Feds to fund commemoration events for missing and murdered Indigenous women

The federal government has launched a new commemoration fund in honour of Canada'smissing and murdered Indigenous women and girls.

Over two years, $10 million will be dispersed toIndigenous organizations to develop various activities and events across the country in memory of the hundreds who have been killed or gone missing over the past 30 years.

The endowment is the result of recommendations made by theNational Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls inits interim report in 2017. The inquiry pointed out that activities should be funded that honour the lives and legacies of Indigenous women, girls and LGBT people.

Those initiatives could include things like pow-wows, healing circles, lecture series, art workshops, community monumentsand totem poles, the government said.

The announcement was made in Vancouver on Saturday morning by Maryam Monsef, the minister ofwomen and gender equality.

"The fund will raise awareness about this ongoing tragedy that has affected Inuit, Mtis and Indigenouspeoples across this country," she said.

James Taylor, an Anishinaabe manwho lives in Victoria, attended the announcement and said while the money and program is welcome, he worried it's just pre-election spending.

"I'm hoping that it isn't Justin [Trudeau's]way of ensuring himself another seat for four years," he said

The Liberal government launched the national inquiryin 2016, devoting $53.8 million over an intended two-year mandate that was set to conclude in December 2018.

However, the endeavour has been plagued with problems.

Resignations and controversy

Last January, the inquiry's executive director Debbie Reid resigned. She fell into controversy when, shortly after she was hired, she sent a letter to inquiry staff telling them their primary role was to protect the inquiry's commissioners from "criticism or surprises."

Shortly before, the project was shaken by the departure of one commissioner and the previous executive director. A lawyer with the MMIWG inquiry also quit, citing government interference.

The taskappeared overwhelming, and in the summer the commissionaskedfor an additional two years and an extra $50 million to complete thework.

Watch: Power and Politics talks to MMIWG InquiryChief Commissioner Marion Buller

MMIWG Inquiry wraps up final hearings

6 years ago

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'Timelines and accountability' will be key going forward, says Chief Commissioner Marion Buller.

The government's response fell well below what they requested. The Liberals didextendthe inquiry's life span, but only by a few months.Thenew final report deadline is at the end of April, and the operation has been instructedto wind downby June.

Following that announcement, commissioner Michle Audettesaid she wascontemplating leaving her role, explaining she was consumed by "incomprehension and deep disappointment," with the extension. In the end, she decided to stay.

Crown-Indigenous Relations Minister Carolyn Bennett has defended her decision to only incrementally extend the timeline, but the commissioners of the inquiry have accused the Trudeau government of trying to cramthe work into a timeline that fits with October's election.

Weighing the statistics

Precise numbers are hazy, but by the RCMP'scount in 2014,there were 164 Indigenous women who were missing and 1,017 morewho had been murdered over the past three decades.

The justice department saysIndigenous women represent 16per cent offemale murder victims in Canada, even though they only make up 3.8 per cent of women in Canada.

Since 2016, the inquiry has heard from nearly 1,500 family members during 15 community hearings that concluded in December.

Organizations that wish to submit proposals for a chunk of the commemoration money can submit applications online until March 28.