Manitoba's First Nations Chiefs are renewing calls for a national inquiry into the disappearance and murders of an estimated 3000 aboriginal women.
On Wednesday, some three-hundred people participating in a rally leading from The Forks to Portage & Main in support of the issue.
“We need an inquiry," said AMC Grand Chief Derek Nepinak.
"We need to talk about the issues. We need to raise the profile provincially, nationally, and internationally and what's happening here."
Some were marching for family while others just see a problem.
"I am walking for all of the murdered and missing women in Canada," said one female marcher.
It was brought to light last month after Shawn Lamb, 52, was arrested and charged in connection with the deaths of three missing aboriginal women, including Tanya Nepinak, 31. Vernon Mann was Tanya Nepinak's partner for nine years and marched alongside her family members.
"It's really brought everything out to light. It's really important to keep going with it so maybe other families don't have to deal with this type of tragedy," said Mann.
Lamb's arrest sparked initial calls for an inquiry, but officials have since rejected the call.
"I don't want to base a national inquiry on any particular case," said Vic Toews, Minister of Public Safety.
Supporters believe an inquiry should at least be attempted in light of the fact a public inquiry is being launched into the shopping mall collapse in Elliot Lake, Ontario on June 23 where two people died versus the suspected 600 missing and murdered women country-wide.
"It's always about money," said Francine Meeches, Swan Lake First Nation Chief.
"Everything that we deal with is always about money. Why does money have to be such an issue when there's lives at stake here?"
Source: Global News.
Photo Credit: Global News
Photo Credit: , Global News
I care I care an awful lot and hope you get the enquiry that should have been done a long time ago.
May the angels and spirits of those missing and murdered guide those who need to be guided to solve these crimes so that they may finally rest in peace. To my friends Myrna Hart and Noreen Taylor of Winnipeg who were both brutally murdered...May you rest in Peace my friends.
all the power to the First Nation people to bring justice
Something has to be done about this, how do 3000 women not get justice. Society has let them down, maybe society can make up for it and show support to make it stop and find justice.
Take it straight to the President and force him to open his eyes.Surely he has to understand being an African American and knowing what they had to go through.Human is human and injustice needs to be dealt with with extreme prejudice to send a message those who commit these crimes against these women!!
This is in Canada... we don't have a president!
Why does it always have to be about what race people are. There are 600 missing woman Canada wide. That's the issue, not what race they are. Is it somehow more tragic when its native woman missing instead of a white woman or a Asian woman? Lets focus on the the actual problem and not some race wars thing. Every woman is precious, native, white, Asian, black, east Indian etc. Why create some race thing that divides our nation. The reason no one cares about these woman is that many of them have problems. Many struggle with addiction. There is a much higher per-capita ratio of natives who struggle with addiction then many other races. That's why more of the woman missing are native. Does the fact someone struggles with addiction mean they should be forgotten? Heck no! But for natives to pull the old "we are so oppressed card" is ridiculous. So sick of people using such as critical issue as the missing woman as a catalysis for their racial agendas. It distracts people from what they should be focusing on, finding our sisters, mothers, friends, daughters and bringing them home or laying them to rest.
Vic Toews is an imbecile..
This issue demands attention and inquiries.. The police forces need to have their actions looked into..
While a collapsed mall is important (it could heave been much worse and if safety standards are lacking then it has to be remedied)so is the missing First Nations people in Canada!!
To Anonymous of July 14 10:43 AM... if it was NON native women there would be a lot more action being taken! Simple fact!