An NWT woman who is part of a family advisory council to the National Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls says the group must ensure it includes all NWT cultures when meeting families in Yellowknife this fall.

SA国际影视传媒淲e have Inuit, we have the Metis, we have the Dene,SA国际影视传媒� said Lesa Semmler, an Inuvik resident whose mother was murdered more than three decades ago.

As the sole NWT representative on the family advisory council, Semmler helps inform the inquiry about the NorthSA国际影视传媒檚 differences compared to Indigenous cultures in the south.

SA国际影视传媒淲hen we come together in Yellowknife, youSA国际影视传媒檙e going to need to respect all three (groups)SA国际影视传媒� we canSA国际影视传媒檛 leave one out,SA国际影视传媒� she said.

Last Thursday, Chief Commissioner Marion Buller announced the inquiry will hold hearings in a number of communities across Canada this fall, starting in Thunder Bay, Ont. on Sept. 10 and ending in Rankin Inlet on Dec. 4.

A hearing is scheduled in Yellowknife for the week of Nov. 13.

Over the summer, the inquiry is scheduled to make preliminary visits to the scheduled communities, including a stop in Yellowknife during the week of Aug. 28.

SA国际影视传媒淚tSA国际影视传媒檚 to prepare the families and survivors and to prepare with the community how the hearing will be,SA国际影视传媒� said Qajaq Robinson, commissioner with the inquiry. SA国际影视传媒淲e have an interdisciplinary team of our staff SA国际影视传媒� the health team, legal counsel, community relations and logistics SA国际影视传媒� who will come.SA国际影视传媒�

According to Robinson, staff will help identify what support families and survivors need SA国际影视传媒� whether itSA国际影视传媒檚 spiritual, health or elder support SA国际影视传媒� and will work with local organizations to prepare for the hearings.

Commissioners will not attend the preliminary visits.

SA国际影视传媒淲e really want to respect and include the cultures and the language and the traditional ways and the spiritual ways of the nations within Yellowknife and the other communities that we go to,SA国际影视传媒� she said.

So far, the inquiry has faced criticism after public hearings were postponed this summer and a number of staff resigned, including the inquirySA国际影视传媒檚 executive director and commissioner Marilyn Poitras.

Families and advocates have also expressed concern that there has been a lack of communication around the inquirySA国际影视传媒檚 process. But Robinson said there are close to 60 staff who remain committed, adding turnover is natural in any organization.

SA国际影视传媒淭his is incredibly difficult work. ItSA国际影视传媒檚 onerous as well,SA国际影视传媒� she said, adding most resignations have been for personal reasons.

She stressed it is important families register to take part in the inquiry SA国际影视传媒� something Semmler added could be the most challenging part of the job.

SA国际影视传媒淭he thing is they donSA国际影视传媒檛 have a list of families. ItSA国际影视传媒檚 up to the families (to get involved),SA国际影视传媒� said Semmler. SA国际影视传媒淚 think thatSA国际影视传媒檚 the biggest concern.SA国际影视传媒�

According to information provided by the inquiry, families can register to share their story in person, by phone, fax, e-mail, or by sending a letter to the inquiry.

A staff member is then expected to contact participants to help them through the process.

Participants can share their stories in different ways, including at a community hearing, a private hearing with a commissioner, through artistic expression or privately before a statement gatherer, according to the inquiry.

But Semmler said NWT residents would benefit from having a territorial point of contact they can reach out to with questions as well as people who will reach out to communities to provide information about the inquiry.

SA国际影视传媒淲e all donSA国际影视传媒檛 live in Yellowknife and we all know how expensive it is to get there,SA国际影视传媒� she said. SA国际影视传媒淚SA国际影视传媒檓 glad that theySA国际影视传媒檙e coming, that theySA国际影视传媒檙e going to be here. I just hope that people are able to reach out to those families.SA国际影视传媒�

The Native WomenSA国际影视传媒檚 Association of the NWT declined to comment on whether they are working with the inquiry.

The inquiry is expected to announce another schedule of community visits for the winter and spring of 2018.