National Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls

1. National Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls Summary of the Terms of Reference August 3, 2016 (Revised version)

2. Introduction The focus of the independent National Inquiry Into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls will be addressing violence against Indigenous women and girls. The Inquiry timeline is from September 1, 2016 to December 31, 2018. This presentation provides a summary of some of the key elements of the terms of reference for the national independent Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls.

3. A Truly National Inquiry All provinces and territories agreed to participate and fully cooperate with the National Inquiry at the National Roundtable in February, 2016. All provinces and territories have committed to legally adopt the Terms of Reference under their respective PublicInquiries Acts. Because the Inquiry is national, it will be able to look at systems and institutions that the participating provinces and territories are responsible for, such as policing and child welfare, and make recommendations related to these areas.

4. Who Will Lead the Inquiry? • Chief • Commissioner • The Honourable • Marion R. Buller • B.C. Provincial Court Judge • Cariboo-Chilcotin Inquiry counsel • Mistawasis First Nation, Saskatchewan • Commissioner • Brian Eyolfson • Former Vice-Chair Ontario Human Rights Tribunal • Human rights and Aboriginal law lawyer • Ipperwash Inquiry counsel • Couchiching First Nation, Ontario • Commissioner • Marilyn Poitras • Law professor from Saskatchewan • Métis heritage • Specializing in Indigenous legal traditions • Commissioner • MichèleTaïna • Audette • Former President of the Native Women’s Association – National and Québec • Served as Associate Deputy Minister at the provincial Secretariat of the Status of Women in Québec • Mani Utenam, Québec • Commissioner • E. Qajaq • Robinson • Inuktitut-speaking lawyerborn in Nunavut • Former prosecutor – Nunavut • Led Inuit TapiriitKanatami’s engagement • Vice President of Tungasuvvingat Inuit and the former Senior Policy Advisor to Qikiqtani Inuit Association The Commissioners represent the background, characteristics and experience that we heard about in the pre-inquiry design phase that will be necessary to lead this Inquiry.

5. Powers of the Inquiry Independent from government Powers come from Part I of the federal Inquiries Actand the relevant legislation of participating provinces and territories Authority to determine how best to accomplish its mandate and make recommendations Powers concerning evidence: -Commissioners can call before them any witnesses to give evidence -Require the production of documents relevant to their investigation

6. The Mandate of the Inquiry

7. Recommendations

8. Reconciliation and Public Awareness

9. Building on What we Already Know Pre-Inquiry data and submissions

10. Advice and Expertise to Support Commissioners • The Commission will be able to set up regional advisory bodies composed of families of missing and murdered Indigenous women and girls and survivors of violence to advise on regional matters under the scope of the Inquiry • The Commission will be able to set up issue-specific advisory bodies composed of: Elders, youth, families of missing and murdered Indigenous women and girls, experts and academics (i.e. provincial experts or academics specializing in Indigenous legal traditions) as well as representatives of national, Indigenous, local and feminist organizations – to advise on regional matters that fall within the scope of the Inquiry • The Commission will be able to provide an opportunity for persons, families and community members to express and share their experiences and views, particularly on ways to increase safety and prevent and eliminate violence against Indigenous women and girls in Canada

11. Approaches the Commission is Authorized to Take Culturally appropriate, trauma-informed, supported approach

12. Experiences of Families, Loved Ones and Survivors

13. The Government Will Not Wait to Take Action We heard during the pre-Inquiry that the Government of Canada should not wait until the Inquiry is done to act to address violence against Indigenous women and girls. The Government of Canada is expanding Canada’s existing network of shelters and transition houses, including increasing the number of on-reserve shelters. Canada launched a national public awareness campaign on the domestic sex trafficking of Indigenous people living on-and off-reserve, and in rural, urban, and Northern communities. Budget 2016, committed $8.4 billion over five years, beginning in 2016-17, to support Indigenous communities and the aspirations of Indigenous peoples. These new investments in education, water, housing, training, and child and family services will begin to address some of the root causes of violence against Indigenous women and girls, and promote opportunity and inclusive growth. Status of Women Canada is engaging with experts and advocates to inform the development of a federal strategy against gender-based violence.