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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: MARCH 6, 2012

First Nations Summit withdraws from participation in Missing Women Commission of Inquiry An Open Letter to Wally Oppal, Q.C., Commissioner
Coast Salish Territory (Vancouver) The First Nations Summit today released the attached open letter to Wally Oppal, Commissioner of the Missing Women Commission of Inquiry. The letter concluded that given recent developments, including the withdrawal of the Independent Legal Counsel for Aboriginal interests and the overall conduct of the Inquiry, the voices of the families of the missing and murdered Aboriginal women and Aboriginal communities are clearly not being heard or respected. Therefore, given the realization that the Inquiry will clearly not be able to fulfill a critical part of its mandate, the First Nations Summit has indicated it has no choice but to withdraw as an active participant in the Inquiry. -30The First Nations Summit speaks on behalf of First Nations involved in treaty negotiations in British Columbia. The Summit is also a NGO in Special Consultative Status with the Economic and Social Council of the United Nations. Further background information on the Summit may be found at www.fns.bc.ca. For Further Information: Grand Chief Edward John FNS Political Executive Cell: 778-7725-8218 Chief Doug White FNS Political Executive Cell: 604-910-8853
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FIRST NATIONS SUMMIT

March 6, 2012

Wally Oppal, O..C., Commissioner Missing Women Commission of Inquiry #1402 808 Nelson Street Vancouver, BC V6Z 2H2 Fax: 604-681-4458 info@missingwomeninguiry.ca
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Dear Commissioner:
Re: First Nations Summit Withdrawal from Missing Women Commission of Inquiry

Your Commission appointed Robyn Gervais as Independent Legal Counsel for Aboriginal interests. We had no role or any say in this matter. She has now withdrawn as Independent Legal Counsel. We find it extremely disturbing that she has had to take this drastic step. The First Nations Summit applied for standing and was granted Limited Participant status. Despite the fact the government failed completely to provide any financial resources to our and all other First Nations/Aboriginal organizations, we did what we could to participate. On October 12, 2011 on behalf of the First Nations Summit we submitted a comprehensive Statement to your Inquiry (see enclosed). We want to reiterate our full support for the families of all those women who are missing and murdered. They need to see that justice is not only seen to be done, but that it is done and that the many questions they have are answered fully. The voices of these families and that of our communities must be respected and heard. We come to the conclusion, given all these developments, together with the conduct of the Inquiry, including your statements to Robyn Gervais today, those voices are not being respected or heard. This continues to reflect what we said in our Statement, a systemic pattern of discrimination. We feel the Inquiry will not be able to fulfill a critical part of its mandate. Our continued participation has always been subject to review by our Executive and Chiefs. Unfortunately, the fears expressed by our Chiefs and leaders at the outset of this process, have been confirmed. Given the withdrawal of, and the reasons provided by, the Independent Legal Counsel, Robyn Gervais, today and the withdrawal of all First Nations/Aboriginal organizations earlier in the process, we feel we cannot continue to participate. Effective today, we withdraw from participation in this Inquiry. We will seek alternative ways for the voices of the families of the missing and murdered women and our communities to be heard and respected.

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Suite #1200
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100 Park Royal South, West Vancouver, B.C. V7T 1A2 Tel: 604.926.9903 Internet: www.fns.bc.ca

Fax: 604.926.9923

Toll Frec:1.866.990.9939

Yourstruly, FIRSTNATIONSSUMMITTASKGROUP GrandChiefEdwardJohn ChiefDouglasWhiteIIIKwulasultun DanSmith Enclosure(1) MissingWomenCommissionofInquiryFirstNationsSummit Statement(October12,2011)

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MissingWomenCommission ofInquiry FirstNationsSummit Statement

October12,2011

 MissingWomenCommissionofInquiry FirstNationsSummit Statement October12,2011 "Theworldwassupposedtohavelearnedthreeindeliblelessonsfromthe concentrationcampsofEurope: a. Indifferenceisinjustice'sincubator; b. It'snotwhatyoustandfor,it'swhatyoustandupagainst; c. Wemustneverforgethowtheworldlookstothosewhoarevulnerable." ("InternationalLawandHumanRights:ThePowerandthePity".Honourable RosalieSilbermanAbella,JusticeoftheSupremeCourtofCanada.[2010]55 McGill,L.J.871)

