RCMP questions claim of 600 missing aboriginal women
CBC News
Posted: Feb 16, 2013 8:54 AM ET
Last Updated: Feb 17, 2013 6:22 AM ET
Participants of the Women's Worlds 2011 congress take part in a rally on Parliament Hill in solidarity with missing and murdered aboriginal women in Ottawa in 2011. The RCMP says the names of 118 missing or slain women have been shared with the force's National Aboriginal Policing Services. (Sean Kilpatrick/The Canadian Press)
The RCMP is questioning the oft-cited claim by an aboriginal group and some federal politicians that about 600 aboriginal women have gone missing or been murdered in Canada.
On today's edition of CBC Radio's The House, host Evan Solomon says that when he contacted the RCMP to confirm that there are 580 cases of aboriginal women who were either missing or killed in the country, the force said it wasn't aware of about 500 of them.
The question of exactly how many aboriginal women are missing or killed in Canada comes during a week that included the Annual Day of Justice for Missing and Murdered Aboriginal Women on Friday, and a debate in the House of Commons that included a Liberal proposal to strike a special committee to investigate the issue. This week also saw a report from New York-based Human Rights Watch that accused the RCMP in British Columbia of abusive acts, including rape, against aboriginal women.
'The RCMP is concerned with the over 500 possible victims from the Sisters in Spirit database that have not been shared.'—Sgt. Julie Gagnon
The number 600 — used repeatedly in the House of Commons this week — comes from the Native Women's Association of Canada. In 2005, they began a program called Sisters in Spirit — a five-year research, education and policy initiative funded by Status of Women Canada – to collect data and examine the causes of the missing and killed Aboriginal women and girls. They say they documented 580 aboriginal women and girls across Canada as either disappeared or dead. That number counts cases until 2010, the year their funding was not renewed.
But spokeswoman Sgt. Julie Gagnon said in an email that the Sisters in Spirit have shared the names of 118 alleged victims with the RCMP's National Aboriginal Policing Services.
Sixty-four of the 118 names were confirmed to be in a police database, while 54 could not be confirmed.
"The RCMP is concerned with the over 500 possible victims from the Sisters in Spirit database that have not been shared," she said.
The RCMP said they investigate all cases of missing and killed people regardless of sex, ethnicity, background or lifestyle and run special programs to investigate the aboriginal women file.
The Native Women's Association of Canada did not reply to a request for an interview.
Share Tools
Storify'd: Rae's surprise resignation prompts outpouring on twitter by Kady O'Malley Jun. 19, 2013 5:42 PM Soon to be former House colleagues from both sides of the aisle pay tribute to departing Liberal MP
Top News Headlines
- Sopranos star James Gandolfini dies in Italy
- James Gandolfini, whose portrayal of a brutal, emotionally delicate mob boss in HBO's 'The Sopranos' helped create one of TV's greatest drama series, dies of an apparent heart attack in Italy. He was 51. more »
- Top court to reveal if it will hear Rob Ford conflict appeal
- The Supreme Court of Canada will reveal today if it will hear an appeal in a conflict of interest challenge that previously threatened to oust Toronto Mayor Rob Ford from office. more »
- Brian Stewart: Forget the cynics, why the Taliban might just want peace
- One big reason, Brian Stewart writes, is the growing strength of the Afghan army. Without the U.S. and its media around to report on the fighting, the next phase in this conflict could get a whole lot bloodier. more »
- Dozens of children seized from Manitoba Mennonite community
- Child welfare authorities have removed all but one child from a small Mennonite community in rural Manitoba. more »
Must Watch
Latest Politics News Headlines
- Bob Rae quits as MP in 'very emotional' decision
- Bob Rae, who has represented the Toronto Centre riding for the Liberals since 2008, is stepping down as a Member of Parliament to devote more time to his work as a negotiator for First Nations in Northern Ontario. more »
- 1 in 8 bird species threatened with extinction
- One in eight bird species worldwide faces the threat of extinction, according to a report released by Birdlife International. more »
- Secret tax-haven files lift veil on $32M Ontario fraud
- Bulletproof cars, Caribbean intrigue, financial finagling — the tale of swindler Peter Sabourin has it all. And finally, CBC News can tell the full story thanks to the recent massive leak of offshore records. more »
- Canada joining Brazilian-led peacekeeping mission in Haiti
- A small platoon of Canadian troops are about to join a peacekeeping operation in Haiti under the command of Brazilian forces, in a long-delayed mission that has been kept inexplicably low on the political radar. more »
The National
The House
- Senator Tkachuk defends secretive committee's work Jun. 15, 2013 8:03 AM This week on The House, we ask Senator David Tkachuk about Mac Harb taking the Senate to court and Pamela Wallin's explanation for her expenses problems. Plus, National Chief of the Assembly of First Nations Shawn Atleo has strong words for the Harper government's approach to First Nations issues. The Aboriginal Affairs Minister Bernard Valcourt is here to respond.
- Sopranos star James Gandolfini dies in Italy
- Wearing a mask at a riot is now a crime
- Dozens of children seized from Manitoba Mennonite community
- B.C. teacher duct-taped students' mouths
- B.C. First Nation sets fires to save bison
- Richmond widow racks up $1,800 hospital parking bill
- Obesity now recognized as a disease
- Bob Rae quits as MP in 'very emotional' decision
- Secret tax-haven files lift veil on $32M Ontario fraud
