Assembly of First Nations Chief Perry Bellegarde said about the national inquiry that "we want to see it succeed for the families.” What can this mean? Console bereaved families? Award financial compensation? Find the killers? Bring back the women and girls? How can it possibly succeed?

We're long past time when Canada's governments can solve these problems on behalf of indigenous peoples. Ottawa should have said: "Indigenous groups must come up with the terms of the inquiry and carry it out. We will provide limited financial support."