Press Release
Ogichidaa Francis Kavanaugh and the leadership of the Anishinaabe Nation in Treaty#3 acknowledges the federal government announcement yesterday of the National Inquiry for MMIWG.
“Today is for the families, they have been advocates, they have searched tirelessly, and been the voice of their loved one who is missing or who has been murdered,” said Ogichidaa Kavanaugh.
“The families have supported one another in the face of public indifference, discrimination, negative media and police portrayals and systemic barriers within justice, child welfare, housing, and victim services,” he added.
The National Inquiry process must honor Family First principles and be inclusive of our families, respect our cultural and traditional healing ceremonies and an Inquiry hearing needs to be held in Treaty#3 territory.
While initially the MMIWG numbers were disputed by the former Conservative Harper government, with the RCMP and OPP reports and with the recent pre-inquiry meetings it is realized that even those numbers were low.
The evidence supports that there is a national crisis which is affecting our Indigenous girls and women who are being targeted based on their gender and Indigenous identity.
The Treaty#3 Women’s Council was mandated by the Treaty#3 leadership at the Fall Assembly in Lac Seul in 2013 to advocate on behalf of Treaty#3 families of MMIWG.
A Families Gathering was held in March 2015 at Wauzhushk Onigum and another gathering is planned for Aug. 18-19 hosted by Chief Janice Henderson at the Roundhouse in Mitaanjigamiing.
The Treaty 3 leadership and the Office of the Ogichidaa encourages all our families affected by MMIWG to participate in the National Inquiry and for the Commissioners who have been appointed to the Inquiry to have the courageous conversations with our families, our organizations, our Nations and to be brave in making recommendations for change.
Our families and their loved ones deserve no less.
