Inquiry crucial

Re: “Call for an inquiry an ineffective approach,” Naomi Lakritz, Opinion, July 29.

I am disappointed that Naomi Lakritz chose to genderize the issue by stating more aboriginal men are killed or missing. This is not a gender issue; this is an issue that should concern all Canadians. The fact there are more than 1,200 missing and murdered indigenous women and the government does not act should be of greater concern.

Lakritz states, “an inquiry would take months, even years ... more aboriginal women would go missing and murdered.” A national inquiry would shed light on the many issues that require investigation.

Her statement, “And then, white society, feeling it has done its duty ... ” racializes the issues, making this an us and them issue. Violence in all societies is tragic and requires provincial/ federal government intervention.

No one deserves to be murdered. Sadly, indigenous women are overrepresented on this matter and we need to work together on many levels to solve the issues, many of which are rooted in colonization, racism, paternalistic policy, “kill the Indian in the child,” etc.

Josie Nepinak, Calgary