Accessing Truth and Justice: Beyond the Silence
by Broden Halcrow-Ducharme

The silence within truth and justice is the loudest sound for those who wait…​

It is the silence of phone calls that go unanswered, of reports left open, of gatherings held year after year without answers. It is the same silence that surrounded the children who never came home, and the same quiet that still lingers in communities waiting to be heard. For many Indigenous families, that silence continues in the search for justice, in the wait for truth, and in the ache of stories still unresolved.

Justice is meant to bring clarity and closure, but for many Indigenous families, it remains unfinished. When a loved one disappears or is harmed, families are often left searching on their own, piecing together information while waiting for updates that never come. The silence can feel heavy, but still they continue, holding hope, carrying stories, and seeking truth.

Across Canada, Indigenous families have spoken about the challenges of navigating systems that do not always see or understand their realities. The National Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls, along with growing awareness of missing and murdered Indigenous men and boys, has called for urgent change. The crisis of missing and murdered Indigenous men and boys has received less national attention. Yet, it reflects many of the same systemic issues of racism, violence, and lack of accountability. Families continue to ask for something simple but powerful: to be heard, believed, and supported.

Seeking justice becomes more than a legal process. It becomes an act of love and commitment, a way to honour loved ones and to protect future generations. Families keep showing up for one another, organizing searches and gatherings that carry both grief and hope. Many take on this work because official investigations often move slowly or end without resolution, leaving loved ones to continue the search on their own. Their strength challenges silence and calls the country to listen.

Real justice must begin before harm occurs. It grows through prevention, education, and trust between communities and those who serve them. Across the country, communities continue to advocate for reforms that ensure investigations are timely, culturally informed, and led in partnership with Indigenous leadership and families. It means creating spaces where families can speak openly and be met with compassion and action.

The path forward lies in listening and rebuilding. Justice must be defined not only by the courts, but by care, empathy, and connection. Beyond the silence, there is hope, hope carried by families, communities, and the generations determined to ensure that every voice is heard.​

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