Thank you, Mr. Speaker. WHEREAS Aboriginal women are at greater risk of violence as evidenced by the recent RCMP report that documented 1,017 Aboriginal female homicide victims and 164 missing Aboriginal females between 1980 and 2012;

AND WHEREAS the number of missing and murdered Aboriginal women and girls in Canada is disproportionately high and unacceptable;

AND WHEREAS the Native Women’s Association of Canada Sisters in Spirit campaign found 582 cases of missing and murdered Aboriginal women between 1980 and 2012;

AND WHEREAS the RCMP’s 2014 study found that 47 out of 50 women murdered in the Northwest Territories between 1980 and 2012 were Aboriginal;

AND WHEREAS the RCMP’s 2014 study confirmed that the Northwest Territories has three unsolved cases of murdered Aboriginal women and three unsolved cases of missing Aboriginal women;

AND WHEREAS, for numerous and complex reasons, including historical trauma and current socio-economic conditions, Canadian Aboriginal women are at greater risk and are more vulnerable and at risk of being exploited;

AND WHEREAS Canadian national Aboriginal organizations are leading the calls for a national inquiry and a national roundtable into missing and murdered Aboriginal girls and have asked for Canadian Premiers’ support;

AND WHEREAS Canadian Premiers supported the national Aboriginal organizations’ call for a national inquiry into missing and murdered Aboriginal women and girls and a national roundtable;

AND WHEREAS Canadian Premiers supported the national Aboriginal organizations’ invitation to the Prime Minister to take part in a roundtable discussion about murdered and missing Aboriginal women;

AND WHEREAS all levels of government are working to take action to prevent further violence against Aboriginal women and girls and the national roundtable as proposed by the national Aboriginal organizations will be an opportunity for a coordinated national dialogue;

AND WHEREAS the Native Women’s Association of Canada and the other national Aboriginal organizations have asked Premier McLeod to work

with them to facilitate the development of a national roundtable;

AND WHEREAS the rates of violence against Aboriginal women and girls are unacceptable to this Assembly and to the people of the NWT;

NOW THEREFORE I MOVE, seconded by the honourable Member for Sahtu, that the 17th Legislative Assembly supports the national Aboriginal organizations’ call for a national inquiry and a national roundtable into missing and murdered Aboriginal women and girls;

AND FURTHER, that this Assembly supports a national roundtable on missing and murdered Aboriginal women and girls to have a national dialogue that will allow all levels of government to work together to identify concrete outcomes that will prevent further violence against Aboriginal women and girls;

AND FURTHER, that this Assembly supports the efforts of the Premier of the Northwest Territories to help the national Aboriginal organizations facilitate the development of a national roundtable;

AND FURTHER, that this Assembly urges Premier McLeod to continue his dialogue with the federal government on the proposed roundtable and report back to this House as progress is made;

AND FURTHERMORE, that the Premier of the Northwest Territories transmit a copy of this motion to all his provincial and territorial counterparts with the request for their consideration of support for a similar House motion.