We say “YES”!

July 30, 2013

Naomi Sayers, Vice-President (Women) – I was very pleased last week when premiers from across Canada echoed their support for a national public inquiry into the issue of Missing & Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls (#MMIWG), yet the Harper government continues its path of indifference towards Indigenous peoples – especially Indigenous women. As the Aboriginal Women’s representative, I am sickened by Harper’s lack of concern for the lives and safety of our sisters, our aunts, our mothers, and our grand mothers across this country who continue to go missing or are murdered at a much higher rate than their non-Indigenous counterparts. The current legislative efforts put in place by the Conservative Government do little to address the violence experienced at the hands of non-Indigenous men. In addition to this, the National Centre for Missing Persons and Unidentifed Remains (NCMPUR) does not even include the over 800 missing and murdered Indigenous women on it’s website. These ‘efforts’ are simply a re-creation of the status quo. If we are to have meaningful change, we need a more concerted effort and a specific focus on Indigenous women and girls.

The Aboriginal Peoples’ Commission continues to support Indigenous peoples, leaders and organizations like the AFN and the NWAC – as well as international organizations such as the United Nations – in their call for a national public inquiry on the issue of Missing & Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls. Conservatives will continue to say no, we will continue to say “YES”!

*Note 1: The views expressed in this blog are those of the author and may not necessarily reflect the views of and/or official policy of the Aboriginal Peoples’ Commission and/or the Liberal Party of Canada*
*Note 2: The blog was published in the language it was received*