In a strongly worded letter, the United Church of Canada has added its voice to the request for an  inquiry in the disappearances of 600 Native Canadian women and girls.

In the letter to Prime Minister Stephen Harper, the United Church’s General Secretary say the Church supports the call of the Native Women’s Association of Canada and the Assembly of First Nations for the national inquiry to start as quickly as possible. General Secretary Nora Sanders says the Church also agrees with the Association and Assembly that Aboriginal women need to take the lead in developing and implementing the inquiry process.

Sanders said it is clear “the justice and social systems are not offering adequate protection against violence for Indigenous women in this country. We take very seriously the deadly violence to which these woman and girls have been subjected, and believe that Indigenous women and girls deserve to be safe, as do all Canadians.”

At the same time, Sanders called upon United Church members to support the process by signing the Women’s Association's petition, and by raising this issue with politicians at all levels.