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT 1. Mr.Commissioner,IwanttofirstlyrecognizetheCoastSalishpeoplesonwhose ancestrallandsIstandandrecognizethattheycontinuetohavelegitimateland andterritorialrightsinheritedfromtheirancestors,throughoutallofthese lands.Thisiswhatthey,andwetheIndigenousPeoples,knowandbelieve.We continuetoknowandbelievethistobeso. 2. IamheretodayasanelectedspokesmanforandonbehalfoftheFirstNations SummitandthoseFirstNationswhointhisprovinceareinadifficultand protractednegotiationsprocesstofairlyandequitablyresolvetheselandrelated

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 rightswithCanadaandBC,thesuccessorsofCrowncolonialgovernments. 3. TheseFirstNationshavebeenattheirrespectivetablesforsome15yearsnow andwithverylittlesuccessandverylittletoshowforit.Iwillexplainlaterwhat theyseeastheobstaclestorealandgenuinenegotiationstoreachagreements. Inthecolonialeraofthisprovince,authoritiessuchasGovernorJamesDouglas throughvariousProclamationsandOrdinancesunilaterallytookthoselandsthat nowmakeuptheProvinceofBC.Theselandsweretakenwithoutnegotiating withandcertainlywithouttheknowledge,consentoragreementwithour ancestors.Itisasifourpeoplesdidnotexistorhaveanyrightstotheirlands andterritories. INTRODUCTION 4. AlthoughtheprimarymandateoftheFirstNationsSummitistoestablishand supportaconstructiveresolutionprocessontheland,resourcesandterritory issues,throughgoodfaithnegotiations,wearealsofullyengagedintheongoing political,social,culturalandeconomicissuesfacingourpeopleandcommunities andworkingtodevelopviableandpracticalpoliticalandpolicysolutionstothese issues. 5. Wearedeeplyengagedinamyriadofprocesseswithgovernmentstoaddress legal,legislative,regulatoryandpolicyissuesdealingwitheducation,health, housing,water,sanitation,technology,fisheries,forestry,mining,energy,early childhooddevelopmentandsoon.Wealsodealwithlocalgovernments, industrygroupsandotherpublicinterestorganizations.Wearenotdirectly involvedinvariousdaytodaymatterswithinourcommunitieseventhough manyissuesarebroughttous.However,wedoassistinanywaywecan. Ultimately,allofoureffortsaretoadvocateforandsupportthesurvival,dignity,

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 andwellbeingofourpeoplesandourcommunities. 6. Inthissubmission,wewouldliketoprovidea"context"whichwestrongly believewillbeinstructivetothisInquiryanditsunderstandingofAboriginal,in particularFirstNations,issuesandforitssubsequentreportand recommendations. 7. Thespecificissueinvolving"violenceandIndigenouswomen"isnotjustalocal issuetothisprovince.Itisanissuethathasgainednationalandinternational prominence,includingattheUnitedNations.FirstNationsindividualsand organizationshave,foryears,calledforanindependentexaminationandInquiry intothemissing,andwenowknowmurdered,Aboriginalwomen.Suchan Inquirywehopedwouldshedsomelightintothedarkcornersofsuchviolence, theirroots,extentandimpacts,andincludingsuchissuesassystemicracismand lateralviolence.Viablesolutionsbuiltongenuineactionablepoliticalwilland thenecessaryfinancialresourcesaredesperatelyneededtofindawayforward. WehaverepeatedlycalledonCanadaandBritishColumbiatounderstandthese issuesandtodealwiththemasimportantpublicpolicypriorities. 8. a. SituationofthosegrantedparticipantstandingbeforethisInquiry; b. IndependentInquiry: i. CallsforanIndependentInquiry; ii. EstablishinganInquiryincludingthetermsofreference; iii. AppointmentofaCommissioner; iv. ConductandoperationsoftheCommission; c. HistoricandcontemporaryFirstNationsCrownrelations Page 3 of 17 Thissubmissionwilladdressthefollowing:

