Inquiry should use its powers to fact-find for families of missing and murdered women, advocates say

The federal inquiry into murdered and missing Indigenous women and girls needs to do a better job at gathering information for families before they testify, says a prominent voice for Indigenous women in Quebec.

After observing last week's hearings in Montreal, VivianeMichel, the head of Quebec Native Women, saysthe inquiry should be put on holduntil it makes the necessary changes.

Michel told a news conference Monday the inquiry should use its powers to obtain coronerreports, police reports and autopsy results ahead of time so families have a better understanding of the facts.

Doing so, she said, wouldmake it easier to hold authorities accountable.

"We want justice to be done," she said.

Michel said the inquiry should take five months to reorganize before resuming hearings.

The inquiry, which has been beset by controversy,recently soughta two-year extension to its mandate,until the end of 2020.

Michel said she supports the request for an extension but only if changes are made to better support those testifying.

A spokesperson forthe inquiry declined to comment Monday.

Families need more info, lawyer says

ric Lpine, a lawyer workingfor Quebec Native Women,pointed to the case of a woman who testified last week about her sister, who died in Montreal in the 1990s.

More from theMontreal hearings:

She only obtained the coroner's report into her sister's death a day before speaking, through the assistance of a friend.

The report contained information that changed her understanding of what happened to her sister, Lpinesaid.

Had she been given a copy earlier, she would have had a better idea of what she wanted to tell the inquiry, he said.

"We believe that the witnesses have the right to be fully heard, with all the information made available to them," he said.

Given the lack of details in some witnesses'testimony,Lpinealsoraised concerns about the inquiry's ability to follow through on what happened in its second phase, at which timeit will seek answers from authorities.

Last week, MMIWGCommissioner Michle Audettesaidtheinitial focus on survivors and families would allowthe inquiry toholdgovernment accountable.

"I'm very satisfied by the work we've been doing. It wasn't easy. I won't lie to you. It's an approach that we took collectively," she said.

"This inquiry, on a personal level, I believe that it's a tool that will help us enhance our quality of life."