06) GETTING THE INQUIRY RIGHT

 

People’s Voice Editorial

 

            Sometimes symbolic actions can deliberately obscure realities. Stephen Harper's 2008 "apology" to the victims of residential school abuse was later exposed as a brazen attempt to minimize political fallout. His government stubbornly resisted calls for an inquiry into missing and murdered indigenous women, signalling that the ex-PM does not regard indigenous people as equal to "old stock Canadians."

 

            Now, the first steps of the Trudeau government towards reconciliation with indigenous peoples are being closely watched. Will the son of the prime minister whose government's infamous White Paper set off an upsurge of aboriginal militancy show true respect for First Nations? Or will Justin Trudeau stumble out of the gate? The national inquiry issue will be a critical test, around the terms of reference, the consultation process, and the political will to implement final recommendations.

 

            Trudeau and his new Justice Minister, Jody Raybold-Wilson, must avoid the mistakes of the B.C. inquiry led by Wally Oppal, such as its narrow focus on the botched criminal investigation of Willy Pickton, or more accurately, the refusal of police forces to treat the disappearances of indigenous women seriously. The Oppal inquiry was never designed to gather information to help end systematic violence against indigenous women and girls.

 

            The federal inquiry must instead take the advice of those who have worked so hard to keep this tragedy at the centre of public attention. Family members, the First Nations Summit, the B.C. Civil Liberties Association and others, all want prior consultation with indigenous women themselves. They stress that the inquiry should be conducted by a woman, and hear from all the affected communities. Not least, the government must take action, in contrast to British Columbia, where most of Oppal's recommendations were ignored. The proof of Justin Trudeau’s intentions will not be in his campaign promises of reconciliation, but in starting the national inquiry on the right foot.

 

(The above article is from the November 16-30, 2015, issue of People's Voice, Canada's leading socialist newspaper. Articles can be reprinted free if the source is credited. Subscription rates in Canada: $30/year, or $15 low income rate; for U.S. readers - $45 US per year; other overseas readers - $45 US or $50 CDN per year. Send to People's Voice, c/o PV Business Manager, 706 Clark Drive, Vancouver, BC, V5L 3J1.)