Manitoba Keewatinowi Okimakanak Inc. ■Head Office Thompson Sub-Office Winnipeg Sub-Office Nisichawayasihk Cree Nation 200-701 Thompson Drive 6th Floor, 338 Broadway Nelson House, Manitoba Thompson, Manitoba Winnipeg, Manitoba R0B 1A0 R8N 2A3 R3C 0T2 www.mkonorth.com

Office of Grand Chief Sheila North Wilson

Media Release Media Contact: Brennan Manoakeesick Phone: (204) 795-0449 Email: brennanm@mkonorth.com

For Immediate Release December 8, 2015 3:00 p.m. EST

MANITOBA NORTHERN CHIEFS WELCOME ANNOUNCEMENTS OF PROGRESS ON INQUIRY INTO

MISSING AND MURDERED INDIGENOUS WOMEN AND GIRLS

ALGONQUIN TERRITORY, GATINEAU, QUEBEC - Grand Chief Sheila North Wilson of the Manitoba Keewatinowi Okimakanak, Inc. (MKO) acknowledged and welcomed today’s statements by the Prime Minister, the Indigenous and Northern Affairs Minister, the Justice Minister and the Status of Women Minister that government has started the design phase of a national inquiry into missing and murdered Indigenous women and girls in Canada. “I acknowledge the Prime Minister and his new government for immediately following through on their promise to launch a national Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls and for making the inquiry a top priority”, said MKO Grand Chief North Wilson.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau made his statements in a speech delivered this morning to the Assembly of First Nations (AFN) Special Chiefs Assembly being held in Gatineau, Quebec. Indigenous and Northern Affairs Minister Dr. Carolyn Bennett, Justice Minister Judy Wilson-Raybould and Status of Women Minister Patricia Hajdu made their announcements about the first phase of an expected $40 million two-year inquiry process during a press conference held this afternoon on Parliament Hill.

The MKO Grand Chief welcomed the Prime Minister’s commitment that “we must work together to put an end to this ongoing tragedy”. Grand Chief North Wilson stated, “MKO is committed to continuing our work with the Assembly of Manitoba Chiefs and the Southern Chiefs Organization and with the AFN Regional Chief for Manitoba to provide our contributions toward the design phase of the national inquiry on MMIW that was announced today”.

“MKO is committed to seeking the wisdom of our Grandmothers and the families of missing women and girls to guide our work in support of the national inquiry through a ‘families first’ approach”, added the MKO Grand Chief. “MKO looks forward to working closely with AMC Grand Chief Derek Nepinak, SCO Grand Chief Terry Nelson and Regional Chief Kevin T. Hart as well as with Indigenous and Northern Affairs Minister Bennett, Justice Minister Wilson-Raybould and Status of Women Minister Hajdu in designing and planning how the National Inquiry will be carried out in Manitoba”, concluded the MKO Grand Chief.

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~Manitoba Keewatinowi Okimakanak Inc. is a non-profit, political advocacy organization that has represented 30 First Nation communities in Manitoba’s North since 1981~