A Statement on National Indigenous Peoples Day

VANCOUVER, June 21, 2018 /CNW/ - The Commissioners and staff of the National Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls would like to take this opportunity to wish all Canadians a very joyful National Indigenous Peoples Day.

For thousands of years Indigenous peoples in Canada marked the summer solstice with celebrations to honour and thank the land, water and skies for allowing them to share in the gifts of life. June 21^st is a date set aside to recognize, acknowledge and celebrate the strengths and contributions of the original people of this land.   

National Indigenous Peoples Day presents all of us with a great opportunity to share our history, our cultures and our stories and we hope that all Canadians will join us in celebrating the vibrant traditions and cultures of the First Nations, Inuit and Metis cultures.

Today, on National Indigenous Peoples Day, we also encourage all Canadians to honour and remember the beautiful Indigenous women and girls who have experienced violence and those who have been stolen from their families and communities through violence, and to reflect on the circumstances that led to these tragic events. We also encourage all Canadians to actively support the important work of the National Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls and its efforts to ensure that Indigenous women, girls and 2SLGBTQ peoples can live safely in their communities.  

People can learn more about the violence faced by Indigenous women and girls in Canada and the important work of the National Inquiry, by:

• reviewing the November 2017 National Inquiry - Interim Report on Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls at:
  http://www.mmiwg-ffada.ca/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/MMIWG-Executive-Summary-ENG.pdf.
  http://www.mmiwg-ffada.ca/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/ni-mmiwg-interim-report.pdf     
• Viewing past National Inquiry Hearings on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pg/MMIWG/videos/

Kinana'skomitinnow-ow, Tshinashkumitnau, Chi-meegwetch, Nakurmiik

Marion Buller	Michèle Audette	Brian Eyolfson	Qajaq Robinson
Chief Commissioner	Commissioner	Commissioner	Commissioner

                           

SOURCE Commission of Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women Girls

Shaylen Smith, [email protected], [phone]