MANITOULIN—Following a sunrise ceremony, a group of men and women set out to walk from the Little Current to Birch Island to mark May 5, Red Dress Day, a National Day of Awareness for Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women, Girls and Two-Spirited (MMIWG2S+) people in Canada.
First held in 2010, and inspired by the work of Métis artist Jaime Black, Red Dress Day commemorates the more than 4000+ Indigenous women and girls in Canada who have gone missing or been murdered in the last 30 years. That artist’s work, The REDress Project, focuses on the issue of missing or murdered Indigenous women across Canada. As an installation art project based on an aesthetic response to a critical national issue, The REDress Project has been installed in public spaces throughout Canada and the United States as a visual reminder of the staggering number of MMIWG2S+.
After offering tobacco in a teepee-enclosed sacred fire and a light breakfast, the walkers made their way across the Little Current Swing Bridge and along Highway 6 to Whitefish River First Nation.
“We started with a sunrise ceremony this morning, there were a good number of participants,” said Meg Cywink, who organized the event in conjunction with Whitefish River First Nation. “We held water ceremonies, berry ceremonies and offered people a chance to share their thoughts and feelings about today.”
Ms. Cywink is a strong MMIWG2S+ advocate in Canada. Her sister, Sonya Mae Cywink, was found murdered on August 30, 1994. She was 31. Her murderer has never been found. Ms. Cywink and her family have been tireless in their push to find their sister’s killer and to raise awareness of MMIWG2S+.
“This is a special day to recognize MMIWG2S+,” said Whitefish River First Nation Chief Rodney Nahwegabow. “I think being involved in something like this is important to bring awareness to the public. I think that is the first step in addressing the social concerns that come about because of issues such as human trafficking, and the fact that our women need to be protected as a sacred part of our Indigenous community—but also that all women need to be protected because they are sacred.”
Ms. Cywink noted that a red granite monument, one of two being established across the North to commemorate MMIWG2S+, will be unveiled on June 21 in Whitefish River First Nation. The monument is sponsored by Women in Gender Equality Canada and Indigenous Affairs Ontario.
Indigenous Women, Girls and Two-Spirited people in Canada. The walkers made their way from Little Current to Whitefish River First Nation.