 Participants 9. Alargenumberofindividualsandorganizationsappliedforandhavebeen grantedparticipantstandingbeforethisCommission.TheFirstNationsSummit appliedforstandingandwasgrantedLimitedParticipantstatus. 10. WhilesomeParticipantswillappearbeforetheCommission,mosthave,fora numberofverylegitimatereasons,withdrawn.Manyofthesereasonshave beensubmittedtotheCommissioninwritingandarewellknownpublicly.These havehighlightedthecredibilityoftheCommissionerandtheInquiry,including theconductoftheInquiryitselfandthatoftheprovincialgovernmentwhich has,fromtheoutset,tiedthehandsoftheCommissionbyitsextremelylimited termsofreferenceandbyrefusingtoprovidedesperatelyneededfinancial supporttothoseparticipantswhohaveverylimited,orno,resources.Giventhe incredibleimportanceoftheissuesbeforethisInquiry,thepositionoftheBC governmenttonotfundtheseparticipantsisnothingshortofastounding. 11. ThefactthatsomanyhavewithdrawncannotbegoodfortheCommission.Any reportandanyrecommendationsoftheCommissionwillverywellbereceived andconsideredwithalargedegreeofskepticismprotectingandadvancingthe interestsofonlythoseabletoaffordlegalcounsel. 12. Somefamilieshavebeenfortunatetohavefinancialsupporttoretainlegal counsel.Thisispositive,constructiveandwelcome.SomeAboriginalfamiliesas wellwillberepresentedthroughthis.Thereare,however,manyAboriginal familieswhohavemissingand/ormurderedfamilymemberswhowillnotbe representedbyanyone,orinanydirectway. 13. AlthoughtheCommissionhasappointedanindividualasindependentcounsel torepresent"Aboriginalpeoples",thiswasdonewithoutanydiscussionsor Page 4 of 17

 concurrencewithAboriginalorFirstNationspeoples.Thisleadstothefollowing questionsWhoisthisindividualaccountableto?Whodoesthisindividual represent?Howareinstructionsgivenandbywhom?Whilewefullyrespectthe appointedindividualandprobonococounsel,thisisahighlyunsatisfactoryand difficultsituation.ItwouldhavebeenusefuliftheCommissionapproachedthe FirstNations/Aboriginalparticipantsandrecommendedthey,withfinancial supportfromtheCommissionortheProvince,retaintheirownlegalcounsel. INDEPENDENTINQUIRY 14. ShortlyaftertheformationoftheFirstNationsSummitwebegantohearstories of,andreceiveinformationabout,includingnamesof,Aboriginalwomengoing missingand/orbeingmurderedfromtheVancouverdowntowneastside(DTES). Itappearedtousthat,despitecontinuousseriouseffortsbysomeindividuals andorganizations,noauthoritieswerepayingmuchattentiontothemorthe issuestheywereraising.GiventhatweareaFirstNationspoliticalorganization, someoftheseindividuals/organizationscametousforadviceandsupport.After all,manyofthesemissingwomenareAboriginalandcomefromour communitiesacrossthisprovinceandcountry. 15. Insupportingandworkingwiththemwefoughtforthisissuetobetaken seriouslybytheprovincialgovernment,localpoliceandvariouspublicagencies. 16. InJanuary1997,theFirstNationsSummitChiefsformallycalledforan investigationintothemultiplemurdersofAboriginalwomeninVancouver settingoutalistof48womenbelievedtobeofAboriginalancestry.The followingmonth,wecontactedtheAttorneyGeneral,thenUjjalDosanjh, seekinghisinterventionandsupportinappointingaspecialinvestigatorto examinethecasesonanurgentandprioritybasis.Wealsoworkedtoraise

