Re: 鈥淚nquiry: Indigenous women faced 鈥榞enocide鈥�,鈥� June 4.
The final report of the National Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls is irresponsible in repeatedly using the word 鈥済enocide鈥� and claiming that there鈥檚 ongoing and current intent by government to wipe out indigenous lives and cultures.
That鈥檚 the opposite of the truth in a time of reconciliation, although it was indeed the historical policy to assimilate natives, with devastating results. It renders the word meaningless when compared with real genocide.
It is also already being used to unfairly hurt Canada鈥檚 image internationally. The government and authorities are found culpable although there鈥檚 no clear accounting of who may have been responsible for murdering and abusing aboriginal women, including native men. Reality in recent times has been indifference rather than malign intent.
Canada has treated its indigenous people abominably and the pain of affected families must be respected, but the inquiry has blown much of its opportunity to be taken seriously by the public, whatever the government now may do.
Rob Garrard
Victoria
Re: 鈥淚nquiry: Indigenous women faced 鈥榞enocide鈥�,鈥� June 4.
The final report of the National Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls is irresponsible in repeatedly using the word 鈥済enocide鈥� and claiming that there鈥檚 ongoing and current intent by government to wipe out indigenous lives and cultures.
That鈥檚 the opposite of the truth in a time of reconciliation, although it was indeed the historical policy to assimilate natives, with devastating results. It renders the word meaningless when compared with real genocide.
It is also already being used to unfairly hurt Canada鈥檚 image internationally. The government and authorities are found culpable although there鈥檚 no clear accounting of who may have been responsible for murdering and abusing aboriginal women, including native men. Reality in recent times has been indifference rather than malign intent.
Canada has treated its indigenous people abominably and the pain of affected families must be respected, but the Inquiry has blown much of its opportunity to be taken seriously by the public, whatever the government now may do.
Rob Garrard
Victoria
