RECLAIMING POWER AND PLACE: INSIDE THE NATIONAL INQUIRY INTO MISSING AND MURDERED INDIGENOUS WOMEN AND GIRLS

Dr. Karine Duhamel

ROOTS OF THE NATIONAL INQUIRY

THE MANDATE

• The National Inquiry must look into and report on the systemic causes of all forms of violence against Indigenous women and girls, including sexual violence. We must examine the underlying social, economic, cultural, institutional, and historical causes that contribute to the ongoing violence and particular vulnerabilities of Indigenous women and girls in Canada.

THE TRUTH-GATHERING

PROCESS

WRITING A NEW STORY

RECLAIMING POWER AND PLACE

AN INTERSECTIONAL AND DISTINCTIONS-BASED APPROACH

Structural Forces

• Colonization (historic and ongoing) ; Patriarchy ; Social, political and economic marginalization ; Media and stereotyping ; Institutions and structures that harm rather than heal (e.g. health, justice)

Types of Discrimination

• Racism ; Sexism ; Transphobia and homophobia ; Exploitation ; Economic, political and social exclusion ; Cultural violence ; Physical, emotional, and spiritual violence ; Family dislocation and separation ; Denial of adequate financial resources

Aspects of Identity

• Indigeneity and "Status" ; Socioeconomic status ; Family status ; Educational level ; Geographic location ; Gender ; Ability; Sexual orientation ; Spirituality

FOUR ROOT CAUSES

• Intergenerational and multigenerational trauma;

• Economic and social marginalization;

• Institutional lack of will and maintaining the status quo;

• Failure to recognize the agency and expertise of Indigenous women and communities.

A BRIEF HISTORY OF CHILD WELFARE

• “I’M PART OF THE FOSTER CARE FOR THE SIXTIES SCOOP AND PART OF THE RESIDENTIAL SCHOOL. I’M PART OF THE HEALING PROCESS.… [MY KIDS] DIDN’T UNDERSTAND. THEY DIDN’T KNOW MY STORY. I TELL MY STORY SO THAT MY GRANDKIDS WILL UNDERSTAND, YEAH. I WANT PEOPLE TO UNDERSTAND THAT WOUNDS –OPEN WOUNDS, THEY – THEY DON’T HEAL, THEY JUST GET SCARS. AND BELIEVE ME, I’VE GOT ENOUGH OF MY SCARS, NOT ONLY ON MY OUTSIDE, BUT IN MY SPIRIT, IN MY HEART, IN MY SOUL.”

Elaine D.

66 MILLION NIGHTS AND 187,000 YEARS

• “The monster that was created in the residential schools moved into a new house. And that monster now lives in the child welfare system.”

Senator Murray Sinclair

CHILDREN’S RIGHTS AND CANADA’S OBLIGATIONS

Key principles include:

❖NON-DISCRIMINATION;

❖BEST INTERESTS OF THE CHILD;

❖RIGHT TO LIFE, SURVIVAL AND DEVELOPMENT;

❖RESPECT FOR THE VIEWS OF THE CHILD.

BUILDING ACCOUNTABILITY

ENCOUNTERS THAT MAKE A

DIFFERENCE

THE ABILITY TO DREAM

FOR OURSELVES

TAKING ACTION