A local First Nations leader insists Canadians must look inwards as an inquiry into missing and murdered indigenous women and girls proceeds.
Patricia Wilson, Vernon First Nations Friendship Centre executive director, says the inquiry will have to delve into systemic issues.
“The roots of the problem lie within Canada’s view of indigenous peoples and how they have portrayed first peoples since contact,” she said.
“The Canadian school system fails to tell the true story, not just an indigenous viewpoint, but of their own ill-conceived way of conquering a people and discovering lands. The land was not discovered and the first peoples were not conquered.”
Wilson isn’t sure what the inquiry will achieve.
“My fear is the inquiry will serve to do more harm, by closing their (society’s) minds further to the atrocities that indigenous populations have already endured and fought so hard to be recognized within the Canadian constitution,” she said.
“I have hope of indigenous people healing, but through their own empowerment and by the proper and fair distribution of land resources and all that entails so that they can rightly take their place in a country called Canada.”
She says the trauma caused by murder and disappearances is far-reaching.
“So many grandmothers, daughters, sisters, aunties, cousins and friends lost but not forgotten by their loved ones who seek justice,” she said.
“In Canada, growing up here, I don’t believe that there has been justice given to indigenous people, more so it is a systemic case of justice denied. My small hope is for the continued funding of indigenous healing and cultural centres for indigenous peoples, and that all indigenous peoples be given a trust fund for those lost generations. Not just for those who were taken, but the generational impacts of loss of grandparents, parents, siblings and children, and the loss to community and to the positivity and future health and well-being of future generations.”
Wilson says Canada needs to be a safe place for everyone living in the country.
“Canada needs to stop telling itself lies that we are a good and decent country, not in the manner in which they mistreat indigenous peoples who have to challenge every detail of their well-being and existence in the Canadian legal system,” she said.
“Even when huge cases are won in the favour of indigenous people, Canada has found ways to delay the outcomes, or virtually ignore and belittle the outcomes to the detriment of indigenous peoples. To look through indigenous eyes may be impossible. It takes other fellow Canadians to open their hearts and speak up for and to stand with indigenous peoples.”