If we’re going to truly heal Indigenous relations, we have to support all aboriginal families.
So says Treaty Three and Nishnawbe Aski Nation Spokesperson, Krystyn Ordyniec, who addressed the National Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls Monday in Ottawa.
Ordyniec says families in our area weren’t properly consulted, noting statements were taken in a hotel room in Kenora, hardly a trauma informed approach.
She notes “women have disappeared, never to be seen or heard from, in the exact same setting where the Inquiry was taking statements”.
She says “First Nations women travel to Thunder Bay, Kenora, Dryden, Sioux Lookout or Winnipeg for a variety of reasons, but the underlying reason is always the same, they have no choice but to come to an urban centre to access health and welfare services”.
Ordyniec adds the government has to fund support services so Indigenous families can stay together.
She says systemic problems with Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls start with the government.
Ordyniec notes First Nations have a lack of infrastructure and access to clean water as well as over-crowded housing.
She stresses these are all issues of a broken system and until that system is fixed, women and girls will continue to go missing.
Ordyniec is also calling for better sensitivity from the media.
She says inaccurate or biased reporting leads to systemic racism in our society, slowing reconciliation efforts.
Ordyniec is recommending mandatory Indigenous history as part of all journalism and media classes at a post-secondary level.
This is the final week of testimony.
