Staff from the National Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls will visit Yellowknife to prepare families and survivors for a hearing in the fall.
From Aug. 29 to 31, members of the health, legal and community relations staff will make initial contact with family members and survivors, to register and prepare them for a hearing in November and ensure their needs associated with telling their stories are met.
“Families, survivors and loved ones have choices in how to share, in a comfortable and safe way. There are many ways to participate (in the fall hearing), including before a commissioner in a private and confidential hearing without any cameras present,” stated a news release.
The community visit is not open to the public, it is strictly for family members and survivors.
Tiar Wilson, communications advisor with the inquiry, stated in an email family and survivors can walk in without registering, however she encouraged people to reach out to the following individuals ahead of the visit:
Looee Okalik, Community Liaison Officer: 1 (613) 762-9983, or l.okalik@mmiwg-ffada.ca
Melissa Carlick, Community Liaison Officer: 1 (867) 333-0837, or m.carlick@mmiwg-ffada.ca
Wilson also stated there will be an opportunity to phone in for NWT residents who cannot make it to Yellowknife in person.
The inquiry will return to Yellowknife for a community hearing the week of November 13.