Terms of reference of MMIW inquiry "lack teeth" says B.C. First Nations Chief

An Assembly of First Nations Regional Chief says the draft terms of reference forthe missing and murdered women's national inquiry, lackteeth.

This week the CBC obtained adraft document for the upcoming national inquiry.

Shane Gottfriedsonwho holds the AFN's national portfolioon missing and murderedIndigenous womensaysheheard nothing from the federal government about the inquiry, until he took to social media to voice his concerns Wednesdaynight.

"For the last 7months they've been working on their own and developing theterms of reference,"Gottfriedsonsaid.

"Wehaven'tbeen involved, the familieshaven'tbeen involved, andNGO'shaven'tbeen involved andthat'swhere the level offrustrationstarts to mount," he said.

But after aMMIW advocate postedGottfriedson'sconcerns with his phone number on facebook last night,asenior government official contacted himthis morning.

"They want to sit down and seek advice on our input on the terms of reference. Im pleased about that but I'mstill not overlythrilled that for the last 7 months we've been left out of the process," he said.

"Why the Secrecy?"

Lorelei Williams, whosecousinTanyaHolyk'sDNA wasfound on serial killerRobertPickton'sfarm, also feels family members wereleft out in the cold.

"I was confused because I thought we were going to be involved in the process and when the leaked document came out I wondered, why the secrecy?" Williams said.

She'sconcernedthe nationalinquiry will mirror theMissing Women's Commissionof Inquiry that looked into thePictkonmurders. Some family members, like Williams, feelthat inquiry was a dismal failure because it did not adequately look at policing.

"From the community, they are voicing that it shouldn't be like the Picktoninquiry, they cant stress that enough," Williams said.

In the 17 pre-inquiry meetings held this year,Indigenous Affairs Minister Carolyn Bennett heard thatfamily memberswantedto see policingexamined in the inquiry.

But the draft terms ofreference, whileaddressing "systemic and institutional" concernsleaves out references to thepolice or the justice system.

Shelagh Day of theFeminist Alliance for International Action says that raises red flags.

Facing tough questions

"The word police or policing or justice system is not used anywhere in the terms of reference, that's a concern those those of us who have been working on this for such a long time," ShelaghDay said.

Carolyn Bennett's office told the CBC they cannot confirm or deny that the word police or justice system will be included in the final terms of reference.

But from her own account Bennett tweeted that the inquiry will examine all systemic issues including policing.

In some cases, like inthe years leading up to RobertPickton's arrest, family members felt ignored.

"The whole question of how ourpolice havebehaved inadequately, sometimes have engaged in misconduct and discriminatory treatment of both families andwomen is very important, I think this is a very hard thing for us to deal with, but it's crucial," Day said.

In a statement the Ministry of Indigenous Affairs told CBC News it is "currently working with the provinces and territories to finalize terms of referencethat would provide commissioners with a mandate to consider a broad range of issues."

Further to the statement arepresentative withBennett's office said "out of respect, the minister is not able to do interviews on the specifics of the ToR until we're able to discuss them with the families."

Numerous family membersCBC News spoke with, said they had not yet been contacted by Bennett's office.

Therearestill no details of when the national inquiry will be held. Family members say they are preparing for theannouncement to happensoon.