The federal government is expected to release the details of the first phase of a national inquiry into missing and murdered indigenous women this weekend, 麻豆影视 has learned.
Ottawa plans to make the announcement, which is expected to begin with the consultation of the victims鈥� families, on or before the National Day of Remembrance and Action on Violence Against Women on Dec. 6.
"As we promised, we will listen to the families first, who have good experience with this and good instincts, and then we will engage with the other partners in the aboriginal organizations, provinces and territories, (and) experts," said Indigenous and Northern Affairs Minister Carolyn Bennett.
A full inquiry is expected to be launched in the spring of 2016.
Bennett said the consultation will address core issues related to the inquiry, including its design, the amount of commissioners, the length, the number of families involved and the terms of reference.
She added that many of the victims鈥� families are "very relieved" they will get to speak "directly" to the ministers involved, including herself, Minister of Justice Jody Wilson-Raybould and Minister of Status of Women Patty Hajdu.
Bennett said the Dec. 6 deadline is important because the government wants to ensure they're making progress in addressing violence against women, and in particular indigenous women.
"I think there is a real focus on this part of that issue, which is the disproportionate number of indigenous women missing or murdered."
Grand Chief Derek Nepinak, of the Assembly of Manitoba Chiefs, said the consultation is an important first step.
"By getting into the communities, engaging with leadership and listening to a family first, I believe we are building the relationship necessary for a successful inquiry," he said.
Calls for a national inquiry have been growing since an RCMP review last year revealed that 1,181 aboriginal women have been murdered or gone missing since 1980 -- 164 missing and 1,017 homicide victims.
Bennett said earlier this month that she hoped to model the government's approach after the 1996 Royal Commission on Aboriginal Peoples, which included a consultation process.
With files from CTV鈥檚 Deputy Ottawa Bureau Chief Laurie Graham and Field Producer Philip Ling
