Standing up for the missing and murdered Aboriginal women

On Thursday, the Prime Minister of Canada addressed the BC Legislature from inside the Chamber.

Outside, earlier in the day, First Nations women and Chiefs called on both the Prime Minister and BC Premier to act on the issue of the missing and murdered women, most of whom are Aboriginal. They said there are 3000 across Canada since 1970, but only 520 have been recognized. The United Nations has expressed its disappointment in the lack of government action on this issue as well, and West Coast LEAF has given BC a grade of F for its (lack of) response.

Taking the concerns of First Nations Chiefs and women into the House, Michelle Mungall and NDP colleagues asked the BC Liberal Government to commit to a public inquiry on the missing and murdered women.

Here's part of the Hansard Transcript:

February 11, 2010 ~ Question Period: Call for Inquiry re: Missing and Murdered Aboriginal Women ~ Michelle Mungall, MLA Nelson-Creston

M. Mungall: The first nations representatives who were here today noted that there are many solutions to prevent the violence that takes their mothers, their daughters, their sisters, their aunties and friends from their communities. We know that the police are doing whatever they can. But the solutions that they spoke of need real government involvement, real government action and real government implementation.

The representatives from first nations communities want a public inquiry. They want to know why. They want to know how we can stop this. So the question is: will the Deputy Premier today, on this day, commit to a public inquiry for the missing and murdered aboriginal women of this province?

Hon. M. de Jong: I've had occasion in the course of fulfilling various duties in this chamber, as Attorney General and as the minister responsible for aboriginal relations, to meet with some of the people directly affected. The member is correct about the concern they have expressed with respect to individual cases and the underlying reasons that may account for some of those cases.

The work the government is doing in partnership with leadership within first nations communities is designed to address some of those underlying reasons, to bridge those socioeconomic gaps that for too long have separated aboriginal and non-aboriginal Canadians. That is the grand issue that we have as a challenge, which we as a government and I hope all members and think all members want to work on.

In the meantime there are, of course, individual families who are confronted by very personal tragedies, and the investigating authorities will continue to work to try and find answers for them as well.

To Cambodia and back

To start 2010 on a moving note, my partner Zak and I travelled to Cambodia where we toured around the beautiful South Asian country for two weeks. Along with exploring one of the eight wonders of the man-made world, Angkor Wat, hiking through the jungle to a ghost town, and spelunking through ancient temples carved into caves, we learned about the Khmer people’s most recent history.

Most notably, we saw the long term affects of the Khmer Rouge. In 1975, the communist Khmer Rouge seized control of the Cambodia government after a lengthy civil war. For four years, they shut Cambodia off from the rest of the world, banned money, radios, clocks and forced millions into labour camps. They killed 25% of the country’s population, first targeting teachers, doctors, lawyers, and political opponents. However, soon almost everyone was a political opponent and whole families feared for their lives. That said, one of the most moving part of our travels was the Killing Fields Museum and Memorial.

Today, Cambodian politics involves a quasi-democracy. They have elections, but they aren’t always free and fair. They have multiple political parties, but the Leader of the Opposition is in exile in fear for his life. They have freedom of speech, but it is recommended to not say anything negative about the government. This was the reality into which I walked to train 45 women candidates from the opposition party.

As women in politics in countries where roughly 20% of seats are held by women, we shared much in common. However, I never have to contend with the possibility of being arrested simply because I did well at my job as an Opposition MLA. That is the current situation for MP Mu Sochua. Nonetheless, we were able to reach over the differences, borders and languages to learn about building democracy.

Cambodia has hope. From the tragedies of the Khmer Rouge to the tenacity of today’s Opposition parties, Cambodia has moved on from extremism and onto a path that will hopefully bring about a robust and strong democracy.

Coming back to this side of the globe, that same hope to bring stability and prosperity from devastation exists in Haiti after the shattering earthquake on January 12. Comparatively, BC is doing quite well. We are able to help others while also striving to improve the lives of our family and neighbours at home. This March, we’ll be looking at the BC Budget and if the Liberals heard the views of the public when putting it together. For just as in Cambodia and Haiti, a democracy requires a government to be responsive to the people, and if it is not, the people will have the final say.

You can find this article in I Love Creston at http://www.ilovecreston.com/