There is still much debate over the exact number of women who have gone missing along the stretch of Hwy. 16 commonly referred to as the highway of tears.

While the RCMP says at least 18 women went missing or were murdered along Hwy. 16 and the adjacent Hwy. 97 and Hwy. 5 since the 1970s, many people living in Northern B.C. believe that number could be higher.

In fact, Cheslatta Carrier Nation chief Corinna Leween says the issue of public safety along the highway of tears doesn鈥檛 only concern women. With less than 350 people, Cheslatta Carrier Nation has had five of their members gone missing over the years.

鈥淲e have had an entire family gone missing 鈥� mother, father and their two children; then years later the father of the family also went missing,鈥� said Leween. 鈥淭his is all under suspicious conditions.鈥�

Leween says she doesn鈥檛 believe the provincial government has made a conscious effort to address the issue of public safety along Hwy. 16.

鈥淥ne of the recommendations that was put forward at the symposium in Prince George in early 2000 was the shuttle bus concept,鈥� explained Leween. 鈥淭o this day, it has not been implemented and no funding has been allocated yet; hence hitchhiking continues.鈥�

Leween added she was 鈥渋nsulted鈥� by the recent findings of the B.C. privacy commissioner. Last month, a report by B.C. privacy commissioner Elizabeth Denham revealed that B.C. transportation ministry staff had deleted emails and records about the highway of tears.

鈥淥ur people deserve dignity and honesty,鈥� said Leween. 鈥淏y covering up the facts it shows that those that did this don't care about our people and society in general.鈥