Frequently Asked Questions

Mushuau Innu-Aimun Sheshatshiu Innu-aimun

When did it start?

The Inquiry was officially launched on April 29, 2022.

What will the Inquiry do?

The Inquiry will review, research and analyze Innu involvement with the child protection system.

Hearing from those impacted by and with lived experience in the child protection system: The Inquiry will learn about the treatment, experiences and outcomes of Innu in the child protection system through flexible processes, including

    • Public community sessions;
    • Private meetings with families and small groups, including meetings with incarcerated people;
    • Interviews; and
    • Art, music, recordings, letters, etc.

Death Investigations: The Inquiry will investigate several individual cases of children and youth who lost their lives and had experience in care or custody

    • Parents or next-of-kin will need to apply to have their case investigated and consent to participate. If the application is accepted, participation costs and the cost of a lawyer will be paid by the Inquiry. People can apply starting August 1, 2022 until October 31, 2022.
    • The purpose of the investigations is to understand what happened and to make recommendations for the future.
    • The Inquiry will not assign fault or blame, or make findings of criminal or civil liability.

Learning from Elders, experts and institutions: The Inquiry will learn about history, current practices and best practices from Elders, knowledge keepers, experts and institutional representatives, such as social workers, police, child and youth workers, healthcare and mental health providers, etc. through formal hearings and research.

About the Terms of Reference

Terms of Reference are the legal document that established the Inquiry and sets out who, what, where, when and how of the Inquiry.

Who?

  • Judge James Igloliorte (Retired Provincial Court Judge),
  • Anastasia Qupee (former Grand Chief of Innu Nation), and
  • Dr. Mike Devine (retired Social Work Professor)

What will the Inquiry do?

  • Look into systemic issues, through research, review and analysis of:
    • History of child protection as it relates to the Innu
    • Reasons for Innu involvement with child protection
    • Availability and gaps in access to services, and means to avoid involvement and/or removal from family or community, as well as connection to culture and community while in care or custody
    • Treatment, experiences and outcomes for Innu with involvement in the system, including on their parents and families
  • Conduct Investigations into the deaths of specific Innu children, youth or young adults:
    • Had experience in care or custody;
    • Were under age 25 at the time of their death and died on or after September 30, 2007;
    • Parents, or a person standing in the place of a parent, or other next-of-kin believes that their time in the system contributed to their death; and
    • Consent to the Inquiry investigating
  • Make Recommendations: Ultimately, the purpose is to compile this information, set out what has happened, what the impacts have been, what has changed, what has worked and what hasn’t worked, and to provide recommendations about a path forward.

What does the Inquiry hope to achieve?

The Commissioners hope to provide space for Innu to share their experiences in a way that is safe and promotes healing. After the close of the Inquiry, the Commissioners will review what they have heard and learned. They will then write a report with recommendations for keeping Innu children safe, happy, and culturally connected.

Where will this happen?

In Innu communities: To the extent possible, interviews, sharing circles and hearings will take place in Natuashish and Sheshatshiu. The Inquiry will work to ensure that the community not hosting will still have access to all public and formal hearings

  • Interpretation: Innu interpretation will be available at all hearings.
  • Community Liaison: The Inquiry plans to have a community liaison in both Sheshatshiu and Natuashish to assist in coordinating logistics
  • Healing services: Healing services will be made available throughout the Inquiry.

When will it start and end?

  • Anticipated to Start in Early 2023: Commemorations and Opening ceremonies are expected to start in Early 2023
  • Report must be delivered by September 30, 2024 (and the Inquiry will return to the communities to present the report)

How can I participate?

  • Sharing your experience
    • If you want to share your experiences with the Inquiry, there will be an opportunity to sign up for confidential/ closed sharing circles and open or public sharing circles in the fall. Details to follow.
  • Party Status
    • For organizations (or individuals) seeking Party status or standing in the Inquiry (i.e. have an interest which may be adversely affected by the findings of the Inquiry; their participation would further the conduct of the Inquiry and contribute to the openness and fairness of the Inquiry), applications will open by the end of July. The Province and the Innu Representative Organizations (Innu Nation, SIFM and MIFN) have full party status. However, we expect that other organizations may have more limited standing to address issues of particular interest to them.
  • Death Investigations
    • If you want the Inquiry to investigate the death of a loved one, you will need to apply. The application form is available here. Applications must be submitted by October 31, 2022. If your application is approved, your costs for participating will be paid by the Inquiry, including the cost of a lawyer to represent you in your particular case.

How will the Inquiry do its work?

  • Inquiry lawyers (also known as commission counsel) are responsible for representing the public interest. It’s their responsibility to bring forward all the information and evidence that the Commissioners will need to prepare their report and recommendations.
  • Reconciliation: The Inquiry will incorporate and be guided by the Touchstones of Hope phases of reconciliation and guiding principles, brought to life through Innu culture, language and worldviews.
  • No findings of civil or criminal liability – not intended to lay blame
  • Hearing from people: In general, informal and flexible processes that can be adapted to the needs and circumstances of the individual or group participating
    • Will have opportunities for truth sharing that are confidential, and others that are open/ public depending on what will be most comfortable and meaningful to the individual
    • Experiences with the child protection system can be shared through:
      • Art;
      • Stories;
      • Music or songs;
      • Recorded video statements;
      • Other videos;
      • Recorded audio statements;
      • Letters;
      • Notes; and
      • Emails.
    • May also use a combination of:
      • Formal hearings
      • Interviews and surveys
      • Inspections and investigations (including the death investigations)
      • Research studies; and
      • Written submissions
  • Powers to compel: Inquiry has the power to require a person to provide documents, or to testify.