Canada was complicit in a "genocide" against thousands of indigenous women and girls over the last 30 years, a government inquiry has claimed.
The National Inquiry into Murdered and Missing Indigenous Women and Girls was established two and a half years ago to investigate the murders and disappearances of thousands of indigenous women over the past three decades.
In a summary report it concluded that through "state actions and inactions rooted in colonialism and colonial ideologies" indigenous women and girls have faced a disproportionately high level of violence.
As many as 4,000 Indigenous women have been murdered over the past few decades, but the report suggested the real figure may never be known.
It linked the deaths to endemic poverty, racism, sexism and addiction social to failed attempts by early colonisers to force indigenous people to integrate.
The 1,200-page report was unveiled on Monday at a ceremony at the Canadian Museum of History attended by Justin Trudeau, the prime minister, and victims’ families.
Entitled "Reclaiming Power and Place," the report makes more than 230 recommendations for the government, including giving Indigenous languages official status on par with English and French.
Mr Trudeau made Canada’s reconciliation for its colonial past a major part of his 2015 election campaign, and he has apologised for some of the country’s historical wrongs since taking office.
Reuters
Last month, he posthumously exonerated a Cree chief unjustly imprisoned for treason more than 130 years ago. Promising a national action plan to address the violence yesterday, Mr Trudeau said: "To the missing and murdered indigenous women and girls of Canada, to their families, and to survivors – we have failed you. But we will fail you no longer."
He added: "To the survivors and families here today, and to those watching or listening at home, I want you to know that this report is not the end."
The inquiry acknowledged that there are disagreements over what constitutes genocide, saying it is still preparing a supplementary report to summarise its finding "according to the legal definition of genocide".
"Genocide is the sum of the social practices, assumptions, and actions detailed within this report," it said.
"The national inquiry’s findings support characterizing these acts, including violence against Indigenous women, girls, and 2SLGBTQQIA people, as genocide."
2SLGBTQQIA is an abbreviation for different sexualities and gender identities.
At another point, the report stated: "The fact that First Nations, Inuit, and Métis peoples are still here and that the population is growing should not discount the charge of genocide."
The Assembly of First Nations said the final report "reaffirms what First Nations and families have been saying for many years – we need immediate, sustained and coordinated action to address the long-standing and systemic causes of violence against Indigenous women and girls and those at risk”.
Click Here: United Kingdom Rugby Jerseys
In a statement, the National Chief Perry Bellegarde said the treatment of the Indigenous population was "consistent with the definition of genocide based on the many assaults on First Nations people and culture".
Mr Bellegarde cited the implementation of residential schools, forced sterilisation and Canada’s child welfare system’s mass apprehensions of Indigenous children as evidence for the claim.