NDP hold rally to push the Liberal government for investigation into crimes against Indigenous people

OTTAWA – On Saturday NDP MPs Mumilaaq Qaqqaq (Nunavut) and Charlie Angus (Timmins-James Bay) were joined by Inuit and First Nations Elders, as well as supporters, to demand an independent investigation into Canada's crimes against Indigenous Peoples. They held a march which started at Parliament Hill and moved to the Department of Justice building.

“I am proud to have seen so many supporters out today to join our march for truth and justice. Almost 20,000 Canadians have emailed Lametti demanding action, but so far, the Liberal government is stubbornly refusing to do the right thing. It’s clear that we need to take to the streets if the First Peoples of these lands are going to see truth and justice from the federal institutions,” said Qaqqaq. “How can there be “reconciliation” without truth and justice?”

The NDP is calling on Justice Minister David Lametti, to establish a fully-funded independent investigation into crimes against Indigenous peoples through the residential school system. The special prosecutor would be instructed to reach out to the International Criminal Court in recognition that this system represents a crime against humanity. In addition, the NDP is calling on a major increase in the budget required to undertake forensic investigations at sites of former residential schools – investigations that must be under the authority of the affected Indigenous communities.

Finally, the NDP is calling for an independent commission which would have the resources to establish standards and provide oversight for the searches of the records, for the ground searches and for the investigations, working with organizations that have started to do this work, such as the National Centre for Truth and Reconciliation and the Canadian Archaeological Association. Its work must be flexible and adapt in accordance with the wishes of the communities. The federal government must work in partnership with intergovernmental organizations that specialize in this work, such as the International Commission on Missing Persons (ICMP).

“The Liberal government likes to say nice words and make symbolic gestures but when it comes to seeking truth and justice, they fail to take any concrete action,” said Angus. “The federal government and the Catholic Church have been focused on limiting their liability rather than helping survivors. The Liberals need to stop protecting abusers and start helping survivors.”

The NDP is calling for real action - real justice - and real reconciliation - not just more words and symbolic gestures.