Commissioners take extra steps in bid to ensure all stories heard
SASKATOON Determined to ensure everyone who wanted to speak had the chance, the last day of community hearings for the National Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls in Saskatoon got an early start.
Chief commissioner Marion Buller told reporters Thursday morning that despite the high number of people wishing to share their stories with the inquiry, she was “very confident” everyone who wanted to speak would be able to do so before hearings wrapped up Thursday night.
Commissioners had several contingency plans in place to ensure that happened — including starting hearings earlier than originally scheduled.
“We work through our lunches if we have to. We’re that committed to families and survivors,” Buller said. “We want them to be able to share their truths in a good way without having to wait.”
During the first two days of hearings in Saskatoon, 53 people shared their stories in 22 public and private hearings. Another 16 people sat down with statement gatherers. Buller said those numbers are “great” and suggest to her that people have faith in the inquiry.
Saskatoon is one of eight cities the national inquiry is visiting this year to hear from people about their missing and murdered daughters, wives and mothers. The Liberal government has earmarked $53.8 million and two years for the inquiry’s work.
Frank Hope was one of the eight statement gatherers in Saskatoon. He said he took between two and four statements daily during the inquiry’s public hearings. Some took an hour. Others took more than three hours.
“There’s no time constraints. We let them share until they’re done,” said Hope, who also gathered statements at the national inquiry’s stops in Winnipeg and Edmonton earlier this fall.
Over the last two months, he has heard people talk about the intergenerational effects of residential schools and the ’60s Scoop. He has also heard stories of struggles with the foster care and justice systems.
“It’s a healing expression, people coming forth and sharing their stories, sharing their pain. And it takes a lot of courage for someone to do that,” he said.
Having statement gatherers as part of the national inquiry’s community hearings gives families and survivors a more relaxed setting to talk about missing and murdered loved ones, he said.
“There are people who come in and have never talked about this. For individuals, it’s just beginning to really feel that pain and expressing it.
“It’s very personal. You’re opening yourself up to somebody and so for me, it’s an honour to bear witness to someone who’s sharing their story.”
We’re that committed to families and survivors. We want them to be able to share their truths in a good way ...