Edmonton Headlines: Thursday, November 9, 2017

The National Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls (MMIWG) wraps up community hearings in Edmonton today. The MMIWG Inquiry has been here all week. 

“I’m here today to tell you about my horrific story of survival.”

The stories being shared are not easy to hear, but the trauma on display in official testimony is important for us to listen to. The disproportionate violence Indigenous females face is something that continues to happen across the country and we need to do more to stop it. 

And, for some testifying, there’s a hope that sharing their truths is finally happening in a place where they may actually be heard. 

Just before the Inquiry came to Edmonton, it released an interim report on its work so far, with 10 recommendations. The first couple of recommendations ask governments to implement past recommendations of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission and make funding changes after a ruling that found the federal government is discriminating against Indigenous children. 

The community hearings continue today, and are open to the public (although some testimony will be in private), taking place at the Edmonton Inn and Conference Centre (the former Ramada on Kingsway).

APTN continues to have extensive coverage of the Inquiry, and will also be live-streaming the hearings from Edmonton.

We’ve been including the local stories on the Inquiry in our Headlines all week. See what was in the news yesterday.

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The Faculty of Native Studies at the University of Alberta has its first PhD candidates now at the school. 

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It’s becoming a bit of a playoff event in its own right to have Edmonton’s CFL team name challenged in a public way. This is, of course, not the first time such a request has been made, not even the first major call this year. 

The team continues to say there’s nothing wrong with the name. Strange, then, that so many people continue to say otherwise.

Nice win for the playoff chance, @EdmontonEsks! Are you ready for the #ElkEmpire? Or the #OneEmpire. Whatever. Please just #ChangeTheName

— Edmonton Elk (@EdmontonElk) November 5, 2017

Homelessness leadership

Edmonton is a few months into its new plan to end homelessness, which comes as we almost ran out the clock on our old 10-year plan to end it. We need a lot more money from provincial and federal governments to build more housing, and the kinds of supports some people need to transition off the street, but even with a long way yet to go, Edmonton is being held up as an example of how to get things done.

Edmonton’s data-driven work, and the fact many groups are working together to end homelessness, are what makes us a “vanguard” city according to an international group hoping to end chronic homelessness by 2030 (Edmonton hopes to do it before then).

Kids need to eat

More money is needed to provide school nutrition programs, so kids get something to eat at least once each day. Studying it more seems like a bit of a waste of time, and money, and the focus should be on pushing the provincial government, and others who could help, to actually fund the programs and get resources in place to run them effectively and as widely as needed.

Exploring the arts

Offering more free admissions to the Art Gallery of Alberta is doing exactly what it’s supposed to do, get more people into the AGA to see the exhibits and enjoy one of our city’s greatest buildings and the artistic learning offered inside. 

Another gallery is opening up an arts bookstore, where you’ll be able to find interesting and unique books, magazines and publications.