Missing, murdered women hearing in Saskatoon rescheduled to Nov. 20

No reason given for delay in inquiry, which has been dogged by controversy

SASKATOON The Saskatoon hearing for the National Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls has been delayed by one month.

Previously scheduled to begin Monday in Saskatoon, the hearing has been rescheduled to start Nov. 20, according to Myrna Laplante of Saskatoon family support group Iskwewuk E-wichiwitochik.

The reason for the delay was not immediately clear.

The commissioners are holding hearings in nine communities this fall, including a stop this week in Winnipeg, where emotional testimony from victims’ families has been heard daily. Other locations include Halifax, Edmonton and Yellowknife.

The inquiry has been dogged by controversy, including the resignation of commissioner Marilyn Poitras, and last month chief commissioner Marion Buller telling a Senate committee that its work has been hampered by bureaucracy.

Earlier this month, Buller announced that the inquiry’s director of research is leaving in November and the commission’s lead counsel has also resigned, while at the same time announcing that former Assembly of First Nations adviser Debbie Reid had taken the job as executive director. Reid is from the Skownan First Nation in Manitoba. She was a special adviser to Assembly of First Nations National Chief Phil Fontaine when he held the job, and has also worked for the federal government.

The Winnipeg hearings follow meetings in Smithers, B.C., and Whitehorse, Yukon.

The inquiry has faced criticism from some families about delays, poor communication, a lack of transportation and accommodation support. The inquiry has also heard criticism that victims’ families weren’t adequately consulted about the shape of the inquiry.

There were subsequent calls for a more profound shakeup, with one prominent Manitoba First Nations chief even calling for Buller to leave.