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| Photo Credit: Christine Smith (McFarlane) |
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| Joyce Carpenter with a photo of her missing daughter: Photo Credit by Christine Smith (McFarlane) |
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| Susan Blight-Photo Taken By Christine Smith (McFarlane) |
The crisis of the
missing and murdered First Nations women of Canada is both a national tragedy
and a national shame.
Organized by Toronto’s February 14th
Organizing Committee which is comprised of No More Silence, Sistering, The
Native Youth Sexual Health Network, Maggie’s and other Indigenous and feminist
organizations, these organizations work together to raise awareness about the
disappearances of Indigenous Women, Girls, Trans and Two-Spirit people on
Turtle Island.
On Tuesday February 14, 2017, the 12th
Annual Strawberry Ceremony was held to honour Indigenous Women, Girls, Trans
and Two-Spirit people who have died violent and premature deaths at the Toronto
Police Headquarters at 40 College Street in downtown Toronto. Close to six
hundred people came together on Tuesday to let victim’s families know- they are
not forgotten.
The Government of
Canada launched an independent national inquiry into the Missing and Murdered
Indigenous women and girls in 2016. The National Inquiry into Missing and
Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls is independent from the federal government
but it’s been regarded with mixed feelings. No More Silence co-founder Audrey Huntley says “that
in these times of a government inquiry it is even more important for community to
step up and have grieving members backs - their struggle for justice amid
terrible pain needs to be honoured and respected. They need to know we love
them and will never forget!”
Full post can be seen at shamelessmag.com Miigwetch!
