National Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls releases final report
Darian Baskatawant
The National Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls has released its final report, titled “Reclaiming Power and Place”, on June 3, 2019 in Gatineau, QC. Contained in two volumes, and a supplementary report for Quebec, it has over 1200 pages and 231 individual Calls for Justice – for Crown and Indigenous governments, institutions, service providers, industries, lawyers, and all Canadians.
Officially launched on August 3, 2016, the Inquiry was mandated to examine and report on the systemic causes behind the violence that Indigenous women and girls experience, and to look for patterns and underlying factors that explain why higher levels of violence occur. They were mandated to further examine the underlying historical, social, economic, institutional, and cultural factors that contribute to the violence.
Of the thousands of stories the National Inquiry heard, they have stated that this specific violence amounts to a race-based genocide of Indigenous people, including First Nations, Inuit and Metis, that especially targets women, girls, and 2S LGBTQQIA people. They note that this violence has been empowered by colonial structures supported by the Indian Act, the Sixties Scoop, residential school and numerous breaches of human and Indigenous rights, ultimately leading to the current increased rates of violence, death, and suicide in Indigenous populations.
The Inquiry also gives a Call for Justice directed at Attorneys and Law Societies (10.1), recommending mandatory intensive and periodic training of Crown Attorneys, defence lawyers, court staff, and all who participate in the criminal justice system, in the area of Indigenous cultures and histories, including distinctions-based training. It further calls for all courts having a staff position for an Indigenous courtroom liaison worker that is adequately funded and resourced to ensure Indigenous people in the court system know their rights and can be connected to the appropriate service(s).
To read the final report, click here: https://www.mmiwg-ffada.ca/final-report/