May 5 is the National Day of Awareness for Murdered and Missing Indigenous Women & Girls. It is widely recognized as Red Dress Day, a day to recognize, honour and raise awareness about this national tragedy. I implore you to find out more and do more to end this national crisis. Please read the Reclaiming Power and Place: The Final Report of the National Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls. As well as the Calls to Justice. Continue to support movements and pressure those in power answer these calls. Our women are Sacred, they are the life givers, the knowledge keepers, they are at very essence of our existence, and they need to be honoured and protected. There are events across the country that bring awareness, find one that you can support.
As a mother, a kokum, a sister, an auntie, a cousin, a granddaughter, I do not want to leave my granddaughter’s with the sign over her head that reads “12 times more likely to die by violence” and spend time preparing her to protect herself from that for the rest of her life. I would rather spend that time in ceremony, singing, drumming, dancing, speaking our language, and preparing her to carry down our ways of being, knowing and doing that only add to her gifts and honors her place here on mother earth.
Indigenous people’s hearts are mourning today, and everyday, as we grieve when another sacred woman is taken from us. I will honor my own sacred women as I join many Calgarians in the Red Ribbon Field.
For More Information :
The Red Dress Project
Calls to Justice
MMIWG Executive Summary
Sisters in Spirit Virtual Vigil – Josie’s Story- Awo Taan Healing Lodge
