How Canada Should Investigate Violence Against Indigenous Women

Canada has finally emerged from a decade of rule under the former Conservative government which was replete with anti-Indigenous sentiment; the regular breach of Aboriginal and treaty rights; political attacks on Indigenous leaders; and the government’s steadfast refusal to address the crisis of murdered and missing Indigenous women and girls.

Our new Prime Minister Justin Trudeau was elected on a platform of improving relations with Indigenous peoples by moving to a Nation-to-Nation relationship; implementing all of the recommendations of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission (on residential schools), and launching a national inquiry into murdered and missing Indigenous women. True to his word, upon taking office his first order of business was engaging in a consultation process with the families of victims and Indigenous advocates, experts and organizations to determine the scope of the inquiry. While some suggested that Indigenous men should be in the inquiry, Minister of Indigenous and Northern Affairs Carolyn Bennett confirmed that the inquiry would focus exclusively on Indigenous women and girls.

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