Missing aboriginal women numbers not surprising: Women’s group
Posted May 16, 2014 3:39 pm.
This article is more than 5 years old.
VANCOUVER (NEWS1130) – A missing women’s group is not surprised to learn an RCMP report indicates the number of missing and murdered aboriginal women in Canada is much higher than first thought.
The report shows there are over 1,100 cases that include 1,017 victims across the country
Wendy Kalis with the Highway of Tears Initiative says in BC there are 40 missing women cases recorded in the report, and 36 unsolved homicides.
“It’s validating. Not necessarily in a good way, we never want to see these kinds of numbers but at least there have been some commitments made in this report.”
She says it is encouraging to hear a national inquiry into violence against aboriginal women has now been suggested.
“The numbers are there and I know a lot of RCMP work is based on statistics.”
The amount of unsolved cases is the highest in BC.
Former Missing Women Commission Head Wally Oppal says poverty, drug addiction, and homelessness also need to be examined.
“So all of thos factors need to be addressed if we’re going to address the needs aboriginal communities.”
Before any national inquiry is held, he believes recommendations from his report need to be implemented.
