I do feel Sadness and Anger when I hear of a Indigenous Woman or Girl is Murdered but imagine how a Father feels. As A Male Father Parent, I feel as though I am a 3rd class Citizen living in a Country Called Canada.It seems as though Males, Men and Fathers are the most Violent people on Earth and they deserve no Recognition. So Sad. So Hurt. But Humbled in knowing that my son did not die in VAIN.i love you my son. ouuuuuuuuu
I would like to see MMCP established by our politicians and
leaders throughout the provinces & territories in all of
Canada for all the people.
There is strength in numbers.
It might even accomplish something good.
TAI – MUK.
Bernie, I am very saddened by the story of your son. That must be an extremely painful experience for you. As for your comments, this issue has not gone entirely unnoticed, though, as a counter current to narratives of the day it gets little traction in the public consciousness and media. For a more detailed and nuanced look at this topic than is possible here please google the following piece: “Considering the Male Disposability Hypothesis” by Maria Kouloglou