Content warning: this post discusses MMIWG2S+ and related memorial events
This year marks the 34th annual Women’s Memorial March in recognition of missing and murdered Indigenous women, girls, and two-spirit individuals. The event began in 1992 in response to the murder of a shíshálh Nation woman (whose name is not used out of respect for the family’s wishes) in Vancouver’s Downtown Eastside (DTES), and has since evolved into a way to bring together communities around love and remembrance for those who have been lost, support for affected families, and solidarity against the ongoing crisis of MMMIWG2S+. Find out more about the Women’s Memorial March and its history from the Feb. 14th Women’s Memorial March blog, and look to their Facebook group for new updates. I live in Greater Vancouver, and this is my local march - but if you live elsewhere, you may be able to join one of the many other marches the Vancouver DTES march has inspired! This year, marches and memorial events are happening in:
Amnesty International is also organizing the 4th Women's Memorial March Art Walk installation along Coalbanks Trail at the Lethbridge Nature Reserve in Alberta. The art installation will be up from Feb. 14th - March 16th, featuring works by local Indigenous artists and Jaime Black’s REDress Project.
Ways that you can support:
Attend a local march (and know the march’s protocol in advance - for example, the Vancouver march has a specific order of events, walking order, and banner protocol)
Volunteer at a march
Learn more about MMIWG2S+
Donate. The Vancouver DTES march collects donations through the Downtown Eastside Women's Centre. For those farther away, donate to a local march’s organizers or NWAC, which supports Indigenous girls, women and gender-diverse people!
This topic may bring up difficult and painful emotions. If you need immediate support, please call 1-844-413-6649. This is a national, toll-free 24/7 crisis call line providing support for anyone who requires emotional assistance related to missing and murdered Indigenous women and girls. Other resources you may wish to access include:
BC Bereavement Line - 1-877-779-2223
Kuu-us Crisis Line Society - 1-800-588-8717
Hope for Wellness Help Line - 1-855-242-3310 - Immediate help to all Indigenous peoples across Canada
Author: Basil Giannopoulos, Web & IT Admin
Image credits: Basil Giannopoulos via Canva
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