PRINCE RUPERT, B.C. - Aboriginal women whose mothers and daughters vanished in B.C. are tearfully telling stories of loss to the provincial inquiry into missing and murdered women.
The women, who live in Prince Rupert, are among the first participants in a series of seven forums being held in northern B.C. to assist with a component of the broader inquiry.
Vicki Hill was only six months old when her mother's body was found east of the city in 1978, and she's spent her life piecing together what happened.
She joined several participants who say they don't trust the RCMP to help in missing women's cases and also asked why more efforts haven't been made to make the so-called Highway of Tears more safe.
Commissioner Wally Oppal says the inquiry is "serious" about wanting advice from participants, and called the perspective of people living in northern B.C. "vital."
He explained more formal proceedings that begin next month will examine why serial killer Robert Pickton wasn't stopped sooner from murdering women in Vancouver's Downtown Eastside.
