Beyond Thoughts and Prayers

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On Tuesday of this week the country acknowledged the National Day of Remembrance and Action on Violence Against Women - remembering December 6, 1989 when violent misogyny shook our country when in Montreal, 14 women were  murdered because they were women. 


With the news this week I am also reminded of a travelling art exhibit, Walking with Our Sisters created to memorialize Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women. 


The exhibit, consisting of hundreds of vamps (moccasin tops), visited cities across the country to bring to light the tragedy of so many murdered and missing indigenous women and girls.


In April, 2015 at the Kwanlin Dun Cultural Centre, on the banks of the Yukon River in Whitehorse, David and I had the privilege to attend one of the Walking with Our Sisters exhibits in what became one of those life changing moments.


Before entering the exhibit we were gifted with a smudging ceremony. Outdoors a sacred fire burned continually. (seen in above picture) Then into a large dimly lit room we went. A small group of us slowly made our way around the room as we followed a winding path of over 1200 beaded moccasin vamps spread around the floor. The 1200 symbolize the number of missing and murdered women and girls. The beading symbolize their beautiful lives. The unfinished moccasins symbolize the unfinished lives of these women and girls. 


Step by slow step, we tried to absorb the symbolism of the hundreds of lives cut short. Some vamps had names written on them. Side by side, one read “Who” Another “Cares.” Among us, a mother, whose daughter was one of the missing and murdered, slowly followed the path. Boxes of tissues were on hand. Before we left the room, our used tissues were gathered in paper bags to be placed on the sacred fire. 


The air was heavy with grief. The place filled with resilience. 


That evening I returned to the Kwanlin Dun Cultural Centre where four brilliant indigenous women were hosting a panel discussion. 


A non indigenous woman in the audience asked, “What can we do?” One of the women in the panel responded. “One thing you can do - whenever you heard a stereotype of Indigenous people speak up. Challenge the stereotype. Wherever you are. Speak up. Don’t remain silent.”  


So that has been my pledge.


Fast forward to this week. The news is filled with more tragic news of missing and murdered indigenous women. This time in Winnipeg. 


Rebecca Contois, Marcedes Myran, Morgan Beatrice Harris, and Mashkode Bizhiki’ikwe or Buffalo Woman - murdered.


Why? The question asked this week by Matt Galloway of CBC’s The Current as he interviewed Sandra DeLaronde project lead of the Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women’s Group Implementation Project in Manitoba. 


Matt asked, “Why isn't change happening? I mean, again, it's not just in the wake of this tragedy, but for years. To your point, people have been calling for change.”


Sandra answered, “I can't answer that. You know, … when situations like this occur, people turn to the Indigenous community for answers. Almost like, 'What is wrong with you people?' You know, 'How come this keeps happening to you?' But the fact is, since the Aboriginal Justice Enquiry in 1991, we've told Canada. We've told this country what is wrong and we've asked Canada to help in fixing the problem. And they haven't. You know, we value and know the importance of thoughts and prayers. But beyond those thoughts and prayers should be to create action and to take action. And that hasn't been done.”

Chief Kyra Wilson, of Long Plain First Nation home to two of the murdered women, also spoke. “It’s very frustrating,” she said,  “when we’re always having to shout - “Oh, look at us, we are people too!” 


So the question lingers heavy on my heart. How can Canada let this be? How can Canada not value Indigenous women, girls and Two Spirited people? 


We are Canada… or at least I am. How can I continue to let this happen? And I thought of that persistent woman of scripture who refused to let Jesus ignore her needs.


So beyond thoughts and prayers, leaning into the same Spirit of that persistent woman of long ago, I am pondering my call to action.

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