Ministers from the provincial government sent a release acknowledging the first anniversary of the National Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls report Reclaiming Power and Place.
Service New Brunswick Minister Sherry Wilson, who is also minister responsible for women’s equality, and Aboriginal Affairs Minister Jake Stewart said they wanted to honour the family members who lost their loved ones and participated in the inquiry process.
“The work of the national inquiry will help inform how the province moves ahead with all governments, communities and residents to eliminate violence against Aboriginal women and girls. The voice of the families and of Indigenous people and communities will also continue to guide the collective work on this shared goal,” according to the release from the ministers.
The report has 231 items which the original commissioners say have yet to be implemented and no progress has been completed.
“Due to the one year of inaction, the lack of transparency, the growing race and gender-based tensions, Indigenous people’s distrust of governments, and the failure to heed the principles for change in the Final Report, we assert the need for international attention to implementation,” wrote the former commissioners Marion Buller, Michle Audette, Brian Eyolfson and Qajaq Robinson in a statement.
The commissioners wrote if Canada fails to engage an international and impartial organization to mediate and oversee the implementation of the recommendations in a timely manner, they “strongly encourage Indigenous women, girls and 2S people to invite international and impartial oversight of the implementation of the Calls for Justice.”
“There has been little, if any, commitment demonstrated to ensure the work is led by Indigenous Peoples, with Indigenous women, girls and 2SLGBTQQIA peoples central in that process. With the exception of Yukon, which has developed comprehensive plans and commenced implementation, there has been deafening silence and unacceptable inaction from most governments,” wrote the commissioners.
The ministers say they will continue to work to address the issue of violence against indigenous women and girls.
Engagement meetings will be held with the indigenous community once new safety plans are developed.
