October 4th is the National Day of Action for Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women, Girls and 2SLGBTQQIA+ People (MMIWG2S+). This is a day for action and advocacy, and to remember the lives of victims and survivors and the many communities who have been impacted by violence. The Eastern Synod Circle for Reconciliation and Justice (ES-CRJ) invites you to consider how you can be an ally and an advocate by using some of the resources listed here.
Resources
- Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls, Two Spirit+ (MMIWG2S+) National Inquiry Final Report
- MMIWG2S+ Final Report – Calls for Justice
- Database for MMIWG (**not an exhaustive database. Some estimate the number of MMIWG2S+ individuals to number as many as 4000).
- MMIWG2S+2021 National Action Plan
- Ally Toolkit
- Being a Genuine Ally
- Beyond Red Dress Day: Seven Calls to Action for Indigenous Allies
- Safe Passage
- Native Women’s Association of Canada
- Little Red Dress Project
- Metis National Council
- National Association of Friendship Centres
To Advocate
Consider writing to your local, provincial or the following federal government officials to raise concerns, advocate for more funding and prevention and the rights of MMIWG2S+ and their families. Urge government officials to commit to the 231 Calls to Justice from the National Inquiry’s Final Report (see link above).
- The Right Honourable Justin Trudeau, Prime Minister of Canada (justin.trudeau@parl.gc.ca)
- The Honourable Patty Hajdu, Minister of Indigenous Services (patty.hajdu@parl.gc.ca)
- The Honourable Marc Miller, Minister of Crown & Indigenous Relations (Marc.Miller@parl.gc.ca)
To Donate
- Little Red Dress Project
- Native Women Association of Canada
- To a local Native Friendship Centre near you.
- Mi’kmaw Native Friendship Centre (Halifax, NS)
- Under One Sky Friendship Centre (Fredericton, NB)
- Regroupment Des Centres D’Amitié Autochtones du Québec (RCAAQ)
- Ontario Federation of Indigenous Friendship Centres (OFIFC)
To Acknowledge the Day
- Print a feather image (see attached PDF file for options) on a red card and write a prayer for those MMWIG2S+.
- engage in congregational / community prayer by writing the names of those murdered or missing on a red card. Hang the cards on the wall of the sanctuary or in a public gathering place.
- Attend a local vigil.
- Read, study, learn, listen and pray.
Suggested Reading and Learning
- Missing Nimama, Melanie Florence (Cree); illustrated by François Thisdale (2015) – for children
- If I Go Missing, Brianna Jonnie (Ojibway), Nahanni Shingoose (Ojibway / Saaulteaux) (2021) – graphic novel for teens
- Will I See?, David Alexander Robertson (Cree), IsKwé (Cree, Métis) and Erin Leslie; art by, GMB Chomichuk (2016) – graphic novel for teens
- Surviving the City, Vol. 1, Tasha Summer-Spillett-Sumner (Cree and Trinidadian); illustrated by Natasha Donovan (Métis) (2019) – graphic novel for teens
- Keetsahnak: Our Missing and Murdered Indigenous Sisters, Kim Anderson (Cree / Métis), Christi Belcourt (Métis), Maria Campbell (Métis) (2018)
- Highway of Tears, Jessica McDiarmid (2019)
- Forever Loved: Exposing the Hidden Crisis of Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls in Canada, Jennifer Brant (Kanien’keha:Ka) and Dawn Memee Lavell-Harvard (Anishinaabe) (2016)
- Stolen Sisters, Emmanuelle Walter (2015)
- Seven Fallen Feathers, Tanya Talaga (Anishinaabe) (2017)
- Five Little Indians, Michelle Good (Cree) (2020)