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No response yet to request for MMIW hearing in P.A.

Feb 2, 2018 | 1:00 PM

The chairperson of Prince Albert Grand Council’s Women’s Commission is still waiting to learn if a hearing will be held in the city regarding missing and murdered Indigenous women and girls.

About three months ago, Shirley Henderson wrote to officials with the National Inquiry to request commissioners visit Prince Albert and hear the stories of local people and northerners. She said the Federation of Sovereign Indigenous Nations also sent the same letter, but she has yet to receive a response.

“So many of our people from the North were left out of the hearings when they had it in Saskatoon,” Henderson said. “I only recognized two families there from Prince Albert and we’ve got a heck of a lot more.”

Henderson said she expected to hear back from the National Inquiry already, and noted she called and spoke with a community liaison officer about the request. Her messaged was forwarded, she said, but the worker told her she didn’t know if it would go through.

It’s important families get a chance to speak with the commissioners if they choose to, Henderson said. She thought by families sharing stories, it could change attitudes.

“The reaction of the public will be ‘let’s do something, there’s too much of this going on,’” Henderson said. “Let’s bring closure to this, let’s act upon it.”

Henderson also noted there are many residents of Prince Albert who are interested in the issue. She said the 14th annual Missing Brothers and Sisters Memorial Walk will be held in June and it’s an event that attracts up to 300 people. 

 

derek.cornet@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @saskjourno