By Tanya Cronin

Trudeau pledges ‘new relationship’ with First Nations

Dec 8, 2015 | 3:57 PM

KAMLOOPS — Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has unveiled details of what his Government calls a new relationship with First Nations people.

Speaking to the Assembly of First Nations in Gatineau, Quebec today, Trudeau says his Government will act on several of the promises his party made during the election campaign. Part of the new strategy includes phase one of a National Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women, something long called for by First Nations leaders. Several Chiefs from the Kamloops area were in Gatineau for the announcement, including Whispering Pines-Clinton Indian Band Chief Mike LeBourdais.

“Hopefully it’ll be adequately resourced and get to the bottom of why Indigenous women are over represented when it comes to murdered and missing. They make up 3% of the population, yet they’re 4 times as likely to go murdered and missing. There has to be some rhyme or reason to that,” said LeBourdais.

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The Government will consult the families of victims over the next two months to get their input on how the inquiry should be designed. Cathy McLeod, Kamloops-Thompson-Cariboo MP and the Conservative’s Critic for Indigenous Affairs, says her party realizes they cannot ignore the overwhelming voices in favour of the inquiry. She hopes it will reveal answers that will give victims’ families some peace.

“Clearly in the past, my perspective was that their answers were in the 40 plus existing reports, but Canadians and Indigenous Leaders across the country felt very strongly about this National Inquiry, and our leader made a committment that we would be supporting this moving forward,” said McLeod.

Trudeau also affirmed his Government’s intention to implement all 94-recommendations from the Truth and Reconciliation Commission into Canada’s residential schools.