Ashley Callingbull, the first Native woman to win the title of Mrs. Universe, speaks in support of an inquiry into missing and murdered Native women on September 9, 2015. Photo from Chiefs of Ontario / Twitter
CBC journalist Tim Fontaine of the Sagkeeng First Nation offers some analysis on the the newly-announced national inquiry into missing and murdered indigenous women in Canada:
In 2014, the RCMP released a Canada-wide report on the number of missing and murdered aboriginal women. It indicated that nearly 1,200 aboriginal women were victims of homicide between 1980 and 2012. Meanwhile, a 2015 UN report found that young aboriginal women in Canada are five times more likely to die under violent circumstances as compared to their non-aboriginal counterparts. It also reported that indigenous women report rates of violence 3.5 times higher than non-aboriginal women. This new inquiry is expected to look at the root causes of these horrifying statistics, which the Native Women's Association of Canada says are born of poverty, marginalization and colonialism. It could also potentially bring together all of the many agencies, organizations and individuals that deal with indigenous peoples to ask how this could have been allowed to happen for so long.Get the Story:
Tim Fontaine: For indigenous people, inquiries can fuel change — but only if governments act (CBC 12/9) Also Today:
Missing, murdered indigenous women: families 'hopeful' after inquiry announcement (CBC 12/8)
Missing and murdered indigenous women: 1st phase of public inquiry outlined today (CBC 12/8)
Liberals launch first phase of inquiry into missing, murdered indigenous women (CP 12/8)
Justice Minister Jody Wilson-Raybould announces inquiry into missing Indigenous women (The National Observer 12/8)
Liberal gov't launches 1st phase of missing, murdered women inquiry (CTV 12/8)
Canada Launches Inquiry Into Murdered Aboriginal Women and Opens the Door to Repealing 'Racist' Indian Act (VICE News 12/8)
22 cases added to CBC's missing and murdered indigenous women database (CBC 12/8)
Missing and murdered indigenous women inquiry resonates in Atlantic Canada (CBC 12/9) Royal Canadian Mounted Police Report:
Missing and Murdered Aboriginal Women: A National Operational Overvie (May 2014)
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