CBC’s “Mother. Sister. Daughter.” project found that more than half of the 231 calls were not started, and only two were finished
Advocates are disappointed that so little has changed in the four years since the National Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls released its 231 calls for justice.
Heidi Spence, who is in charge of the MMIWG liaison unit for Manitoba Keewatinowi Okimakanak, says that the fact that so many of those calls haven’t been made yet is “unacceptable.”
“I was just shaking my head,” said Spence. “Over 100 of them haven’t even been looked at,” she said.
The “Mother, Sister, Daughter” project from CBC, which came out on Monday, followed the calls and found thatMore than half of them haven’t even begun. — and only two are complete.
Spence said that in the final report of the inquiry, she wants to see more urgency from governments and other groups to act on its recommendations.
She said, “It’s time for that to start happening and be taken very seriously.”
“Families shouldn’t have to beg for things to change.”
Lynne Groulx, the head of the Native Women’s Association of Canada, said that her group’s annual review of the federal government’s progress so far on the calls gave it a failing grade.
“We are disappointed to report that our annual scorecard shows that the federal government has gone another year without meaningful action to end the genocide,” Groulx said in a news release issued June 1.
“The federal government’s lack of action is baffling.”
The Assembly of First Nations on Saturday released a statement lamenting how little has been done to implement the inquiry’s calls to protect Indigenous women, girls and 2SLGBT people.
“Four years later and little has changed,” National Chief RoseAnne Archibald said in the statement.
“This report offers concrete steps that all levels of government can take to offer that protection. No more stolen sisters.”
Government reactio
Crown-Indigenous Relations Minister Marc Miller said the government’sannual progress reportOn the federal pathway to address missing and murdered Indigenous women, girls and two-spirit people shows a “unwavering commitment” from more than 20 federal departments and agencies to address the inquiry’s calls.
“Notwithstanding, it’s important for me to acknowledge that this work is not about reports or numbers or checking boxes. It’s about people,” Miller said during an address in Ottawa on Monday where he did not take questions.
“Notwithstanding, it’s important for me to acknowledge that this work is not about reports or numbers or checking boxes. It’s about people,” Miller said during an address in Ottawa on Monday where he did not take questions.
Instead, the spokesperson provided a statement that said the government is “committed to reconciliation” and acting on the inquiry’s calls for justice.
The statement also pointed to several actions the province has taken in response to the inquiry’s calls.