Family of missing Jennifer Catcheway respond to start of national MMIW inquiry

Bernice and Wilfred Catcheway are preparing to spend another holiday season without their daughter Jennifer who hasn’t been seen since 2008. RCMP are investigating her disappearance as a homicide.

"For the last week, I've been crying at work,” said Bernice. “Crying coming home from work. Just thinking that we're not going to have her again, another year."

The family has been searching for Jennifer, and closure, for years and has never felt they had an ally in the federal government until now.

Tuesday, Justice Minister Jody Wilson-Raybould announced the start of an inquiry into missing and murdered indigenous women and girls.

Numbers released by the RCMP in 2008 indicate there are as many as 1,181 cases.

"For far too long these women, their families, their children have been left to grieve without answers,” said Wilson-Raybould.

The first phase of the inquiry will be headed by the federal ministers of Justice, Indigenous Affairs, and Status of Women.

It will focus on consultations with families of missing and murdered indigenous women and girls.

It is those talks that will determine the scope and focus of the second phase which is the actual inquiry.

"Beginning this week, we will seek their input on the design of the inquiry and on what needs to be achieved,” said Wilson-Raybould. “We will listen clearly to their voices."

The Catcheways are anxious to share their thoughts on what the inquiry should look like.

They hope some of its recommendations will be about renewed efforts to solve open cases and bring closure to families living with so many unanswered questions.

"There's no justice yet for Jennifer,” said Bernice Catcheway. “So, I would like to see, how are they going to deal with that?"