The National Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls are holding family hearings this week in Smithers.
Chief Commissioner Marion Buller says they’ll be hearing from 25 registered families this week through the public hearings that start today.
Buller was welcomed onto Wet’suwet’en territory by several hereditary chiefs after a march down Main St. in town yesterday.
Part of the commission’s work is to examine the systemic causes of violence against indigenous women and girls.
“This is an important part of Canadian history that we’ll be witnessing over the next few months. And I think that Canadians will generally say, ‘this just isn’t good enough, this has to change.’ Just like indigenous communities have been saying,” says Buller.
Despite criticism over the loss of staff and inquiry commissioners, Buller says they’re carrying on with the important work.
“We’ve been looking very carefully at the work that we have to do by the end of our current mandate (December 31st, 2018). And we can do it, but we could do it a lot better if we have more time and money,” says Buller.
She says that could help the commission conduct more research and consult with advisory groups.
Buller says family walk-ins are allowed for those that want to tell their stories either publicly or privately with hearings finishing up on Thursday at the friendship centre hall in Smithers.