Why is no one counting murdered Indigenous women and children?
Aug 14, 2024
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Lorena Allam, an Indigenous affairs editor, joins Nour Haydar, an advocate for families seeking justice, to discuss the urgent issue of missing and murdered Indigenous women and children. They explore heart-wrenching cases like Cindy Smith and Constance Maye-Wachow, revealing systemic failures of police investigations. The conversation highlights the unending pain families endure and the need for accountability in a broken system. Together, they call for significant reforms and underscore the importance of Indigenous-led solutions in the pursuit of justice.
The ongoing quest for justice by families like the Smiths highlights the emotional toll and systemic failures in police investigations involving Indigenous cases.
The inquiry emphasizes the need for culturally competent policing and improved data collection to ensure serious handling of Indigenous women and children’s cases.
Deep dives
Tragic Legacy of the Smith Family
The Smith family has endured decades of grief following the tragic deaths of cousins Cindy and Mona in a car crash in 1987. The girls were just 15 and 16 years old when their lives were cut short, and the family has since placed a sandstone plaque at the accident site to commemorate them. This site serves as a poignant reminder of their memory alongside flowers and fairy lights that illuminate the area at night. Despite the passage of time, the family’s quest for justice remains unresolved, highlighting the ongoing emotional toll that such tragedies can inflict on families and communities.
Failures in Police Investigation
The investigation into the crash that killed Cindy and Mona was marred by significant police failings, leading to a lack of accountability for the driver, Alexander Grant. Initial confusion over who was driving allowed Grant to manipulate his statements, delaying appropriate charges against him. Despite being heavily intoxicated, he faced minimal consequences, and after a trial, he was acquitted due to insufficient evidence. The Coroner later criticized the police for their inadequate investigation and the impact of racial bias, underscoring a systemic issue within law enforcement regarding Indigenous cases.
Call for Systemic Change and Accountability
The inquiry into missing and murdered First Nations women and children has revealed broader systemic issues affecting Indigenous families, echoing the Smith family’s struggles. Families often feel that their loved ones' cases are not treated with the seriousness they deserve, leading them to undertake their own search for justice. The inquiry advocates for culturally competent policing and better data collection related to Indigenous cases to ensure that such tragedies are taken seriously and properly investigated. Ultimately, families like the Smiths push for meaningful reforms so that future generations do not have to endure similar suffering and neglect.
The report from parliament’s inquiry into missing and murdered Indigenous women and children is due to be released today – for one Bourke family, it’s another step on a long road for police accountability. Indigenous affairs editor Lorena Allam speaks to Nour Haydar about the families who won’t stop fighting for justice and why it’s time for reform
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