North Coast Review: With currents of genocide and colonialism, MMIWG Commissioners deliver Final Report

The Commissioners of the Murdered, Missing, Indigenous Women and Girls Commission delivered their final report this morning from Gatineau in the National Capital Region, the findings coming from near three years of testimony from many corners of Canada.

The commission began its work in September of 2016 led by Chief Commissioner Marion Buller, and as is acknowledged in the preface to the report, their work was at times controversial and faced a fair share of criticism along its journey.

During its period of study the inquiry also saw a number of departures from its ranks of participants, whether Inquiry Commissioners, or staff members. In some cases with strong criticism of the process and clashes in views, making for larger headlines at times than the main focus of the study into the Murdered and Missing.

At other times the inquiry also seemed to exasperate the federal government with missed delivery dates and frequent calls for an extension of their mandate.

Ms. Buller addresses that last note as part of the preface to the 1,000 page plus report, as the Chief Commissioner observes that the inquiry members did not believe that their work was done before the Federal Government called for its end and the delivery of a final report.

"The violence against Indigenous women, girls, and 2SLGBTQQIA people is a national tragedy of epic proportion. Also part of this national tragedy is governments’ refusals to grant the National Inquiry the full two-year extension requested. In doing so, governments chose to leave many truths unspoken and unknown.

There has been and will be criticism of our work; it is vitally important. I hope that the criticism will be constructive and never end. I take the critics and their criticism as indications of the great passion that exists about the issue of violence against Indigenous women and girls."

As some of the details of the report began to filter out over the weekend, the themes that generated the most interest and commentary were those of genocide and decolonization, terms that frame the report often from start to finish.

With the focus on genocide an element of the report introduced from the outset as part of the preface to the report and then defined further as part of the introduction to the commission's findings.

"Skeptics will be fearful and will complain that the financial cost of rebuilding is too great, that enough has been done, that enough money has been spent. To them I say, we as a nation cannot afford not to rebuild. Otherwise, we all knowingly enable the continuation of genocide in our own country."

Also featured as part of the Introduction to the report, a short overview of the inquiry travels, with more than 2,380 people having participated in the national inquiry, some as part of the 15 community hearings held across the country including a session held in September of 2017 at Smithers.

Other participants shared their stories in private or as part of in camera sessions during the course of the inquiry period.

The document is divided into two volumes, with Volume A reviewing much of the testimony and research that the Commissioners received during the course of their near three year travels.

The final section of the report in Volume B features the Calls for Justice, with 231 listed among those calls from the Committee members, which they note are not recommendations, but imperatives requiring action.

Included on the list is a call for Canadians to become part of the solution and to become more involved in the way we approach the Missing and Murdered. With commissioners urging a change in perceptions and to act on the calls for justice from the surviving families.

The Report also calls for a decolonization in the way that we view Indigenous rights and issues, as well as a dedication towards the re-establishment of Indigenous nationhood and the adoption of principles for change

The Report notes how the root cause of the high rate of violence against Indigenous women and girls is an entrenchment of colonialism, a vestige of the past which they call on Canadians to reject as part of the path forward.

"This colonialism, discrimination, and genocide explains the high rates of violence against Indigenous women, girls, and 2SLGBTQQIA people.

An absolute paradigm shift is required to dismantle colonialism within Canadian society, and from all levels of government and public institutions. Ideologies and instruments of colonialism, racism, and misogyny, past and present, must be rejected."

Governments at all levels, police agencies, the court and corrections system, the media, health professionals and educators are just a few of the many organizations and groups which make for the larger focus for the Calls of Action.

The report features a range of recommendations for all to be followed up on, in order to fully act on the findings of the commissioners and their period of study. Canadians are also called on to ensure that those in the groups listed to take action, maintain their commitment towards the Calls for Justice