The Council of Canadians Peterborough-Kawarthas chapter and its allies – the Sacred Water Circle, the Kawartha Truth and Reconciliation Support Group, and KTRSG Nibi Emosaawdimojig (Those Who Walk for the Water) – are calling for a national inquiry on murdered and missing Indigenous women.
In their letter to the editor published in Peterborough This Week, they write, “When there is a federal government that can ignore the reality of almost 1200 missing and murdered Indigenous women, we are in deep trouble as a ‘civilization’.” Highlighting that “Indigenous women are seven times more likely to be murdered than non-Indigenous women” and other facts, they note, “This is a horrendous series of events that would not likely be tolerated if occurring within the mainstream population. So far, the federal government has not recognized this national crisis.”
And they conclude, “Popular momentum for such a national inquiry has been building. …The federal government could exhibit both compassion and leadership by announcing a national inquiry.”
A roundtable meeting on this issue with provincial premiers, Indigenous organizations and two federal cabinet ministers is happening today in Ottawa. Council of Canadians chapters across the country have been writing letters to the editor, calling their Conservative MPs and supporting municipal resolutions to encourage the Harper government to call a national inquiry.
Further reading
WIN! Regina city council calls for inquiry into murdered and missing Indigenous women (February 2015 blog)
Chapters respond to call for an inquiry on MMIW (February 2015 blog)
