A call for contributions from Winnie’s Angels to assist with the effort
To the Expositor:
We invite you to join us in a vital mission that reaches far beyond the borders of awareness—it’s a call to action for justice and dignity for the Indigenous women we so deeply cherish. The disappearance of Juanita (Winnie) Migwans is not just a personal tragedy, it is a heartbreaking chapter in a larger narrative that affects communities across our nation. As we approach April 3, marking six long months since Winnie has been missing, the time to raise awareness has never been more urgent.
Our initiative aims to strategically position billboard signs at critical points on Manitoulin Island and along Highways 69 and 17. By incorporating three additional signs, including a dedicated placement at M’Chigeeng First Nation, we will ensure that every traveler sees a reminder of Winnie and the urgency surrounding her case. With the community support of generous landowner Sophie Pheasant, who has offered her property to display one of the signs, we are making tangible strides in spreading awareness. The costs of these signs total approximately $3,500 each, a modest investment in the fight for visibility and justice.
With sufficient funding, imagine a billboard along the busy Highway 69 and 17 corridors, serving as a beacon of hope and awareness for all who pass by. It is a powerful medium to share an important message that resonates with the urgency of the crisis surrounding Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls.
Your support is not just appreciated; it is essential. This campaign underscores a critical issue that demands societal attention—statistics tell a chilling story, where Indigenous women make up 16 percent of female homicide victims, and 11 percent of all missing women, even though Indigenous people represent a mere 4.3 percent of our population. Furthermore, 13 percent of Indigenous individuals experience violence from current or former partners, a ratio that is alarmingly double that of their non-Indigenous counterparts (Source: Assembly of First Nations).
We humbly ask you to contribute to this campaign with a $500 or $1,000 donation. Every dollar you share will illuminate the path to change and highlight a cause that cannot afford to be ignored. Together be an angel, we can amplify the voices that have been silenced and bring visibility to the urgent need for justice.
Miigwetch,
Peggy Simon
Winnie’s Angels
