OPP release report into murdered or missing Indigenous people

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The Ontario Provincial Police released a report into murdered or missing indigenous people. The report covers nearly 60 years, but those in attendance today said that this is a beginning.

With the release of the OPP report on missing or murdered indigenous people, there is a chance.

“That justice, truth, and closure will be brought to these families who have been left without answers.” said Denise Stonefish, Association of Iriquois and Allied Indians.

Both OPP and indigenous leadership sat shoulder to shoulder at today’s release. Somewhere they haven’t always been, but the report provides hope.

“We’re hoping that it will provoke thought, stimulate conversation, as an addition to that, hopefully generate new information in relation to these cases as they are not forgotten.” said Detective Fave Traux.

Research for the report began in 2011. They looked at information dating back to 1956 for both women and men within the forces jurisdiction. They found that there have been 56 indigenous women murdered in that time. Eight remain unsolved. 126 men have been killed, with one case remaining unsolved. For cases of missing indigenous people, eight are women, 39 are men.

“This involved a considerable amount of work so we thought it appropriate to involve both genders.”

Included in the report is a map that shows the various locations across the province where murders took place.

Beyond the geographic element this report also provides comprehensive statistics of the victims over the past 60 years, but what may be the most important element is that it provides pictures of the victims.

The faces of the women and men who’s murders remain unsolved are listed before the numbers, and according to Ontario regional chief Isadore Day, this sends an important message.

“They’re people and we now know that the families are recognized, we can put a face to a name.”

Last week Prime Minister Trudeau announced an inquiry into missing and murdered women, with the hope of starting that new relationship.

“It is time for a nation to nation to nation relationship with First Nations peoples.”

But first they have to figure out how that inquiry will work, with a starting point from information like this.