A year after the death of 15-year-old Tina Fontaine, Assembly of First Nations National Chief Perry Bellegarde says not enough has changed to prevent further violence against aboriginal women across Canada.
Bellegarde told CTV鈥檚 Power Play that aside from a decision by the Manitoba government to no longer allow foster children -- most of them aboriginal -- to be kept in hotels, and a roundtable meeting with premiers on missing and murdered aboriginal women, not a lot has changed since Fontaine鈥檚 death last August.
鈥淥ther than those things, not a lot has changed because we still don鈥檛 know who killed Tina. We still don鈥檛 know what was the cause behind it. There鈥檚 no closure for the family,鈥� said Bellegarde.
Fontaine鈥檚 body was discovered wrapped in a bag in the Red River on Aug. 17, 2014. Her death renewed calls for a national inquiry into the issue of missing and murdered aboriginal women and girls.
To date, Fontaine鈥檚 killer has not been found. But police have not declared Fontaine鈥檚 case 鈥渃old鈥� either, according to Winnipeg Police Const. Rob Carver, who said that it is still a 鈥減rime focus鈥� for the homicide unit.
by unveiling of a specially made headstone for her in Powerview-Pine Falls, Man. The family also planned a community even to celebrate her life.
Calls for First Nations policy from Harper, Mulcair
Two weeks into the election campaign, Bellegarde called on Conservative Leader Stephen Harper and NDP Leader Tom Mulcair to announce more policy plans for aboriginal Canadians. He acknowledged Liberal Leader Justin Trudeau鈥檚 promise last week of $2.6 billion of new funding over four years to help close the funding gap between First Nations children and other kids, if elected.
鈥淢r. Trudeau coming out with an announcement on education is a good first step,鈥� said Bellegarde.
鈥淲e are going to call on the other party leaders. Where are you at with these issues as well? Mr. Mulcair鈥檚 got to make some strong statements. Mr. Harper鈥檚 got to make some strong statements.鈥�
The AFN has identified 51 swing ridings where they say the aboriginal vote could affect the outcome of the Oct. 19 federal election. In the meantime, he is encouraging aboriginal Canadians to make an 鈥渋nformed choice鈥� when they head to the polls, instead of pressuring them to vote for one party over another.
鈥淚, as national chief, will work with whoever gets elected, but I鈥檓 asking our citizens to make a really informed choice.鈥�
With files from CTV Winnipeg
