For years Michèle Audette has been convinced of the need of a national inquiry into the missing and murdered Indigenous women of Canada. And despite a new federal report by the Canadian federal police, the RCMP on Friday, she’s still convinced it’s necessary, as well as action.
Audette as the president of the Native Women’s Association of Canada (NWAC) has repeated that message for years. A few years ago, NWAC itself had put together a data base of missing and murdered women that numbered 582.
In a report last week (May 12) the United Nations Special Rapporteur on Indigenous Peoples James Anaya also called for an inquiry.
But Friday (May 16) when the RCMP released its study “Missing and Murdered Aboriginal Women: National Operational Overview” and identified 164 unresolved cases of missing women and 1,017 homicide victims in the period between 1980 and 2012, it said that as a police force, it was not up to it to call for an inquiry.
Justice Minister Peter MacKay, in a statement Friday, said there was no need for an inquiry. “We must continue to take concrete action now, not just continue to study the issue.”
But for Canada’s Indigenous Peoples the government’s past non-action on the issue of missing and murdered Indigenous women and girls is redoubling efforts to fight for an inquiry and public awareness.
RCI’s Wojtek Gwiazda spoke to NWAC president Michèle Audette about the RCMP report which came at the same time as a 12 year old cousin went missing.
ListenMore information:
Native Women’s Association of Canada (NWAC) press release on RCMP report – here
RCMP – Missing and Murdered Aboriginal Women: A National Operational Overview – here
RCI – Police study on missing, murdered Indigenous women lists ‘risk factors’ – here
Amnesty International Canada – New RCMP violence report highlights need to hold government and police accountable for failing Indigenous women and girls – here
UN Special Rapporteur report – The situation of indigenous peoples in Canada – here
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