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Canada 'complicit in race-based genocide' of indigenous women Canada 'complicit in race-based genocide' of indigenous women
(32 minutes later)
Canada is complicit in a "race-based genocide" against indigenous women, a government report has concluded. Canada is complicit in a "race-based genocide" against indigenous women, a government inquiry has found.
The report cited research finding indigenous women were 12 times more likely to be killed or to disappear than other women in Canada.The report cited research finding indigenous women were 12 times more likely to be killed or to disappear than other women in Canada.
Released Monday, the report was many years in the making. The inquiry blamed the crisis on deep-rooted colonialism and state inaction.
Among more than 200 recommendations is a call for all Canadians to help end violence, including by learning indigenous history.Among more than 200 recommendations is a call for all Canadians to help end violence, including by learning indigenous history.
The 1,200-page document is the culmination of almost three years of hearings and research by the inquiry into disproportionate violence faced by indigenous women and girls in Canada. The 1,200-page document released Monday is the culmination of almost three years of hearings and research by the inquiry into disproportionate violence faced by indigenous women and girls in Canada.
It blames the crisis on deep-rooted colonialism and state inaction. "Despite their different circumstances and backgrounds, all of the missing and murdered are connected by economic, social, and political marginalisation, racism and misogyny woven into the fabric of Canadian society," said Marion Buller, chief commissioner of the inquiry.
"Despite their different circumstances and backgrounds, all of the missing and murdered are connected by economic, social, and political marginalisation, racism and misogyny woven into the fabric of Canadian society," said the inquiry's chief commissioner, Marion Buller, in a statement. It cost C$92m ($67m; £53m), and heard from more than 2,000 witnesses since 2017 - including survivors of violence and family members.
The inquiry, which cost C$92m ($67m; £53m), focused on the systemic causes of violence against indigenous, Inuit and Metis women as well as on prevention. What's the background?
It has heard from more than 2,000 witnesses since 2017 - including survivors of violence and family members. Mr Trudeau's government launched the national inquiry in September 2016, after years of calls for one by indigenous and international organisations.
What else did the report find? Notable cases of missing or murdered indigenous women and girls had fuelled the call for a national inquiry, including the Vancouver murders by Robert Pickton, and the death of schoolgirl Tina Fontaine.
Among the findings cited by the inquiry was that indigenous women were 12 times more likely to be killed or to disappear than any other woman in Canada. In 2015, a landmark Truth and Reconciliation report into the legacy of residential schools in Canada issued a damning verdict - that the policy amounted to "cultural genocide".
The report acknowledged disagreements over what constituted genocide, but concluded: "The National Inquiry is of the opinion that the definition of genocide in international law, as it stands, encompasses the past and current actions and omissions of Canada towards Indigenous Peoples." Monday's document takes that finding a step further saying that the murder and disappearance indigenous women and girls over the past few decades has amounted to a "race-based genocide of indigenous peoples".
While the focus of the inquiry was on women and girls, the commissioners also included many references to 2SLGBTQQIA [two-spirit, lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, questioning, intersex and asexual] people.
The report noted that they, too, have been frequent targets of violence.
The inquiry's commissioners were critical of the federal government for refusing a request for a full two-year extension - it was granted an extra six months - saying it left " many truths unspoken and unknown".
How was Canada found to be complicit?How was Canada found to be complicit?
The report found that "persistent and deliberate human and indigenous rights violations and abuses are the root cause behind Canada's staggering rates of violence".The report found that "persistent and deliberate human and indigenous rights violations and abuses are the root cause behind Canada's staggering rates of violence".
Past inquiries and investigations in Canada - from the 1996 Royal Commission on Aboriginal Peoples to the more recent Truth and Reconciliation report - have put forward about 900 wide-ranging recommendations to deal with many of the underlying issues.Past inquiries and investigations in Canada - from the 1996 Royal Commission on Aboriginal Peoples to the more recent Truth and Reconciliation report - have put forward about 900 wide-ranging recommendations to deal with many of the underlying issues.
Many have never been applied.Many have never been applied.
This lack of action was cited by the final report on missing and murdered indigenous women: "One of the family members' and survivors' biggest fears in opening themselves up to this process as intense as this one is that in the end, nothing is done - the report gathers dust on a shelf and the recommendations are left unanswered," the final report said.
It said: "One of the family members' and survivors' biggest fears in opening themselves up to this process as intense as this one is that in the end, nothing is done - the report gathers dust on a shelf and the recommendations are left unanswered".
What's the background?
