A march to honour missing and murdered Indigenous women and girls in Canada will make its way through downtown Chatham today.
Also called Red Dress Day, the event raises awareness of the disproportionate violence that Indigenous Women, Girls, and 2SLGBTQI+ people face in Canada.
The National Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women, Girls and 2SLGBTQI+ people found that, in Canada:
- Indigenous Women, Girls, and Two Spirit people are 12x more likely to go missing or be murdered than all other women, and 16x more likely than Caucasian women.
- In the last 30 years, more than 4000 Indigenous Women, Girls and Two Spirit people have gone missing or been murdered. That’s about 133 a year or 3 a week.
- Because of persistent forms of oppression (racism, colonialism, homophobia, transphobia, sexism), complaints about missing Indigenous Women, Girls, and Women, are less likely to be taken seriously or followed up.
A number of events are being held locally over the next few days, including a gathering at the Civic Centre shortly before noon, followed by a ceremony raising the MMIWG flag and a walk to the Deshkan Ziibi Indigenous Hub at 495 King Street West.
Tomorrow, the Indigenous hub is hosting a bannock and tea and drop-in event with open conversations and teachings with an Indigenous grandmother.
Sunday the hub will feature drumming, giving of tobacco, and an open sharing circle.