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Dear Ministers,

I am writing to express my grave concern regarding missing and murdered Indigenous women in Canada, and to urge you to lobby for an independent inquiry into the 300 official unsolved cases since 1980.  I strongly suggest that you follow through with the recommendations put forth by Amnesty International and the United Nations on this urgent issue.

It is shameful that, in a country that champions human rights and is respected internationally for its provision of international aid, from 520 to over 3000 (according to Indigenous activists) Indigenous girls and women have gone missing or been murdered since 1980.  In Quebec alone, five Indigenous women have gone missing in the past year. The UN Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination Against Women has called for "urgent and thorough" investigations of cases such as these.

Because a substantial portion of the police involvement in the cases of missing and murdered Indigenous women ranges from negligence to unjustified dismissal, many Native advocacy organizations, such as the Native Women's Association of Canada, are also calling for an independent inquiry into the unsolved cases.

The 2004 Amnesty International report Stolen Sisters: A Human Rights Response to Discrimination and Violence Against Indigenous Women in Canada, calls the Canadian government to action, and also suggests that it fund an Independent Inquiry.  I strongly recommend that you read Stolen Sisters, and follow its requests.  The report can be accessed at www.amnesty.ca/stolensisters/amr2000304.pdf.

As has recently been addressed by the Canadian state in a formal apology and through Truth and Reconciliation tribunals, Indigenous people in this country have received poor treatment from the government for generations.  Many have lived through and continue to survive abuse suffered in Residential Schools.   Aboriginal women are subject to sexist policies in addition to this mistreatment, even following amendment of the Indian Act.

Guy Horton states in Dying Alive, that crimes against humanity "constitute a serious attack on human dignity... either [as part] of a government policy, or of a wide practice of atrocities tolerated or condoned by a government."  Having tolerated violence and discrimination against Indigenous women, Canada is fully culpable of crimes against humanity. Let us lift the shame we carry through association with this term and the atrocities it describes.  Please fulfill your duty as an elected representative: ensure protection for Indigenous women and lobby for an independent inquiry into the unsolved cases of missing and murdered Indigenous women in Canada.

Sincerely,

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Your message will also be copied to the Chair and Vice-Chairs of the Standing Committee on Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development, Bruce Stanton, Jean Crowder and Todd Russell.