In 2015, a landmark Truth and Reconciliation report into the legacy of residential schools in Canada issued a damning verdict - that the policy amounted to "cultural genocide".
Monday's document takes that finding a step further saying that the murder and disappearance indigenous women and girls over the past few decades has amounted to a "race-based genocide of indigenous peoples".
What's the reaction?What's the reaction?
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau - who has made reconciliation with indigenous peoples a priority for his government - thanked those that shared their stories with the commission, and vowed to enact the inquiry's recommendations. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau - who has made reconciliation with indigenous peoples a priority for his government - thanked those that shared stories with the commission, and vowed to enact the inquiry's recommendations.
"I know and you know that we need to fix the way things work in this country," he said. "This is an uncomfortable day for Canada, but it is an essential day." "This is an uncomfortable day for Canada, but it is an essential day," he said.
Mr Trudeau did not mention genocide in his speech - a fact that was not lost on Michèle Audette, one of the report's commissioners.
"I was hoping that he would have that courage," she said during a press conference.
Victims' voices finally heardVictims' voices finally heard
By Jessica Murphy, BBC News in OttawaBy Jessica Murphy, BBC News in Ottawa
The document released by the National Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls is dense, at well over 1,000 pages.The document released by the National Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls is dense, at well over 1,000 pages.
But - as is often the case - it's the personal stories that cut through the formal language.But - as is often the case - it's the personal stories that cut through the formal language.
The voices of some of the families were included in the report, bringing emotional weight to the two phone directory-sized volumes.The voices of some of the families were included in the report, bringing emotional weight to the two phone directory-sized volumes.
"Tamara Lynn Chipman stole her daddy's heart from the moment she was born," begins a forward by Gladys Radek. "Tamara Lynn Chipman stole her daddy's heart from the moment she was born," begins a foreword by Gladys Radek.
"She grew into a tall, lanky, charming, beautiful young lady with a smile that would brighten anybody's day.""She grew into a tall, lanky, charming, beautiful young lady with a smile that would brighten anybody's day."
Tamara vanished on 21 September, 2005, along the Highway of Tears in the province British Columbia, a route notorious for the number of women who have gone missing or died along its 724 km (450 miles).Tamara vanished on 21 September, 2005, along the Highway of Tears in the province British Columbia, a route notorious for the number of women who have gone missing or died along its 724 km (450 miles).
Or the words of Jeremiah Bosse - widower of Daleen Bossee - who admits to early doubts about the inquiry: "Will this actually work or help?"Or the words of Jeremiah Bosse - widower of Daleen Bossee - who admits to early doubts about the inquiry: "Will this actually work or help?"
He writes: "Today I feel hopeful for the first time that as victims of violence our words will be heard. The words of our loved ones are spoken."He writes: "Today I feel hopeful for the first time that as victims of violence our words will be heard. The words of our loved ones are spoken."
Why was the report commissioned?
The findings of the National Inquiry into Murdered and Missing Indigenous Women and Girls were long-awaited in Canada, where there are about 1.6 million indigenous people.
Mr Trudeau's government launched the national inquiry in September 2016, after years of calls for one by indigenous and international organisations.
Notable cases of missing or murdered indigenous women and girls had fuelled the call for a national inquiry, including the Vancouver murders by Robert Pickton, and the death of schoolgirl Tina Fontaine.
In 2014, the RCMP released a report, Missing and Murdered Aboriginal Women: A National Operational Overview, that estimated the number of missing and murdered indigenous women between 1980 and 2012. It found 1,017 police-recorded incidents of homicide, and 164 missing reports.
This meant that indigenous women counted for 16% of all female homicides, even though they represent only 4.3% of Canada's female population.
What does the report recommend?What does the report recommend?
The chief commissioner said that nothing short of a "paradigm shift" is necessary to dismantle colonialism in Canadian society.The chief commissioner said that nothing short of a "paradigm shift" is necessary to dismantle colonialism in Canadian society.
Ms Buller urged Canadians: "Read the report, speak out against sexism, racism, and misogyny. Hold government to account and decolonise yourself by learning about indigenous people and the true history of Canada."Ms Buller urged Canadians: "Read the report, speak out against sexism, racism, and misogyny. Hold government to account and decolonise yourself by learning about indigenous people and the true history of Canada."
Other recommendations released outline recommendations in the areas of health, security, criminal justice, and culture, including:
The inquiry called on the federal government to create an independent mechanism for reporting annually on how the recommendations are being implemented.The inquiry called on the federal government to create an independent mechanism for reporting annually on how the recommendations are being implemented.
Other recommendations include: