Photo by Manfred Joehnck
For the next two days, stakeholders are meeting in Regina to talk about a strategy for a Saskatchewan approach to engaging with the national inquiry into missing and murdered Aboriginal women.
High ranking members of the RCMP, provincial officials, federal officials and the president of the Native Women’s association of Canada will participate in workshops and present their perspective on the upcoming inquiry.
The two-day workshop was organized by the Saskatchewan Aboriginal Women’s Circle Corporation. Vice President and conference organizer, Judy Hughes expects a lot of different opinions.
“Our cultures will be different and the way we respond to things may be different,” she said. “But all and all — we will have the same goal.”
Hughes says at the end of the day, it’s about changing attitudes and helping victims’ families. She says not enough is being done on that front.
“That is one big gap we have there in terms of mental health and psychological health and services and support that the children of missing and lost need.”
Hughes adds that there is still a lot of mistrust with the RCMP. She is gratified to see a number of high ranking members will participate in workshops.
The conference goes beyond the missing and murdered Aboriginal women inquiry and will also include sessions dealing with youth empowerment and relationship building.