By: Mercedes Stemm, Program Assistant, Indigenous Health in Medicine, Dalhousie BSc in Neuroscience/Indigenous Studies Student

By Jaime Black

Today we honour missing and murdered Indigenous women and girls (MMIWG), including Trans and Two-spirit individuals, across national levels. Since 2017, May 5^th has been considered the National Day of Awareness for MMIWG. This day is also considered Red Dress Day, which was created in response to the REDress Project by Jaime Black. This project was a public art installation that was created in response to the MMIWG epidemic in both Canada and the United States by hanging empty red dresses in a range of different environments. Each one of these dresses symbolizes an Indigenous woman or girl that has been murdered or is missing, although this represents only a small portion of the thousands of sisters. The red dresses and the power behind them are hoped to inspire reconciliation and safety for Indigenous women and girls. While there are many symbols associated with the colour red, one of the most important concepts is the fact that many Indigenous people believe that red is the only colour that spirits can see. Therefore, we use red to call back to the spirits of these Indigenous women and girls to allow them a chance to be among us and also have their voices heard through their family members and community. Additionally, red relates to our lifeblood and the connection between all of us which symbolizes both violence and vitality.

In 2021, you can find a full week of national events, both in Canada and around the world, that honor MMIWG and as well as calls to action for the government to address this extremely horrifying epidemic that has only worsened since the COVID-19 pandemic and the resulting public health measures have begun. On this sacred and symbolic day, we honour our lost sisters by wearing red. In addition, it’s important that we’re educating ourselves on both the meaning of the day and also what’s happening around us. There are many ways to do so. Below is a list of resources and events including webinars and virtual events that you can get involved in throughout the week.

• https://www.niwrc.org/upcoming-events
• https://www.niwrc.org/mmiwgnatlweek21
• https://register.gotowebinar.com/register/2536257047930429954
• https://indianlaw.org/swsn/2021-national-week-action
• https://runsignup.com/Race/MN/Anywhere/2021MMIWVirtualEvent
• https://pafnw.wordpress.com/2021/04/23/national-day-of-awareness-for-missing-and-murdered-indigenous-women-girls/
• https://www.eventbrite.com/e/national-day-of-awareness-for-missing-and-murdered-indigenous-women-mmiwg-tickets-152127352005?aff=erelexpmlt
• https://sdcpcm.com/event/2021-national-week-of-action-for-missing-and-murdered-indigenous-women-and-girls-april-29-may-5/
• https://events.elitefeats.com/justice21

Ways to participate and raise awareness courtesy of the National Indigenous Women’s Resource Center:

• Wear red and post a photo on social media with the hashtag #NationlDayOfAwareness #MMIWG or #MMIW
• Host a community event in your community during the week of May 5^th
• Host a prayer circle or candlelight vigil
• Post a list of names of sisters missing or murdered from your community
• Create a living memorial
• Register to participate in a webinar (links above)

There are many different ways to learn more and educate yourself on MMIWG. Below are some especially interesting books written by Indigenous authors to help enlighten you on the topic:

• Missing Nimâmâby Melanie Florence (Cree), illustrated by François Thisdale
  • “Missing nimama is a story of love, loss, and acceptance, showing the human side of a national tragedy.”
• If I Go Missing by Brianna Jonnie (Ojibway), Nahanni Shingoose (Ojibway/Saulteaux), and illustrated by Neal Shannacappo (Ojibway/Saulteaux)
  • “A powerfully illustrated graphic novel for teens about the subject of missing and murdered Indigenous people. Combining graphic fiction and non-fiction, this young adult graphic novel serves as a window into one of the unique dangers of being an Indigenous teen in Canada today. The text of the book is derived from excerpts of a letter written to the Winnipeg Chief of Police by fourteen-year-old Brianna Jonnie — a letter that went viral and in which, Jonnie calls out the authorities for neglecting to immediately investigate and involve the public in the search for missing Indigenous people and urges them to “not treat me as the Indigenous person I am proud to be” if she were to be reported missing. Indigenous artist Neal Shannacappo provides the artwork for the book. Through his illustrations he imagines a situation in which a young Indigenous woman does disappear, portraying the reaction of her community, her friends, the police, and media. An author’s note at the end of the book provides context for young readers about Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls in Canada.”
• Will I See? By David Alexander Robertson (Cree), Iskwé(Cree/Métis), and Leslie Erin, and illustrated GMB Chomichuk and Erin Leslie.
  • “May, a young teenage girl, traverses the city streets, finding keepsakes in different places along her journey. When May and her kookum make these keepsakes into a necklace, it opens a world of danger and fantasy. While May fights against a terrible reality, she learns that there is strength in the spirit of those that have passed. But will that strength be able to save her? A story of tragedy and beauty, Will I See illuminates the issue of missing and murdered Indigenous women.”
• Keetsahnak: Our Missing and Murdered Indigenous Sisters edited by Kim Anderson (Cree/Métis), Christi Belcourt (Métis), and Maria Campbell (Métis)
  • “Through stories of resilience, resistance, and activism, the editors give voice to powerful personal testimony and allow for the creation of knowledge. It’s in all of our best interests to take on gender violence as a core resurgence project, a core decolonization project, a core of Indigenous nation-building, and as the backbone of any Indigenous mobilization.”
• Forever Loved: Exposing the Hidden Crisis of Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls in Canada contributed by Jennifer Brant (Kanien’kehá:ka) and Dawn Memee Lavell-Harvard (Anishinabe)
  • “This collection brings together the voices of Indigenous and non-Indigenous academics, frontline workers, and activists who weave together academic and personal narratives, spoken word, and poetry in the spirit of demanding immediate action. Our intent is to honour our missing sisters and their families, to honour their lives and their stories.”
• Surviving the City, Volume 1 by Tasha Sumner-Spillett (Cree), illustrated by Natasha Donovan (Métis)
  • “Tasha Spillet’s graphic-novel debut, Surviving the City, is a story about womanhood, friendship, resilience, and the anguish of a missing loved one. Miikwan and Dez are best friends. Miikwan’s Anishinaabe; Dez is Inninew. Together, the teens navigate the challenges of growing up in an urban landscape – they’re so close, they even completed their Berry Fast together. However, when Dez’s grandmother becomes too sick, Dez is told she can’t stay with her anymore. With the threat of a group home looming, Dez can’t bring herself to go home and disappears. Miikwan is devastated, and the wound of her missing mother resurfaces. Will Dez’s community find her before it’s too late? Will Miikwan be able to cope if they don’t? Colonialism and the issue of Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women, Girls, and Two-Spirit People are explored in Natasha Donovan’s beautiful illustrations.”

Online articles with extremely useful resources:

• Reclaiming Power and Place: The Final Report of the National Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls by the National Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls (Canada)
• A Legal Analysis of Genocide: Supplementary Report of the National Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls by the National Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls (Canada)