Statement by Ministers Bennett, Wilson-Raybould and Hajdu following the first meeting on missing and murdered Indigenous women and girls

OTTAWA, Dec. 11, 2015 /CNW Telbec/ - The Honourable Carolyn Bennett, Minister of Indigenous and Northern Affairs, the Honourable Jody Wilson-Raybould, Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada, and the Honourable Patty Hajdu, Minister of Status of Women issued the following statement today:

"Today we were humbled and grateful to meet personally with survivors, families and loved ones of the missing and murdered Indigenous women and girls.

We listened to their stories and were deeply moved by their personal accounts of loss, violence and disappearance. These tragedies have taken a lasting toll on these individuals, their families and their communities. They are determined to seek justice and healing, and to make sure this doesn't happen to other families.

Their resilience and perseverance inspires us to do more to prevent violence, to raise awareness and to move forward together on the path to reconciliation. It is in this spirit of reconciliation that we have launched the Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls.

In the coming months, we will continue to meet, listen to and work together with survivors, families, loved ones, as well as with Indigenous organizations and communities, provinces and territories, front-line workers and experts to design an inquiry that will result in concrete action to end this national tragedy.

We are determined to do this right for the survivors, their families and loved ones and to honour the spirits and memories of those we have lost and protect future generations."

This statement is also available on the Internet at www.aandc.gc.ca.

SOURCE Indigenous and Northern Affairs Canada

Media Relations, Indigenous and Northern Affairs Canada, 819-953-1160; Department of Justice, Media Relations Central Line, 613-957-4207, [email protected]; Nanci-Jean Waugh, Director General, Communications and Public Affairs, Status of Women Canada, 819-420-6810