Billy Ray reacts to Canada's 1,200 missing aboriginal women

Billy Ray Cyrus was taken aback to hear of Canada's 1,200 missing and murdered aboriginal women Friday afternoon in Winnipeg.

The famous singer-songwriterarrived in Winnipeg todayfor this weekend's National Aboriginal Day.

At a press conference Cyrus was asked about the country's missing aboriginal women.

I am just sitting here shocked right now to even hear that number, more than 1,200 missing aboriginal women? That just sounds Im in shock," he said. "I think that needs to be addressed and maybe thats part of why I am here."

A media person asked Cyrus, given his Cherokee heritage, what the most pressing issue was facing First Nations today.

For me its the 1,200 missing aboriginal women," he said. "Again, that I just hear that right now ...you dont see that on CNN or Fox, but it needs to be there.

Cyrus is headlining a show at the Forks Saturday that will be broadcastlive byAPTN television and radio.