Métis Nation to call for inquiry into missing women

Superior Morning8:52Metis Nation of Ontario

Leaders of the Metis Nation of Ontario are gathering in Thunder Bay this weekend. Gary lipinski is President of the Association.

The president of the Métis Nation of Ontario is adding his voice to the call for an inquiry into murdered and missing Indigenous women.

"This is violence against all Aboriginal women,” Gary Lipinski said.

​Hundreds of Métis people from across the province are gathering in Thunder Bay this weekend for the Métis Nation of Ontario's annual general assembly.

"I will be bringing it to the assembly in hopes that the full assembly will be throwing its full weight behind that call for a national inquiry into the murdered and missing women,”  Lipinski said.

Lipinski said an inquiry is essential to finding the root causes of the violence against First Nations, Inuit and Métis women — and how to stop it.

“I think, collectively, whether it's the First Nations leadership, the Inuit leadership [or] the Métis Nation leadership, we're all standing in solid support. This needs to be dealt with."

The annual assembly began Friday with cultural celebrations, including the of 10 young Métis voyageurs at Chippewa Park. They paddled 2000 kilometres from Ottawa for the event.

The meetings wrap up on Monday.