May 5 - National Day of Awareness for Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women, Girls, & Two Spirit People

May 5th is Red Dress Day. You're invited to a MMIWG vigil. Thursday May 5th from 7-8PM at the Bleak House. 495 King Street West, Chatham. Prayer, smudge, hand drums, and guest speakers. Everyone is welcome.

May 5^th is a day to remember and raise awareness about Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women, Girls and Two-Spirit people in Canada. This day is also recognized by many across Turtle Island (North America) as Red Dress Day, as people hang a red dress as a visual reminder of Indigenous Women, Girls, and Two-Spirit people who have been murdered and as an act of solidarity for families or loved ones of Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women, Girls and Two-Spirit people.

Inequities & Violence Against Indigenous Women, Girls & Two-Spirit People

Systemic inequities have long impacted and threatened Indigenous cultures, health, opportunities, languages, and traditional practices. Colonialism, sexism, racism, homophobia, transphobia, and ableism have been significant factors in the disproportionate violence against Indigenous Women, Girls, and Two-Spirit people.

According to a report by the RCMP, 1017 Indigenous Women, Girls, and Two-Spirit people were murdered between 1980 and 2012. This rate is approximately 4.5 times higher than other women in Canada.[1]. However, many believe these numbers under-represent the true magnitude of violence against Indigenous Women, Girls and Two-Spirit people, as they do not include people who are still missing, who were not identified as Indigenous during the investigation, or whose death was wrongly classified as an accident. Numbers alone don’t capture and tell the full stories of communities and families who have lost a loved one, and the trauma and impact that is experienced over generations. First Nations, Inuit, and Métis communities are all effected in diverse ways by these experiences of disproportionate violence.

About the Day of Awareness for Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women, Girls and Two Spirit People

As a result of the disproportionate violence towards Indigenous Women, Girls, and Two Spirit people, Indigenous and Human Rights agencies have called for action for decades. In 2015, the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada, supported the call for a national public inquiry into the disproportionate rate of victimization of Indigenous Women, Girls and Two-Spirit people.

The National Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls began on September 1^st, 2016. The inquiry heard testimonies from over 2,380 families and survivors, Knowledge Keepers, government officials, academics, and legal experts. On June 3rd, 2019, the National Inquiry's Final Report was completed. The Report delivers 231 Calls for Justice for social and legal changes in various institutions at all levels of government, including municipalities[2]. Like many before it, the report calls attention to the need to honour Indigenous, constitutional, and human rights. And, it calls for a decolonizing approach – learning about and implementing ways of understanding and working that include Indigenous perspectives, values, philosophies, and knowledge systems.

How Can the Municipality of Chatham-Kent support Indigenous Women, Girls, and Two-Spirit People?

Through our work to develop the Diversity, Equity, Inclusion & Justice Strategy, we are having ongoing conversations with policy makers in the organization about our role as decision-makers, and as an organization in promoting Diversity, Equity, Inclusion & Justice, including pathways to justice for Indigenous people and communities. But, we encourage everyone in the organization to have these conversations.

We all have a role to play in ensuring we are a safe organization, and community, for Indigenous Women, Girls, and Two Spirit people.

Individual Actions We Can All Take

Review the National Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls Calls to Justice, and think about which are relevant in your work. Page 29 of the linked document has Calls for All Canadians and page 30 has suggested resources.
Learn about the Indigenous people, communities and Nations in this region, including their values, languages, and systems of knowledge. We have hard copies of the linked resource – please reach out to Rebecca if you’d like one.
Take Indigenous Cultural Safety training. There can be big differences between Western and Indigenous knowledge systems, ways of understanding, and values. Understand how to provide culturally appropriate services. Contact nearby First Nations to ask about opportunities for learning about local First Nations. Popular online self-directed trainings are offered by San’yas and University of Alberta Faculty of Native Studies (free option).
Take a trauma-informed approach to your work. Whether developing policies, managing others, or providing direct services, trauma-informed approaches support us to understand how the impacts of Colonization, experiences of discrimination, and violence impacts people’s lives and behaviours, create emotionally and physically safe environments, and minimize potential harms to people we interact with. The linked article provides examples.
Understand the concept of Intersectionality. Indigenous Women, Girls, and Two Spirit people experience disproportionate violence because of the various identities they hold and the overlapping experiences of oppression and discrimination they experience. We all hold many identities that come with different levels of power, influence, and opportunities. When developing and delivering policies and services, consider the needs and impacts on people who hold many different identities. Understand that diversity exists within Indigenous communities.
Speak up when you hear or see comments that are racist, sexist, homophobic, transphobic, or that don’t recognize the inherent worth of all people more generally

How can I Honour Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women, Girls and Two Spirit People?

Engaging in your own learning and un-learning is one way to honour the memory of missing and murdered Indigenous Women, Girls, and Two Spirit people. Taking action to apply your learning is even more important.

On Thursday, May 5^th, 2022 you can attend an MMIWG Awareness Day Vigil that will take place at the Bleak House (495 King Street West, Chatham, Ontario). Everyone is welcomed, and the vigil will include prayers, smudging ceremony, hand drums, and guest speakers.

[1] Missing and murdered Indigenous women and girls: Understanding the numbers - Amnesty International Canada

[2] Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls in Canada | The Canadian Encyclopedia