Missing and murdered inquiry to hold N.S. outreach sessions amid troubles

The National Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls will be in Nova Scotia this week to meet with victims and families who wish to participate in the process, which is forging ahead amid multiple resignations, trust issues and demands for reform.

A team of health, legal and community relations workers will hold community visits today in Halifax, Wednesday in Membertou and Thursday in Millbrook.

More visits are planned ahead of a community hearing planned for Halifax the week of Oct. 30.Hearings are scheduled to take place across the country.

Beleaguered inquiry

Critics of the independent inquiryincludingfamily members,activists and academicswrote an open letter to Prime Minister JustinTrudeau, calling the process "deeply misguided" and appealing for a fresh start.

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Families have said they're being left out of the process and a number of key staffers have stepped down, including Marilyn Poitras, one of five commissioners appointed to the inquiry.

Visits seen as an opportunity

Terrellyn Fearn, director of health for the inquiry, said this week'soutreach sessions in Nova Scotia are an opportunity for survivors, families and communities to better understand the process of the inquiry and its purpose.

"My personal hope is that anyone that participates in the inquiry feels empowered, has their dignity restored of their lost loved one and feels they were supported throughout this process," she said.

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The inquiry will examinethe factors driving a systemic, high rate of violence against Indigenous women and girlsand the role of various institutions, including police forces, governments and coroners' offices.

It will also review various federal and provincial laws, but will not find criminal liability. Certain matters can be referred to police.

Breaking the silence

Fearn said people who have participated in the inquiry so far have found itto be cathartic.

"It can be really hard to share the stories," she said.

"We've met with some families and survivors that haven't shared their story in 54 years, so this is the first time that they're actually speaking with people and building trust, safety and comfort in sharing the story of themselves or their lost loved ones."

How to register

Besides in-person registration at the community visits, people can also register by phone, fax, mail ore-mail.

Fearn said many of the people working on the inquiry aresurvivors themselves or family members ofmissing and murdered Indigenous women and girls.

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There will be multiple ways for people to share their stories, including at thepublic hearing in Halifax inOctober, or in privatethrough a statement, or throughartistic expression likeartwork, poetry or a song.

There willbe supports in place for the people who participate in the inquiry, said Fearn.

"Based on the supports they want to have and they've identified and when they feel ready, then we'll proceed with hearing their story," she said.