Families of missing, murdered indigenous women want action beyond national inquiry

Lorelei Williams left the first roundtable on missingand murdered indigenous women in tears after family members who hadlost loved ones fought to be one of four people allowed to speak.

The British Columbia woman, whose aunt disappeared in 1978 andwhose cousin's remains were found on the farm of convicted killerRobert Pickton, says she felt revictimized by the experience.

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Williams hopes it will be different when premiers, federal andprovincial ministers gather again for a second roundtable inWinnipeg. Leaders need to listen more carefully to voices like hersand do what they can to address the issue in their ownjurisdictions, she says.

"Once they get to know the families and what it does to them, Ifeel like (they) can fight a better battle," she saidTuesday.

"There is a lot of racism that has flawed cases and that needs tobe addressed."

Beverley Jacobs, whose cousin was killed in 2008, was one of thefour people who spoke at the first roundtable. She said theexperience was horrible.

She isn't attending this roundtable, but said she hopesprovincial leaders use it to look at addressing poverty, affordablehousing, community safety and the disproportionate number ofindigenous children in care.

"These are all issues that impact indigenous women," saidJacobs, the lead researcher on AmnestyInternational's report onmissing and murdered indigenous women.

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The roundtable beginsWednesdaywith a day-long, closed-doorsession for families only. It's to be followed by two days ofmeetings with premiers, ministers, indigenous leaders and families.

A lot has changed since the last roundtable a year ago when callsfor a national inquiry loomed large. The Conservatives, whosteadfastly refused to call one, lost the fall federal election tothe Liberals, who have promised to convene one this year.

Ontario Premier Kathleen Wynne said an inquiry is one way toaddress violence against indigenous women, butprovinces can also domore.

She announcedTuesdaythat her government is spending $100million over the next three years on a long-term anti-violencestrategy, most of it to support indigenous families. She said shehopes the roundtable will result in concrete actions, including aco-ordinated public awareness campaign.

"The national inquiry is important ... but it cannot be used asan excuse for not taking action," saidWynne, who is attending theroundtable.

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Manitoba Premier Greg Selinger said the provinces each have alist of projects to be discussed and prioritized.They includeengaging indigenous men in anti-violence campaigns and improvingaccess to emergency shelters.

"There is quite a bit of motivation in the room to follow up onthese things."

For federal ministers, the roundtable is a chance to consult provincial leaders about the inquiry. Federal Justice Minister JodyWilson-Raybould has toured the country to hear from family membersabout what the inquiry should look like. She said she hopes theroundtable will be a chance to get the provinces and territories onboard.

"It's going to be a good discussion. I'm looking forward to it."

Indigenous Affairs Minister Carolyn Bennett said she hopes to getideas on what action can be taken immediately.

"There obviously are some things we could be doing togetherright now," she said. "There is optimism from the families, butalso the provinces and territories, that we're finally going to getto work together with the federal government on a real plan."

The RCMP has estimated at least 1,200 indigenous women havedisappeared or been murdered since 1980. Although indigenous womenmake up 4.3 per cent of the Canadian population, they account for 16per cent of female homicides and 11.3 per cent of missing women.