Complainant, Heal Thyself

"[I plan to press Prime Minister Harper to] open his heart [to understand the problem of missing and murdered aboriginal women is]a black mark on Canada [requiring an investigation]."
There are root causes that have to be addressed. The homelessness, the poverty, the alcohol and drug abuse. The systems that are there need to be changed."
Perry Bellegard, newly elected chief, Assembly of First Nations

"I beg to differ that the federal government is the ultimate solution here. The solution is at the community level."
"Now, who are the chiefs and councils assembling in their) communities to address this issue?"
"[The federal government will help [but, you know, someone has got to take ownership of this issue. And even if we try to do it at the federal level, it won't change anything. If we're honest here [it's apparent what the problem is]."
"Obviously, there's a lack of respect for women and girls on reserves. So, you know, if the guys grow up believing that women have no rights, that's how they are treated."
"If you really have heart, and if you take this at heart, you will not ask the government of Canada to spin its wheels for years over an enquiry that will bring about what? Exactly what we know today."
Aboriginal Affairs Minister Bernard Valcourt

The 16-year-old pulled herself out of the freezing waters of the Assiniboine River Saturday morning after she was allegedly attacked twice and sexually assaulted sometime Friday night. Her family has said she is expected to make a full recovery.
Justin James Hudson, 20, and a 17-year-old young man were arrested on Tuesday and are charged with attempted murder, aggravated sexual assault and sexual assault with a weapon.

Recent federal legislation has recognized the rights of on-reserve aboriginal women, taking action to provide in law for matrimonial property rights. As potent an indication as any that the federal government is vitally interested in promoting the rights of women. And which speaks volumes of a culture that is inherently misogynist in its traditional refusal to give equal rights to men and women. This is the same culture that appears to nourish the belief that women are inferior to men and as such men can control women.

Violence against women on reserves is legendary. And the kind of violence visited upon aboriginal girls and women that leaves them defenceless victims of abuse and worse, takes place within the broader society in most places on Earth, but in civilized communities it is condemned as immoral, as an offence against basic human rights, and laws are enacted to combat it and protect the rights of women. The First Nations' communities' lag in this instance will not be solved by a government enquiry.

The problem exists as an iniquitous custom long ignored if not tolerated, and it is past time that First Nations communities in general and the Assembly of First Nations in particular must address it head on, rather than punting the issue over to the government which is helpless in and of itself to turn the culture around. This is an issue that must be confronted by aboriginals and the solution found within themselves.

Even in the face of the knowledge that the assailants who raped and beat and left 16-year-old Rinelle Harper for dead in Winnipeg last month were themselves both aboriginal, her tragic case has been used by the AFN and its new chief to verbally assault the government for its refusal to launch a completely useless inquiry. Which would only conclude what previous enquiries have done, that this is a problem within the aboriginal community which must heal itself.