Weyktp Xwexwéytp

Hello everyone, we would like to start by acknowledging that we are all guests on the traditional unceded territory which belongs to the Tk’emlúps te Secwepemc nation.

May 5 was Red Dress Day. This is a national day to honour and bring awareness to missing and murdered Indigenous women, girls, and two-spirit people.

In British Columbia, this day is of particular significance as it is home to the “Highway of Tears” – an isolated and remote stretch of highway between Prince George and Prince Rupert where over eighty indigenous women, girls, and two-spirit people have gone missing.

What is MMIW?

MMIW stands for Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women. This is a movement to spread awareness of the murdered and missing Native-Americans, Inuit, and Métis population in the USA and Canada.  
 
The national inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous women categorized these acts of violence as a ‘Canadian Genocide’ in their final report released in 2019. Recently, calls to action were created by the Canadian government but since significant actions have not been taken, Indigenous people across the country continue to take it upon themselves to spread awareness, search for their own missing women, and remember their loved ones.

How can you show support?

The first step is to educate yourself on the topic. Find links below to resources with more information about this tragedy and the steps being taken by Indigenous communities.

Second, you can attend events and memorials that your community or local band have created to stand in solidarity to the originating peoples of Canada. In smaller and more Rural communities, there may not be any memorials to commemorate those who have passed. In scenarios like these, you can host your own memorial, read about those who are missing, and educate those around you about MMIW.

Websites to learn more

https://www.mmiwg-ffada.ca/contact/

What is the MMIW Movement?