The series features an interactive database, which CBC is hoping to expand, that tells the individual stories of women, their families, and their communities (Screenshot: CBC)
Apr 08, 2015
In the face of persistent inaction by the federal government and Canadian law enforcement, the country's largest news broadcaster has launched a nationwide special investigative series that explores the cases of over 200 missing and murdered Indigenous women and girls in Canada, stretching back to 1951.
After an "exhaustive search for families who have lost a relative either to an unsolved killing or whose loved one still remains missing," CBC News has located and interviewed more than 110 families about the cases so far.
Their findings support previous declarations by women's groups, First Nations advocates, and international human rights watchdogs who say that police and government efforts to address the national crisis have fallen far short.
In fact, CBC reports, "Many family members and friends of missing and murdered women said the call from CBC News was the first time they had been contacted about their relative."
Chief Andrew Colomb, leader of the Marcel Colomb First Nation, near Lynn Lake, Manintoba, told CBC: "This is the first time anyone has ever called me in regards to what's happened to aboriginal people in the town of Lynn Lake."
According to CBC's reporting, when families were asked to rate the quality of the police investigation in each case--on a scale of one to 10, with 10 being excellent--the average rating was 2.8.
"I feel like the police are not taking interest in anything that has anything to do with the aboriginal people," said Maria Pia Benuen, whose best friend Henrietta Millek disappeared in 1982 from St. John's, in the province of Newfoundland and Labrador. The case, like so many others, has never been solved.
The series features an interactive database, which CBC is hoping to expand, that tells the individual stories of women, their families, and their communities.
The news organization based its initial reporting off a list of missing and murdered women compiled by Ottawa researcher Maryanne Pearce and first made public in 2013. Pearce gave the CBC an updated list in December 2014, at which point the CBC began assessing the cases and trying to find and interview as many family members as possible.
Through checks with police, families, community leaders, organizations, and public sources, CBC News came up with about 230 confirmed cases of missing and murdered Indigenous women and girls.
CBC notes: "About 70 percent of family members expressed the desire for a national inquiry into the issue, a call that has so far been rejected by the federal government."
Join Us: News for people demanding a better world
Common Dreams is powered by optimists who believe in the power of informed and engaged citizens to ignite and enact change to make the world a better place. We're hundreds of thousands strong, but every single supporter makes the difference. Your contribution supports this bold media model—free, independent, and dedicated to reporting the facts every day. Stand with us in the fight for economic equality, social justice, human rights, and a more sustainable future. As a people-powered nonprofit news outlet, we cover the issues the corporate media never will. Join with us today! |
Our work is licensed under Creative Commons (CC BY-NC-ND 3.0). Feel free to republish and share widely.
Deirdre Fulton
Deirdre Fulton is a former Common Dreams senior editor and staff writer. Previously she worked as an editor and writer for the Portland Phoenix and the Boston Phoenix, where she was honored by the New England Press Association and the Association of Alternative Newsweeklies. A Boston University graduate, Deirdre is a co-founder of the Maine-based Lorem Ipsum Theater Collective and the PortFringe theater festival. She writes young adult fiction in her spare time.
In the face of persistent inaction by the federal government and Canadian law enforcement, the country's largest news broadcaster has launched a nationwide special investigative series that explores the cases of over 200 missing and murdered Indigenous women and girls in Canada, stretching back to 1951.
After an "exhaustive search for families who have lost a relative either to an unsolved killing or whose loved one still remains missing," CBC News has located and interviewed more than 110 families about the cases so far.
Their findings support previous declarations by women's groups, First Nations advocates, and international human rights watchdogs who say that police and government efforts to address the national crisis have fallen far short.
In fact, CBC reports, "Many family members and friends of missing and murdered women said the call from CBC News was the first time they had been contacted about their relative."
Chief Andrew Colomb, leader of the Marcel Colomb First Nation, near Lynn Lake, Manintoba, told CBC: "This is the first time anyone has ever called me in regards to what's happened to aboriginal people in the town of Lynn Lake."
