OTTAWA, Dec. 8, 2015 /CNW/ - The National Aboriginal Caucus of the Canadian Federation of Students, the voice for Aboriginal Students in Canada, welcomes the federal government's commitment today to begin phase one of a national inquiry on Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women, Girls and Two-Spirited people.
"First Nations, Metis, and Inuit students are encouraged to hear that the voices survivors, family members and loved ones will inform the design of the inquiry," said Coty Zachariah, Chairperson of the National Aboriginal Caucus of the Canadian Federation of Students, "Though it is with heavy hearts that we welcome this long-overdue inquiry, as it has taken over 1,100 cases of missing and murdered Indigenous women, girls and two-spirited people to push the Government of Canada to act".
In recognizing that half of the recorded cases of missing and murdered Indigenous women, girls and two-spirited people are young people, the National Aboriginal Caucus strongly recommends that the consultation and inquiry processes involve student representation and an opportunity for young people to engage on university and college campuses.
The National Aboriginal Caucus is Canada's only national Aboriginal student organization, united through the Canadian Federation of Students. The Federation is Canada's largest student organization, uniting more than one-half million students across Canada. The Canadian Federation of Students and its predecessor organizations have represented students in Canada since 1927 in their call for fully accessible public post-secondary education.
SOURCE Canadian Federation of Students
Sarah McCue, Communications Coordinator, 613-797-6626 or [email protected]
Share this article