Nova Scotia group hopes MMIW inquiry will take hard look at systemic racism

The upcoming inquiryon missing and murdered Indigenous women shouldexamineeverything from the child welfare system to discriminationin the justice system, says asenior advisor with the Nova Scotia Native Women's Association.

Heidi Marshall says she's hopeful the inquiry will lead to Canada taking a hard look at the systemic issuesthat affect the lives on Indigenous people across the county.

"The hope that I see is the commissioners now they are all Indigenous and one is a judge from B.C.," she said.

The long-awaited federal inquiry was announced Wednesday in Ottawa, and will be led byMarionBuller,B.C.'s first female First Nations judge. The commissioners are tasked tostudythefactors driving a high rate of violence against Indigenous women and girls in Canada, and the role of various institutionslike police and government.

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

No criminal liability

Marshall said she isdisappointed the panel will not be tasked with finding criminal liability.

"I think that someone needs to take responsibility. I think the federal government is taking some responsibility, but I think we need to look into police misconduct, which I know we're not going to do," she said.

Marshall believes it'simportant the government spoke to families of missing and murdered women across the country to hear from them how to craft an inquiry. More than 100 peoplemet with two federal cabinet memberswhen they visitedHalifax in January.

"I think that's going to make a difference, the families setting the stage. They need to include the families."

Family liaison units

Along with the inquiry, Ottawaannounced $16.17 million in funding over four years to create units in each province to assist the loved ones of missing and murdered Indigenous girls and women.

Theunits will help connect familieswith information about their loved ones' casesfrom other agencies and services, such as police departments and social services.

TheNova Scotia Native Women's Association opened a Mi'kmaqresource centre, which has been so far operating with very little money. Marshall hopes some of the new fundingcould go towards the centre.

"I think something like that is is going to make a huge difference in the lives of First Nations women," she said.

'Families who require answers'

Premier Stephen McNeil says he's pleased the federal government is moving forward with the inquiry, sayingit's something the provincial government has been pushing for.

"There are many families who require answers, and quite honestly, we need to have a hard look at ourselves to ensure that all of our daughters feel safe in their communities," he said.

The inquiry will being Sept. 1 and run until Dec. 31, 2018 and cost an estimated $53.8 million.