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 publicawarenessaboutthisissueinthemedia. 17. ItwasnotuntilJune1997thattheAttorneyGeneralrespondedtousadvising thattheUnsolvedHomicideUnithadbeenestablished,thatithadbeen providedthelistofnamesweprovidedandthattheUnitwaslookingintothis matter.TheVancouverPoliceDepartment(VPD)advisedtheFirstNations Summitthatanumberofothernameshadbeenaddedtothelist,altogether71, weprovidedandthatallhadbeenaccountedforexcepttwo.However,wewere advisedbyAboriginalpeoplesthatAboriginalwomencontinuedtogomissing. 18. Asweknownow,in2002,itwaspubliclyknownthatRobertPicktonwas involvedandresponsibleforthehorrificandgruesomemurdersofmanyofthe missingwomenforwhichheisnowdoinglifeinprison.Itisnotcleartoushow manyofthesedeathscouldhavebeenprevented. 19. Overtheyears,alongwithmanyothers,wehavebeencallingforinquiriesinto AboriginaljusticemattersincludinganInquiryintothedeathofFrankPaul,the missingandmurderedAboriginalwomenintheDTES,themissingwomen,most ofwhomareAboriginal,ontheHighwayofTears(Highway16innorthernBC) andageneralexaminationofAboriginalpeoplesinvolved,inonewayor another,withthejusticesysteminBC.Thiswouldincludethedisproportionate numbersofAboriginalpeopleschargedwithcriminaloffences,thosewho appearinvariousprovincialcourtsintheprovince,thoseinprovincialorfederal jails,orthosewhohavediedasaresultofpoliceactionsorwhileinpolice custody,thelackofAboriginalpeoplesinpoliceforces,lackofAboriginalpeoples whoarejudgesandsoon. 20. AnInquiryintothedeathofFrankPaulhasbeencompletedandareporthas beenmadepublic.Infactwe,asrepresentativesofFirstNationsandMetis,met onseveraloccasionswiththenAttorneyGeneralofBC(AGBC)WallyOppalto Page 6 of 17

 discussthetermsofreference.Wewerepresentedwithdrafttermsof reference,whichinouropinionwerecompletelyunsatisfactory.Insubsequent meetingsandcallswiththeAGBCandhisofficials,weprovidedsomealternate drafttermsofreferencewhich,forthemostpart,becamethefinalterms.Of course,whentheCommissionproceededtocompleteitsInquiry,theProvince, (unusualintheannalsoflegalhistory),tookissuewithitsowntermsof referenceandchallengeditallthewaytotheSupremeCourtofCanada. 21. DespitethefactwehadlongbeencallingforanInquiry,itcamesomewhatofa surprisewhentheProvinceannouncedtheMissingWomenInquiry.As representativesofFirstNations,wewereneverapproachedbytheProvince regardinganyaspectoftheInquiry:notthetermsofreference,orthe appointmentsoftheCommissionandCommissioner.Whilewewelcomedan Inquiry,thisapproachbytheProvincewasnothelpful.Thetermsofreference were,inouropinion,extremelynarrowandwefeltwouldnotcoverthoseissues weconsideredimportant.Wealsofeltthat,iftheCommissionwentbeyond thosetermsofitsmandateeitherduringtheInquiryorinitsfindingsreport and/orrecommendations,thatitwouldbechallengedbytheProvinceoranyof theofficialCrownagenciesincludingthepolice. 22. Inanyevent,inasubsequentmeetingwithaformerAGBCitbecamecleartous that,whiletheInquirywasestablished,itwasanInquirywithanextremelyshort leash...because,asitwasexplainedtous,thesegenerallygoovertheirbudgets andtimelinesandarenotaveryusefulinvestmentoflimitedgovernment resources.Itwassubsequentlyfurtherexplainedthatlimitedresourcescouldbe betterusedinotherwayssuchasinvestinginthoseunderlyingcircumstances thatleadtoAboriginalwomencomingintovulnerablesituations.Unfortunately, wehavenotseenanyofthisbeingfinanciallyresourcedyet. 23. TheappointmentofaformerMLA,aformermemberofthecaucusandcabinet Page 7 of 17

