Launch of MMIW inquiry 'surreal,' NDP MLA Nahanni Fontaine says

Canada's inquiry into missing and murdered Indigenous women and girlslaunched Wednesday morning, and for Manitoba NDP MLA Nahanni Fontaine, the kickoff came withanelement of disbelief and brought on a wave of mixed feelings.

"In some respects it's almost surreal that this day is actually here," Fontaine, Oppositioncritic for missing and murdered Indigenous women,told CBC News in Winnipeg Thursday morning, pausing at times to collectherself. "I personally am just filled with so many emotions.It's been a long journey."

The member of the legislative assembly for St. Johns said families of missing and murdered Indigenous women have waited a long time for action from the federal government, and now they could becloser to finding answers towhy Indigenous women have been disappearing at such disproportionate rates in Canada.

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"I remind everybody that this journey for some families started 30 years ago, so for today to actually occur is first and foremost a testament offamilies' resiliency and determination and courage," Fontaine said.

"I know the immense hurt andtraumathat they are going through every singleday. It just doesn't end.And yet through that pain and that trauma, they have found just enormous amounts of strength and love that have brought us to where we are today."

More than1,000Indigenous women werekilled from 1980 to2012, and 169 more werelisted as missing.

'It's all just a scam'

While the launch of the inquiry is considered good news by many,KyleKematchsaid hestill has strongreservations.

"It's all just a scam in my eyes, but I could be wrong,"Kematchsaid. "Right from the beginning I was never for the inquiry, but other families are, so that's why I will stand behind them."

Kematch'ssisterAmberGuibochewent missing in November 2011.Heand others have been combing the bottom of the Red River with large hooks dangled off the backs of boats since 2015 as part of Drag the Red, an initiative dedicated to finding evidence that could help solve cases ofmissing or murdered people.

• Drag the Red sets out on new boat to search fast-moving waters

Kematchsaid in order for families to really feel supported, the federal government needs to fund and facilitate grassroots search efforts.

Kyle Kematch says his expectations for the MMIW inquiry are low

8 years ago

Duration 0:44

Kyle Kematch is the brother of Amber Guiboche who went missing in November 2010. He helps other families by searching the Red River with Drag the Red. Kematch says the millions spent on the national inquiry would be better spent on resources for families."It's very emotional and very costly. I believe when it comes to stuff like that, they need to step up to the plate big time and show [families]that they really do care," Kematch said."If you've got people who are willing to search, then you should let that happen. Everyone deserves to go home everybody deserves their answers."

At the launch of the inquiry onThursday, the government announced$16.17 million in funding will go toprovinces and territories so they can developfamily information liaison units and provideculturally appropriate victimservices.

Manitoba absent from panel

The inquiry will be led by British Columbia's first female Indigenous judge. All five commissioners are Indigenous and four out of five are women. No one from Manitoba was selected.

• Marion Buller, B.C. First Nations judge, to lead MMIW inquiry

"I'm glad to see, and it was something that we've been advocating for many, many years, that it would be Indigenous led, and thatmore particularly that it would be led by Indigenous women,"Fontainesaid.

From the beginning,the demand to look into the issue came from the Indigenous community and families who were supported by Indigenous women, Fontaine said. That has been reflected in the commissioners selected, shesaid, addingsheis confident they "fundamentally understand the sacredness of their role"andwill represent all voices adequately across the board.

If we're not happy with what is happening, of course we will sound our voices and make our voices heard.- HildaAnderson-Pyrz

"It would've been nice to see somebody from Manitoba, but that doesn't mean that the work here in Manitoba would stop, or that the supports that we have for families would stop," Fontaine said.

"Having worked on this for the last 18 years, my work and my support for families won't stop just because I'm not named as a commissioner or somebody else isn't named as a commissioner. We will still here in Manitoba support families through this process."

ManitobaJustice MinisterHeatherStefansonsaid the province wants to focus on results"to make sure that the inquiry results in some actionable items."

"We want to ensure also, for Manitoba, we have a unique perspective," she said.

Stefansonsaid Manitoba has had a number of inquiries that have resulted in action and the province wants to make sure there is no overlap with the national inquiry.

"We will cooperate fully," she said.

Police andMMIW

A preview of the inquiry mandate prompted criticism from advocates ahead of the launch, who noted the role police and government child and family welfare groups play inMMIWcases was conspicuously missingfrom the guiding documents.

In July, Indigenous Affairs Minister Carolyn Bennett told the Canadian Press that the "uneven application of justice" from the quality of police searches to investigations should be reviewed as part of the inquiry, as results of cases appear to be influenced by whether victims are Indigenous women or girls.

• OPINION |You can't investigate MMIW without looking at police conduct

"The behaviours of police institutions toward families, toward Indigenous women, that narrative has always been a part of families' work and Indigenous women's work at bringing this issue forward,"Fontainesaid.

"I think it's fundamentally needed and required that we look at policing practice and behaviours and policies in order for this national inquiry to be successful, because if we didn't, there's this whole other piece that would have been missing."

Hilda Anderson-Pyrz, president of theFamilies First Foundation, said she is hopeful the inquiry will bring closure to families. Still, officials involved with conducting the inquiry will be under a microscope, she said.

"Our leadership, our families and various advocates who will be watching what is happening andkeep the commissioners, as well as the federal government, on their toes," Anderson-Pyrz said.

"If we're not happy with what is happening, of course we will sound our voices and make our voices heard."

The inquiry is scheduled to run fromSept. 1, 2016, toDec. 31, 2018, and willcost anestimated$53.8 million.

Terms of a Reference for upcoming #MMIW inquiry just released. Read here: https://t.co/6i08HwwR2u

—@connie_walker

Federal government officially launches inquiry, names 5-member commission led by Indigenous judge

8 years ago

Duration 2:00

While police are not mandated right into the terms of reference of the inquiry, Indigenous Affairs Minister Carolyn Bennett promised systemic issues in police forces will be examined. A complaint many Manitoba families have. CBC's Jillian Taylor has been speaking with them today and joins us now with their reactions.