Today We Honour National MMIWG2S Awareness Day
National MMIWG2S Awareness Day, also known as Red Dress Day, which occurs annually on May 5th, honours the thousands of missing and murdered Indigenous women, girls, two spirit, and gender diverse people in Canada by encouraging learning and building awareness to end violence against Indigenous women, girls, two spirit, and gender diverse people.
Call to Action 41 of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission Report called on the federal government of Canada to begin an inquiry into the numerous cases of missing and murdered Indigenous women and girls.
The National Inquiry released its Final Report in June 2019 and addressed finding important ways to end the genocide and to transform systemic and society values that have worked to maintain colonial violence (Final Report, volume 1B, p. 168).
Our community of Siksika has much work to do in addressing the violence committed upon our people and to develop a plan that will include the awareness of our society values. Strengthening our community in healing from our past, changing our ways today and moving forward to a healthy atmosphere are goals we all must take on. Let us take a stand collectively to make a change in our community for the sake of our people’s safety and wellness. Our youth and the unborn deserve a chance to live in a healthy world to practice our traditional way of life and all that it offers.
