The final report of the National Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls was released June 3rd, 2019.
Throughout this report, and as witnesses shared, we convey truths about state actions and inactions rooted in colonialism and colonial ideologies, built on the presumption of superiority, and utilized to maintain power and control over the land and the people by oppression and, in many cases, by eliminating them.
— Reclaiming Power and Place: The Final Report of the National Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls. June 3, 2019. Page 54
Reclaiming Power and Place: The Final Report of the National Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls
From the June 3rd News Release:
Entitled Reclaiming Power and Place, the National Inquiry’s Final Report is comprised of the truths of more than 2,380 family members, survivors of violence, experts and Knowledge Keepers shared over two years of cross-country public hearings and evidence gathering. It delivers 231 individual Calls for Justice directed at governments, institutions, social service providers, industries and all Canadians.
“Despite their different circumstances and backgrounds, all of the missing and murdered are connected by economic, social and political marginalization, racism, and misogyny woven into the fabric of Canadian society,” explained Chief Commissioner Marion Buller. “The hard truth is that we live in a country whose laws and institutions perpetuate violations of fundamental rights, amounting to a genocide against Indigenous women, girls and 2SLGBTQQIA people.”
The National Inquiry’s Calls for Justice, presented as legal imperatives rather than optional recommendations, outline transformative actions in the areas of health, security, justice and culture including:
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Establishing a National Indigenous and Human Rights Ombudsperson and a National Indigenous and Human Rights Tribunal
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Developing and implementing a National Action Plan to ensure equitable access to employment, housing, education, safety, and health care
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Providing long-term funding for education programs and awareness campaigns related to violence prevention and combatting lateral violence
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Prohibiting the apprehension of children on the basis of poverty and cultural bias
Doing Things Differently:
10 ways our approach is reflective of Indigenous values
Our Guiding Principles
At the National Inquiry, we have adopted an Indigenous, decolonizing and community approach. In our daily work, we follow Indigenous intellectual and legal traditions, world views and cultural practices and protocols.
Honesty Openness Inclusivity
Compassion Courage Fairness Respect
| 2386 |
Total Number of Participants in the Truth Gathering Process |
| 1484 |
Family Members and Survivors provided Testimony |
| 819 |
Individuals shared through Artistic Expressions |
| 83 |
Experts, Knowledge-Keepers and Officials provided Testimony |
| 15 |
Community Hearings |
| 9 |
Knowledge Keeper, Expert and Institutional Hearings |
