Reclaiming Power and Place

The first chapter of this volume will explain the National Inquiry’s mandate in terms of how it relates to Quebec’s realities, the methodology used for the work carried out in Quebec and the limitations of the analysis that was completed. [...] This will be followed by an overview of the colonial experience as lived by First Nations women, girls, and 2SLGBTQQIA people in Quebec, which involves discussing issues relating to the intersectional identity of Indigenous women in Quebec and the profound inequality that exists between them and the non-Indigenous population in Quebec and the rest of Canada. [...] This analysis highlights the impacts of the colonial legacy on identities and cultures, the various manifestations of violence experienced by women and the importance of safety; the challenges of the Quebec provincial and federal systems that are supposed to help them; the many needs expressed; and, lastly, the resiliency and hope that drives the women and families. [...] It aims to explain the National Inquiry’s mandate, particularly in terms of Quebec’s realities, the methodology used for the work carried out in Quebec and the limitations of the analysis completed in this case. [...] First, according to Order 711-2016 that created the provincial commission of inquiry, the National Inquiry had to “investigate” and “report on” two main topics: the systemic causes of all forms of violence, and the institutional policies and practices implemented in response to the violence against Indigenous women and girls.