Missing and murdered indigenous women focus of roundtable forum

A roundtable gathering took place in Calgary on Friday to bring together the families of missing or murdered indigenous women to allow them to share their stories and help them heal.

The event was organized by Awo Taan Healing Lodge Emergency Women’s Shelter and coincides with the National Roundtable in Ottawa.

The discussion started at 1:00 at the John Dutton Theatre and was attended by dignitaries and family members of Calgary and area victims.

The hope is that events like this will open dialogue with governments to take action and reduce the rates of violence against indigenous women.

Verna Dee Applegarth’s daughter, Delena Lefthand, was murdered nearly eight years ago and she remembers it like it was yesterday.

“When I went to my daughter's room there was a whole bunch of blood and I said where is my daughter? Where's my daughter? Where's my daughter?" said Applegarth. “I’m the mom, I should know everything that’s going on in my daughter’s case.”

So far, no one has been arrested in the 20 year old woman’s death.

"No one has caught my daughter's shooter. I don't know what to do anymore. Why is ustice not done? What am I going to tell my granddaughter," said Applegarth.

The Prime Minister has rejected calls for a national inquiry into the nearly 1,200 aboriginal women who have been murdered or gone missing in the last 30 years.

On Thursday, a coalition that includes Amnesty International released a study saying the federal government ignored 700 recommendations from several studies on how to reduce the number of missing and murdered indigenous women.

Indigenous women make up 4.3 percent of Canada's population, but account for 16 percent of female homicides and 11.3 percent of missing women.

Liberal MP and Aboriginal Affairs Critic, Carolyn Bennett, was in attendance at Friday’s event.

“You have to say there’s something systematically wrong with this. We’ve got to figure out what’s happening and stop it,” said Bennett.

Calgary Police Chief Rick Hanson says there is no blanket solution and that there has been a lot of misunderstanding over the years and it’s time to address it.

“My fear with an inquiry is that it could go on for years and not deal with the regional concerns and regional issues,” said Hanson.

The end goal of the roundtable discussions is to submit a report to the community and all levels of government that includes action items and recommendations for healing and reconciliation.

A Round Dance followed the discussion at City Hall Plaza at 4:00 p.m.

For more information on Friday's event in Calgary, click HERE.

(With files from The Canadian Press)

Fact Sheet: Missing and Murdered Aboriginal Women and Girls in Alberta