Tribal Chief Calls MMIW Inquiry an ‘Excellent Start’
Prince George, B.C. – “An excellent start.”
That’s Tribal Chief Terry Teegee of the Carrier Sekani Tribal Council’s reaction to today’s announcement of a national inquiry into missing and murdered Indigenous women and girls.
The federal government announced phase one of the inquiry will include consulting with victims families to be followed by a period of online public feedback.
“It’s refreshing to see that governments are actually listening to us,” said Teegee, who fully supports the government’s phased-in approach.
“Yes, I do like that they have it set out into phases because that’s actually what was promoted and presented by the families. So before anything gets started and anybody has any ideas for the inquiry that they listen to what the families have to say.”
Teegee’s next hope is that once the inquiry is done that there be resources set aside to implement some of the recommendations.
“Far too often we go down this road of an inquiry and there are no resources to implement some really good recommendations. A good example is the Cohen inquiry on so called missing Sockeye Salmon.”
He added he’s hopeful legislation to end violence against Indigenous women will come out of the inquiry considering an aboriginal woman, former regional AFN Chief Jody Wilson-Raybould, is now justice minister.
Comments
I agree with Chief Teegee…. It’s an excellent start!!!
Thank you Trudeau government.
Mr Teegee seems to forget Caucasian women involved as well.
I’m sure he’s well aware of the fact that there are non-aboriginal women involved as well, but the victims do seem to be disproportionately aboriginal, and its Terry’s job to look out especially for CSTC members.
I am surprised that the aboriginals have not carried on the investigation themselves. You think if it was something they really wanted solved, fixed etc nothing could stop them..but it seemed they just wait for the government to do something and complain until something gets done.
P Val, do you really think that a private party can carry out a large scale criminal investigation? They don’t have access to the police reports, missing persons reports, autopsy reports, etc. They don’t have subpoena power or the ability to obtain search warrants. They can’t do legal favours for confidential informants.
An inquiry is indeed good news but just how many inquiries in to this will be done before any action takes place?
We must also realize there is some responsibility on families and communities to educate these young ladies on the very serious hazards of being out on the streets and highways of any community alone; especially at night. I still see so many hitch hiking on that highway all by themselves and you just have to shake your head. What in the heck have their parents taught them?
Please First Nation communities initiative some incentive here and educate the youth. Don’t point the blame solely at the lack of bus service or government look, in your own backyard and step up to the plate too!
The comment by 2fargone is by far the most accurate assessment of the situation that I have heard or read. Well done.
Eminently sensible, of course the victim’s families and communities should play a part in education and support, we, none of us, can just sit back and wait for “The Government” to ‘do something’ Let’s face it, anything that any government touches becomes fubar, why wait for years and tens of millions of dollars to study this problem. It all starts at home, the blame game is not too satisfying for anybody in the long run.
metalman.
2far gone, I agree!
Someone told me once that when you point a finger at someone or something, there are 3 more fingers pointing right back at you!
First Nations leadership has been more than happy to point their finger and laying blame at the Federal and Provincial Governments. They need to realize that there are 3 more fingers pointing right back at them!
If the ultimate goal is to save lives, wouldn’t it be reasonable to expect “everybody” to take some responsibility?
As long as females of any race or culture continue to hitchhike on our highways there is a potential for more tragedies. That is 90% of the problem and it is going to cost taxpayers another 40M dollars to arrive at a similar conclusion. The blame will be placed on the lack of transportation not on the individuals hitchhiking.
On CKPG news Tygee mentioned that this should help non-aboriginals as well.
As far as families teaching their kids not to hitch hike, good luck with that.
Teegee … sorry, my foot slipped.
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