 ofthesittinggovernment,andalsoformerAGBCunderthissamegovernment, astheIndependentCommissionercamealsoasasurprisetous.Giventhis,the perceptionofalackofimpartialityandindependencewasquestioned. 24. ItisacknowledgedthatheisawellknownandhighlyrespectedformerJusticeof theBCCourtofAppeal.However,concernswereexpressedthathehadstated publiclythathedidnotthinkanInquiryintothemissingandmurderedwomen wasneeded.Thiswas,andisstillis,averydifficultsituationforFirstNations Chiefsandleadersacrosstheprovince.Theconcernisthatthefindingsoffact andfinalreportwouldbecolouredbytheviewsreflectedinthepublic comments,aswellashispastrelationswiththosecolleaguesofhiswhilein government. 25. Anotherpubliclyreleasedinformationitem,ofcourse,isthedirect communicationwiththethenAGBCregardingthefundingforparticipant organizations.Whilehighlycommendableandwelcome,theperception nonetheless,causesacertaindegreeofdiscomfort.Withseparateindependent legalcounselrepresentingtheCommissionandtheProvince,itwouldbefairto assumeexistinglegalethicswouldgovernconductbetweentheparties...that legalcounselwouldcommunicatewitheachotheronbehalfoftheirrespective clients.Presumablytheprovincialgovernmentpubliclyreleasedthisinformation forreasonsforwhichwecanonlyspeculate. 26. Whiletheseevents,takenseparately,maynotbefataltotheInquiry,weare concernedthattogethertheymayleadtotheperceptionofthegradualerosion oftheimpartialityandindependenceof,andultimately,thecredibilityofthe findings,reportandfinalrecommendations. 27. However,theCommission,toitscredit,hasrecommended,andevenadvocated, forparticipantstohavetheircostscovered.Notwithstandingthis,theProvince Page 8 of 17

 hasbeenunequivocalandadamantthatitwillnotcoveranycostsotherthanfor thosedirectlyimpactedincludingthosecostsforthefamiliesofthemissingand murderedwomen. 28. "Whathappened?" "Whatwentsohorriblywrong?" "Couldanyofthesemurdershavebeenprevented?" "DidthefactthatmanyofthesewomenwereAboriginalhaveanythingtodo withtheirbeingtargeted,orthatthepoliceinvestigationsweresomehow incomplete?" CONTEXTFORUNDERSTANDINGFIRSTNATIONSCROWNRELATIONS SystemicIssuesandPatternsofCrownConduct 29. Wefirmlybelievethat,toknowourhistoryandthatofourhistoricdealingswith successiveCrowngovernmentswillhelpyouunderstandthenatureofexisting relationsandthatofourplaceincontemporaryBritishColumbia.Wedonot wanttooversimplifyacomplexhistoryofrelationships,buttherearecertain recurringelementsofpastandcontemporaryconductonbehalfoftheCrown whichcannotbeignored. 30. Thereisan"atmosphere"intheconductofCrownaffairsthatisdifficultforFirst "Whatroledidthepolicingbodieshaveintryingtopreventanyofthisfrom happening?" "Whatcanbedonetopreventtherecurrenceofasimilarsituation?" TheCommissionhasinfrontofitmanyverydifficultquestions.

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 Nationspeopletoaccept,orevenunderstand. 31. Attheverycoreofthisisthecontinued"denial"bytheCrownonbehalfofBC andCanadaoftheveryexistenceofAboriginalpeoples,ortheirrightsunlessand untiltheseareproveninacourt.Eventothisdaywecontinuetoseethisinthe pleadingsfiledbyCrownlawyersandintheirwrittenandoralargumentsthey submitwhenmattersrelatingtotherightsofAboriginalpeoplesendupina court.TheUnitedNationsDeclarationontheRightsofIndigenousPeoples adoptedbytheUNGeneralAssembly,initspreamble,saysitbest: Affirmingfurtherthatalldoctrines,policiesandpracticesbasedonor advocatingsuperiorityofpeoplesorindividualsonthebasisofnational originorracial,religious,ethnicorculturaldifferencesareracist, scientificallyfalse,legallyinvalid,morallycondemnableandsocially unjust, InDecember2010,CanadaendorsedthisDeclaration. 32. Sinceitsinceptionasacolony,andthenasaprovincewhenitjoined Confederationin1871,BCandCanadahaveactedwithimpunityregardingthe land,culturalandpoliticalrightsofIndigenouspeoples.TheCrown'sunderlying attitudetowardsAboriginalpeoplesisbestreflectedintheJune2008Apology issuedbyPMHarpertosurvivors(orasreferredtointhedocumentas"former students")ofIndianresidentialschoolsinBCandacrossCanada.TheApology acknowledgesthefollowing: "TwoprimaryobjectivesoftheResidentialSchoolssystemweretoremove andisolatechildrenfromtheinfluenceoftheirhomes,families,traditions andcultures,andtoassimilatethemintothedominantculture.These objectiveswerebasedontheassumptionAboriginalculturesandspiritual beliefswereinferiorandunequal.Indeed,somesought,asitwasinfamously said,"tokilltheIndianinthechild".Today,werecognizethatthispolicyof assimilationwaswrong,hascausedgreatharm,andhasnoplaceinour Page 10 of 17

