June 3, 2020

NunatuKavut commemorates one-year anniversary of the National Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls Final Report

HAPPY VALLEY-GOOSE BAY, LABRADOR, June 3, 2020 – NunatuKavut Community Council (NCC) President Todd Russell today issued the following statement. On behalf of NunatuKavut Inuit, we commemorate the one-year anniversary of the release of the Final Report from the National Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls (MMIWG).

“I was honoured to be present at the closing ceremony in Gatineau a year ago when the Commissioners of the National Inquiry into MMIWG delivered its final report to Prime Minister Trudeau. We thank the Commissioners for undertaking this profoundly important work. And we especially thank all of the brave Indigenous people and families who participated and shared their stories.

NCC received official legal standing and funding to participate in the institutional, knowledge-keeper and expert hearings around the National Inquiry. NunatuKavut women and girls have disproportionately been impacted by colonialist policies that serve to undermine the strength of our people. Our participation during this Inquiry was key to ensuring that our stories and voices were heard.

Upon release of the final report, NCC clearly outlined recommendations that would have tangible and positive impact on the overall health and wellbeing of NunatuKavut Inuit families and communities. Consistent with the “calls for justice” in the report, we called for immediate and specific action from the Government of Canada in three areas: access to First Nations and Inuit Health Branch programming; education; and infrastructure.

Since the release of the final report, we were invited to participate in a number of national roundtables hosted by Minister Carolyn Bennett to discuss Canada’s next steps, including a national action plan. We were disappointed in the recent news about the delay of the national action plan, which we understand is due to the COVID-19 global pandemic. We implore the Government of Canada to prioritize this important work. We look forward to continuing our work with Canada and the Province of Newfoundland and Labrador on the national action plan so we can effectively address priority initiatives of NunatuKavut Inuit.

NCC is committed to a renewed relationship with Canada and the Province that will see improved health, safety, security and wellbeing of all women, girls and 2SLGBTQQIA individuals and their families in NunatuKavut.”

Media Contact

Kelly Broomfield, Director of Communications
T: 709-280-5965
E: communications@nunatukavut.ca