The Canadian government announced the names on Wednesday of the five commissioners who will lead the National Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls.
Federal officials say Canada is committed to real reconciliation with Indigenous peoples, and the National Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls is an important step on this path to end the unacceptable rates of violence against Indigenous women and girls.
Carolyn Bennett, Minister of Indigenous and Northern Affairs, along with Jody Wilson-Raybould, Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada, Patty Hajdu, Minister of Status of Women, announced on Wednesday the five commissioners who will lead the Inquiry as well as the Terms of Reference for the National Inquiry.
The Commissioners are:
– The Honourable Marion Buller, Chief Commissioner
– Michèle Audette, Commissioner
– Qajaq Robinson, Commissioner
– Marilyn Poitras, Commissioner
– Brian Eyolfson, Commissioner
“For over a decade, the families of missing and murdered Indigenous women and girls have been demanding action,” Bennett stated.
“Today, after meaningful engagement with the families, experts and those with lived experience, I am proud that the Prime Minister, with the support of all provinces and territories, has appointed five outstanding Commissioners who will now be able to do the work needed for Canada to put in place the concrete actions necessary to put an end to this national tragedy.”
Federal officials stated Canada is grateful to the survivors, families, loved ones and grassroots women’s organizations, front-line, feminist Indigenous organizations, national Indigenous organizations, as well as well as provinces and territories, and experts who provided input during the pre-inquiry process.
The input received through the 18 sessions and the online survey helped shape the Inquiry that the Commissioners will now be leading.
The Commissioners have the background, characteristics and experience we heard was necessary in the pre-inquiry design phase to lead this Inquiry, Federal officials said.
The Terms of Reference for the Inquiry were also released today.
The National Inquiry will be funded by the Government of Canada, with the participation and full co-operation of all the provinces and territories. Together, the federal, provincial and territorial governments have ensured the Inquiry has the necessary mandate and tools to help bring this national tragedy to an end.
In response to the pre-inquiry recommendations, the Government also announced on Wednesday $16.17 million over four years for the creation of Family Information Liaison Units in each province and territory and to increase Victims Services funding to provide culturally-appropriate victims services for families of Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls and survivors of violence.
The Family Information Liaison Units will provide centralized, dedicated resources for families of missing or murdered Indigenous women and girls and gather the information families are seeking on their behalf. These services will be provided in a respectful and co-ordinated manner during the Inquiry.
For details:
– The Government of Canada launched the Inquiry on December 8, 2015, which was followed by a three month pre-inquiry engagement process.
– During these three months, 18 face-to-face sessions were held from coast-to-coast-to-coast, with over 2,000 participants and over 4,100 online submissions.
– On February 26, 2016, at the National Roundtable on Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls, the federal, provincial and territorial governments agreed to participation and full cooperation in a National Inquiry.
– The Government published the results of this engagement on May 31, 2016.
– The Government committed $53.86 million over 2 years (2016/17- 2017/18) to establish an Inquiry which will make recommendations on concrete actions to address and prevent violence against Indigenous women and girls, including systemic and societal discrimination.
– File photo
