SAULT STE. MARIE—KII GA DO WAAK NOOKIMISUK (Grandmothers’ Council) was incorporated in 2019. Three traditional grandmothers, Isabelle Meawasige, head grandmother of Serpent River First Nation, Marlene Day, lead grandmother of Serpent River First Nation and Alison Recollect of Wikwemikong First Nation, lead the grassroots NGO that works to address sexual violence, exploitation and human trafficking in Indigenous communities in Ontario.
The Council has identified poverty and the ongoing opioid crisis as significant risk factors to Indigenous women, youth and 2SLGTIBQIAA+ people. Many First Nations people leave their communities seeking better employment opportunities, far away from their relatives and support networks. The accessibility of illicit and prescription drugs on reserve are also significant risk factors, the Grandmothers say.
“Our villages are getting empty of our niijonson (youth). I don’t want to be an old lady walking around on the planet without our youth,” said Ms. Meawasige.
KII GA DO WAAK NOOKI-MISUK will be holding a healing ceremony for the families and friends who have lost loved ones to suicide and overdose since the COVID 19 pandemic began in 2019. November 1 is the time when Anishinaabe people honour their ancestors by feasting them, cleaning their graves and making wreaths to commemorate those who came before them.
“People weren’t able to gather in our traditional way to help their spirits move on,” said Ms. Day. “When our people die under violent circumstances their spirits get stuck between the physical world and the spirit world and it’s up to us to help them have a good crossing over.”
The ceremony, called ‘Tasenwang’, will be held November 1 and 2 at the Thunderbird Room in Garden River First Nation, from 9 am to 4 pm both days. The ceremony will be led by Isaac Murdoch, known ceremonially as Bomghizik from Animki Aazhibikong/Onaman Collective.