 country." "ThegovernmentnowrecognizesthattheconsequencesoftheIndian ResidentialSchoolspolicywereprofoundlynegativeandthatthispolicyhashad alastinganddamagingimpactonAboriginalculture,heritageandlanguage." ThelegacyofIndianResidentialSchoolshascontributedtosocialproblems thatcontinuetoexistinmanycommunitiestoday." 33. TheApologydidnotcomeasamatterofpoliticalgoodwill.Itcameonlyafter longandprotractedlitigationandappealstotheSupremeCourtofCanada duringwhichthegovernmentofCanadadeniedithadanyresponsibilitiestothe survivors.ThecourtsintheendfoundbothCanadaandthechurchesliable. 34. Thehistoryofthisrelationshipdoesnotstartnorendthere.Asmentioned earlier,thepatternisreflectedinthetakingofIndigenouslandsinBCwithout agreementorwithoutanycompensation.InCalder,thefirstcasetotheSCC,the CrownarguedthatallIndianlandrightswereextinguishedintheprovinceprior toitjoiningConfederationin1871.Itwaspremisedonthenotionthatthelands werefreeforthetakingbecauseIndigenouspeopleswereneithercivilizednor Christianand,therefore,hadnoconceptsofproperty.WhenFirstNationsstand uptoprotectanddefendtheirintereststheyareviewedas"obstacles"and ridiculedwithderision. 35. Indians(alongwithChineseimmigrants)wereprohibitedfrompreempting Crownlandsorowninglandsatall.Indianswerenotallowedtovoteinprovincial orfederalelectionsuntilthemid1900s.Indianstudentsofschoolagewerenot allowedinpublicschoolsuntilthe1950s.Inthe1880sthefederalgovernment enactedlawstoprohibittheancientpotlatchpracticesthatwereatthecoreof

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 manyIndigenouspeoplesculturesandpoliticalsystemsinBC.Bylaw,lawyers couldnotberetainedbyIndigenouspeopletopursueclaimsrelatingtolandin theprovince.ThispatternbytheCrownwasaptlycalledthe"conspiracyoflaws" byGaryYabsleyandthelateChiefJoeMathiasinaresearcharticlewrittenby them.Thelawsandpoliciesreflectedanaggressivepatternofdenial,of repression,ofoppressionandofsuppression.Manyotherindependentresearch, Commissionsandreportshavecometosimilarconclusions. 36. Again,theunderlyingpointinallthisisthattheconductandacts,includinglaws andpolicies,oftheCrownreflectasystemicpatternofdiscrimination.Ifthe Crowninitsofficialcapacityisabletodiscriminatesystemically,howthenareits citizensanditsinstitutionstothinkoracttowardsAboriginalpeoplesandthe substantiveissuestheyraise?Theseprevailingattitudesdonotexistinsilos; theypermeateandimpactonallaspectsofFirstNationslives. 37. FirstNationsfightdailytoprotectanddefendtheirlands,keeptheirchildrenand improvethelivesoftheirmembers.Theyfightforsafedrinkingwater,mould freehomesandwarmclothes.MuchofthisfightiswiththeCrown,for recognitionoftheirAboriginalrightsandinherentrightofselfgovernment,for improvedCrownlegislationandpolicy,forrevenuesharingfromresourceson FirstNationslands,forimprovedfiscalrelationshipstoallowtheFirstNationto helpitsmembersaccessbasicprogramsandservices. 38. WeknowtoowellthatwhereFirstNationsdonothavetheresourcesand capacitytohelptheirown,theresultingcycleisharshandendless:thecycleof poverty,despair,hopelessnessandlateralviolence.Manyseethisasalegacyof theIndianResidentialschoolsystem.Theseconditionsoftenresultinmanyof ourpeopleendingupindesperatesituationsandlocationsoutsideofour communities.

