National MMIWG2S Awareness Day – Friday, May 5

 National MMIWG2S Awareness Day – Friday, May 5
DID YOU KNOW? "In Canada Indigenous women are twelve times more likely to be murdered or missing than any other woman in Canada, and sixteen times more likely to be murdered or missing than white women in Canada…" (Femicide is the Shadow Pandemic citation). 

Also known as Red Dress Day, Friday, May 5 honours the thousands of missing and murdered Indigenous women, girls, Two-Spirit, and gender diverse people in Canada by encouraging learning and building awareness to end violence against Indigenous women, girls, Two-Spirit, and gender diverse people.  

Call to Action #41 of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission Report calls on the federal government of Canada to begin an inquiry into the numerous cases of missing and murdered Indigenous women and girls. Starting in 2016, the National Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls held 15 community hearings and spoke with 2,386 people. A final report was released in June 2019 which includes 231 Calls for Justice that "represent important ways to end the genocide and to transform systemic and societal values that have worked to maintain colonial violence" (Final Report, volume 1B, p. 168.  

At St Stephen's

In support of this important date we will be showing our support by hanging red dresses in the tree outside front of the church.  If you have a red dress, or even a red shirt that you would like to donate for the display please bring them on Sunday, April 30th.  The dresses will be hanging out in whatever weather we get next week so please only donate items that you are not needing returned. Sara Shaw will be collecting these items and will put up them up on the evening of May 4th from 6:30-7:00 pm if you would like to help.  If you are not able to bring your item on Sunday but still want it to be part of the display, you can contact Sara through the church office.