More turmoil for missing, murdered inquiry
ABORIGINAL LEADERS DIVIDED ON WHETHER TO REBOOT, RETOOL, OR RIDE OUT PROCESS
The resignation of one of the five commissioners of the national inquiry into missing and murdered Indigenous women has prompted calls for the commission to be restructured, for the chief commissioner to step down — and, from some quarters, for more patience.
But as the list of resignations grows longer, there’s no clear consensus from Indigenous leaders about what changes, if any, need to be made and what direction the inquiry should take.
Marilyn Poitras, a Métis law professor at the University of Saskatchewan, resigned in a letter sent to Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Indigenous Affairs Minister Carolyn Bennett, saying she was “unable to perform (her) duties as a commissioner with the process designed in its current structure.” Her resignation is effective July 15.
In a statement, Poitras said the inquiry is upholding “the status quo colonial model of hearings,” and that her vision for the inquiry “is shared (by) very few.”
In response, Francyne Joe, interim president of the Native Women’s Association of Canada, is calling for the inquiry to be restructured and to focus on families instead of taking a “legalistic approach.”
“It’s very disappointing that it might take this resignation for the commissioners … to rethink how they’re working this inquiry,” she said in an interview. “They need to figure out what is going wrong internally.”
Others have gone further. Sheila North Wilson, a grand chief of an organization representing First Nations in northern Manitoba, has called for Buller herself to step down.
But Joe suggested that could do more damage than good.
“If we do a reset, I’m concerned that families are just going to walk away from this inquiry,” she said. er.She believes the government should appoint another commissioner of Métis heritage, and should even consider naming a sixth commissioner.
Bennett has not confirmed whether a new commissioner will be appointed, but told reporters Tuesday that the inquiry is prepared to move ahead with four commissioners.
Still, others are urging the public to stick with the commission. In a statement, Congress of Aboriginal Peoples National Chief Robert Bertrand said he remains optimistic.
“This inquiry cannot afford to fail,” he said. “There is too much at stake for Indigenous families across Canada.”
Liberal MP Robert-Falcon Ouellette, who is Cree, said that while the resignation is “worrying,” the commissioners should be given a chance to complete their work. He pointed to parallels between the present turmoil at the national inquiry and the early days of the truth and reconciliation commission.
In 2008, the chair of the original truth and reconciliation commission resigned, saying his two commissioners didn’t respect his authority. A few months later, both commissioners also stepped down.
A second panel was named in June 2009 with former judge Murray Sinclair, now a senator, as its chair.
Despite that upheaval, Ouellette said, the commission went on to produce “outstanding work.”
“They were able to reach a wide audience, they were able to communicate what was going on, they were able to change public policy,” he said.
He believes the same could still hold true for the national inquiry.
But he wants to hear more from the commissioners about how they’re going to address concerns about the inquiry’s progress.
“This is not something they’re going to be able to push aside and hope it goes away.”
If anything, Ouellette said, the recent resignations of several of the inquiry’s staff members are more worrisome than the loss of a commissioner.
“If you continue to have a rolling through of your employees, it’s not going to give the success that you’re looking for,” he said. “You can’t operate large structures … without a certain amount of continuity.”
Executive director Michèle Moreau, director of operations Chantale Courcy, director of communications Sue Montgomery and manager of community relations Tanya Kappo have all resigned from the inquiry in recent weeks.
At this point, there is no indication from the national inquiry that any major changes are in the works. The commission intends to “forge ahead” with its plans for the summer and fall, according to a statement released Tuesday.
“We thank Marilyn Poitras for her contributions up until this point. However, we want to reassure the public that now, more than ever, we remain focused on this tremendously important work,” chief commissioner Marion Buller said.
In Ottawa, Bennett said she was impressed by the commission’s plan during a meeting with the commissioners Monday.
She did concede that communication has been a problem, but said many families still see the inquiry as the “chance of a lifetime.”
Bennett has limited power to intervene beyond appointing and dismissing commissioners, as it functions independently from the government.
She said the commissioners have told her that their interim report, due in November, will be completed on time.
Last week, Buller announced a schedule of hearings to take place across Canada this fall. She insisted the inquiry is moving at “lightning speed,” given the scope of its mandate.