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 39. Whentheyreachtheseplaces,theyarenobetterprotectedandbecome vulnerabletovariousformsofabuseandthreat.And,theytypicallybecome moreinvisibleandsilent. 40. AcrossCanada,howthecriminaljusticesystemrespondstoAboriginalpeople, andpolicepoliciesandactions,remainseriousissues.Therehavebeenmany similarinquiries,including: a. the1999ManitobaJusticeInquirywhichexaminedthehandlingofthe1971 murderofNorwayHouseFirstNationwomanHelenBettyOsborne,the1988 policeshootingdeathofWasagamackFirstNationmemberJohnJoseph Harper,andtheJusticeSystemandAboriginalpeoplesgenerally; b. theIpperwashInquiryReport,releasedin2007,whichexaminedthe governmentandpolicehandlingofa1995protestbytheStoneyPoint OjibwayoverlandsexpropriatedduringWWII,duringwhichaprovincial policeofficershotandkilledprotesterDudleyGeorge; c. the1989RoyalCommissionontheDonaldMarshall,Jr.,Prosecutionwhich lookedathowthecriminaljusticesystemfailedMi'kmaqDonaldMarshall,Jr. atvirtuallyeveryturnfromhisarrestandwrongfulconvictionformurderin 1971upto,andevenbeyond,hisacquittalbytheCourtofAppealin1983, andidentifiedtheneedtoensuremoreequitabletreatmentofBlacksand Nativesinthecriminaljusticesystem; d. the2009and2011InterimandFinalReportsoftheInquiryintotheDeath ofFrankPaul,aMikmaqmanwhodiedaloneandcoldinabackalleyin

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 VancouversometimeonDecember56,1998afterbeingleftthereby Vancouverpolice;and e. theCoronersInquestandCommissionforPublicComplaintsAgainstthe RCMPReportintotheInCustodyDeathofMr.RaymondSilverfox,a43 yearoldmemberoftheLittleSalmonCarmacksFirstNation,whodiedon December2,2008,afterspending13hoursinWhitehorseRCMPcells.The CoronersInquestheardevidencethatSilverfox,whohadbeenarrestedfor publicdrunkenness,layinapoolofhisownvomitandfeceswhileRCMP officersanddetachmentguardswatchedandjeeredathimduringthat13 hourperiod.TheCommissionforPoliceComplaintsalsofoundthat complacencyandcallousnessofRCMPmemberscontributedtoSilverfoxs deathandthattheyhad"failedtoactinaccordancewiththeRCMPActand theRCMP'scorevalues"withregardstotheirconduct. 41. SuchincidentsdonotonlyoccurtoAboriginalpeople.Itseemsonaneardaily basiswehearofyetanotherpoliceincident.Asrecentlyastwoweeksago, theFirstNationsSummit,alongwiththeUnionofBCIndianChiefs,theBC AssemblyofFirstNationsandtheNativeCourtworkerandCounselling AssociationofBC,hadtopubliclyexpressshockandoutrageattheRCMP beatingofa17yearoldhandcuffedAboriginalgirlinWilliamsLake,thedeathof a19yearoldAboriginalmaleincustodyinPrinceGeorge,andanRCMPtasering ofan11yearoldAboriginalboy.Theorganizationsalsoexpressedsupportfor theGitxsanintheircallforactionfollowingthecoronersinquestintothe outrageousRCMPshootingofRodneyJackson,intheback,twoyearsago.These typesofactionsareextremelydisturbingandwhollyunacceptable. 42. Aboriginalpeoplesshouldbeabletoexpectthatthepoliceforcesarethereto protectandservethemandtheircommunities.Infact,manyFirstNations

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 communitiesdohaveprotocolstodevelopconstructivedialogueandrelations withpoliceforces.Thisneedstobeencouragedandsupported.However,the situationremainsthatmembersofthepoliceforcesarealltoooftenseenas amongthebiggestthreatstoAboriginalpeople.Thereisaseriouslevelof mistrust. 43. Thereisfutilityinthepoliceinvestigatingthemselves.Nothingchanges.Wehave steadfastlycalledforindependentreviews,investigationsandinquiriesinto variouspoliceactions/investigations.TheFirstNationsSummithaslongcalled forathoroughpublicinquirytoscrutinizethesystemthatfailedsomanyofour people. 44. Theprovincialgovernmentandpolicerefusedforyearstoacknowledgethat womenweregoingmissingorbeingmurderedatanalarmingrate;then,when thenumberswereirrefutable,theyrefusedtoacknowledgethataserialkiller maybeoperating;then,onceaserialkillerwasfound,theyrefusedtolaunchan independentInquiryintothebotchedinvestigation;then,whentheyfinally relentedandannouncedtheMissingWomenCommissionofInquiry,they refusedtoallowkeyorganizationsinputintothedesignoftheInquiry,which ultimatelyresultedinundulynarrowtermsofreference;then,oncetheprocess wasunderwayandarulingonparticipantstandingmade,theProvincerefused fundingdespitetheCommissionsfindingthateachoftheorganizationswould providevaluableinformationandinsighttoensurethattheInquiryisthorough, meaningfulandfair. 45. Allofus,whosoughtstanding,committedatremendousamountoftimeand efforttoprepareanddeliveroursubmissions.Wearedeeplydisappointedthat theProvincetookawayvoicescriticaltotheInquiry.Itcamesoclosetobeinga wellrounded,inclusiveandfairInquirywithover20serviceandadvocacy

