The Carrier Sekani Tribal Council (CSTC) is one of the first groups to bow out of the missing women inquiry due to lack of funds.
CSTC and the Union of BC Indian Chiefs (UBCIC) issued a joint statement on Wednesday both officially quitting the process in protest. While some groups got provincial funding to have legal representation at the inquiry, these two were not included.
The provincial government gave their clear answer Friday that the funding would not be forthcoming.
"We don't have any capacity or resources or funding to participate the way we want to participate so we had to step out," CSTC vice chair Terry Teegee told The Citizen.
"The [Native Courtworker and Counselling Association of B.C.] stepped out on Sunday, now us and the [UBCIC], and I think you'll see more. It will be a domino effect."
After spending a few days talking to contacts across the north, Teegee said the CSTC had no choice but to pull out. They hadn't the finances nor other resources to maintain a spot at the inquiry table.
Although he still advocates for a full inquiry dedicated specifically to the Highway of Tears and other issues around violence against women in B.C.'s north, Teegee said it was critical for this region's First Nations to have the ability to participate in this inquiry with its focus on the Robert Pickton victims.
"We had some of our members' DNA found on the Pickton farm, their families are up north still," he said. "Important for our members, too, are the social issues this inquiry touches on. Our youth heading out major centres, involved in high-risk lifestyles, remote people coming to urban centres, the relationship with the RCMP and other authorities.
"Our voices need to be heard because our people were affected by that."
Teegee, and UBCIC grand chief Stewart Phillip both called the provincial government's decision "sheer hypocrisy" when on one hand campaigning on a platform of "families first" then closing the door on some of the most vulnerable and wounded families in B.C. history.
Chris Freimond, a spokesperson for the inquiry, said commissioner Wally Oppal twice pleaded to the B.C. attorney general for funding to be provided to all stakeholder groups.
"The commission has taken note of reports that [CSTC] organization and the [UBCIC] will not participate in the Missing Women Inquiry," Freimond told The Citizen.
"The commission would like to see all groups that have been granted standing to participate fully in the Inquiry's proceedings. However, it realizes that without funding for legal representation, this may not be possible for some of the groups.
"It seems that there is no point in the commissioner continuing to press the government for funding when it has clearly decided against doing so and given its reasons."
Teegee said he would be calling on those groups who did obtain funding to perhaps piggyback the CSTC's interests into the proceedings when they get underway.
The Native Courtworker and Counselling Association of B.C. has already said it won't be involved, and WISH, a drop-in centre for sex workers in the impoverished neighbourhood, said it simply can't afford to take part in the hearings.
The first evidentiary hearings are scheduled to begin in Vancouver on Oct. 11.