According to CBC's reporting, when families were asked to rate the quality of the police investigation in each case--on a scale of one to 10, with 10 being excellent--the average rating was 2.8.
"I feel like the police are not taking interest in anything that has anything to do with the aboriginal people," said Maria Pia Benuen, whose best friend Henrietta Millek disappeared in 1982 from St. John's, in the province of Newfoundland and Labrador. The case, like so many others, has never been solved.
The series features an interactive database, which CBC is hoping to expand, that tells the individual stories of women, their families, and their communities.
The news organization based its initial reporting off a list of missing and murdered women compiled by Ottawa researcher Maryanne Pearce and first made public in 2013. Pearce gave the CBC an updated list in December 2014, at which point the CBC began assessing the cases and trying to find and interview as many family members as possible.
Through checks with police, families, community leaders, organizations, and public sources, CBC News came up with about 230 confirmed cases of missing and murdered Indigenous women and girls.
CBC notes: "About 70 percent of family members expressed the desire for a national inquiry into the issue, a call that has so far been rejected by the federal government."
Deirdre Fulton
Deirdre Fulton is a former Common Dreams senior editor and staff writer. Previously she worked as an editor and writer for the Portland Phoenix and the Boston Phoenix, where she was honored by the New England Press Association and the Association of Alternative Newsweeklies. A Boston University graduate, Deirdre is a co-founder of the Maine-based Lorem Ipsum Theater Collective and the PortFringe theater festival. She writes young adult fiction in her spare time.
In the face of persistent inaction by the federal government and Canadian law enforcement, the country's largest news broadcaster has launched a nationwide special investigative series that explores the cases of over 200 missing and murdered Indigenous women and girls in Canada, stretching back to 1951.
After an "exhaustive search for families who have lost a relative either to an unsolved killing or whose loved one still remains missing," CBC News has located and interviewed more than 110 families about the cases so far.
Their findings support previous declarations by women's groups, First Nations advocates, and international human rights watchdogs who say that police and government efforts to address the national crisis have fallen far short.
In fact, CBC reports, "Many family members and friends of missing and murdered women said the call from CBC News was the first time they had been contacted about their relative."
Chief Andrew Colomb, leader of the Marcel Colomb First Nation, near Lynn Lake, Manintoba, told CBC: "This is the first time anyone has ever called me in regards to what's happened to aboriginal people in the town of Lynn Lake."
According to CBC's reporting, when families were asked to rate the quality of the police investigation in each case--on a scale of one to 10, with 10 being excellent--the average rating was 2.8.
"I feel like the police are not taking interest in anything that has anything to do with the aboriginal people," said Maria Pia Benuen, whose best friend Henrietta Millek disappeared in 1982 from St. John's, in the province of Newfoundland and Labrador. The case, like so many others, has never been solved.
The series features an interactive database, which CBC is hoping to expand, that tells the individual stories of women, their families, and their communities.
The news organization based its initial reporting off a list of missing and murdered women compiled by Ottawa researcher Maryanne Pearce and first made public in 2013. Pearce gave the CBC an updated list in December 2014, at which point the CBC began assessing the cases and trying to find and interview as many family members as possible.
Through checks with police, families, community leaders, organizations, and public sources, CBC News came up with about 230 confirmed cases of missing and murdered Indigenous women and girls.
CBC notes: "About 70 percent of family members expressed the desire for a national inquiry into the issue, a call that has so far been rejected by the federal government."
We've had enough. The 1% own and operate the corporate media. They are doing everything they can to defend the status quo, squash dissent and protect the wealthy and the powerful. The Common Dreams media model is different. We cover the news that matters to the 99%. Our mission? To inform. To inspire. To ignite change for the common good. How? Nonprofit. Independent. Reader-supported. Free to read. Free to republish. Free to share. With no advertising. No paywalls. No selling of your data. Thousands of small donations fund our newsroom and allow us to continue publishing. Can you chip in? We can't do it without you. Thank you.