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 organizationswithawealthofexperiencepreparedtorolluptheirsleevesand assisttheCommissiontodoitsjob.HowwilltheInquiryrealizeitsfullpotential? 46. AslegalexpertsconcludedinalettertotheProvinceinSeptember,theresultis thatformerAttorneyGeneralPennersdecisioninJulyensuresnopartywillbe equippedorinclinedtocrossexaminewitnesseswithaviewtoaddressingor revealingsystemicissues.Itisdifficulttoconceiveofamoresubstantive,self interestedmannerofinterferingwiththeindependenceofapublicInquirythan denyingresourcestoallbutpoliceandgovernment,andasmallgroupof grievingfamilies.And,theCommissioncannotnowproceedfairlyorcredibly. 47. ThisInquiryistheonlyprocessavailabletoustoexaminetheseincredibly importantissuesinvolvingthemissingandmurderedwomen.Chiefsandleaders attherecentFirstNationsSummitChiefsmeetingdiscussedtheirinvolvementin thisInquiryandcametotheconclusionthat,fornow,weneedtoremaininthis process.ThereisarealfearbyourleadersthattheInquiry,itsfindings,its reportandrecommendationswillbeincomplete,unfair,andirrelevantandwill notbeimplementedbytheProvince.WewillreporttoourChiefsandleadersin Novemberfortheirreviewanddecisionwhetherornottocontinueinthis process.Likealltheotherswhohavewithdrawn,wehavenofinancialresources tobeinvolvedinanysustainedwayinthisprocess.WehopetheProvincewill onceagaintakealookatthisseriousissueinvolvingfundingforParticipantsand considerappropriatelevelsoffinancialresourcesforfullandeffective participation. 48. Wewanttobeabsolutelycrystalclearthatwearenotherethinkingthatthere arenoquestionsabouttheInquiryscredibility.Weareherehowever,because thisprocess,webelieve,isaboutthemissingandmurderedwomenandtheir familiesandthemanyquestionswhichtheyhave.Whilewefeelwecan contributetotheInquirysprocessandultimatelyitsreportweknowitisnot Page 16 of 17

 aboutourorganizations.However,regardlessofwhattheprocessisorisnot, theFirstNationsSummitsparticipationistounequivocallysupporttheneedfor justiceforthevictimsandtheirfamilies. 49. Inthisdayandage,Canadiansocietyinallitspartsandasawholeshouldtakea zerotolerancestandagainstindifferenceandracism,andestablishanewreality solidlyrootedinthepromotionofhumanrightsandsocialjustice,withspecial attentiontothemostvulnerablepeopleinoursocietywhoneedtheextrahelp. 50. WewantandexpectthisInquirytoscrutinizewhatweseeassystemic intolerancetowardsAboriginalpeoplesandadvocateforanewrealitywhere Aboriginalpeoplesareimportantandsignificantpartnersinthisprovinceand country;whereAboriginalpeoplescanfeelsafeandsecureknowingthatthose agenciessetuptoprotectthemwilldoso. 51. ConsideringCanadaspromisesinitsConstitutionandconsistentwiththe standardsintheUNDeclarationontheRightsofIndigenousPeoplesweseeka futurewheretruereconciliationbytheCrownwithFirstNationsbecomesa realityandoccursatalllevelsofourrelationships.Forusthesurvival,dignityand wellbeingofourpeoplesandourculturesarecriticallyimportant.

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