Tansi Nîtôtemtik,
Image retrieved from: www.cbc.ca/news/canada/manitoba/red-river-snow-sculptures-mmiwg-1.4967005?fbclid=IwAR04Lhmn8Ngk_ajro6TTSI9QEpRQ5wT6X4EwKuyHC3sCD7d8HfkpZc2aEIU
The dialogue about missing and murdered Indigenous women and girls continues across Canada in 2019.
Winnipeg Metis artist, Jaime Black, created art in the snow on the Red River to commemorate the lives of missing and murdered Indigenous women and girls. When interviewed by CBC, she described her art, saying “it's a comment on the fact that Indigenous women are facing high rates of violence in Winnipeg — often we're finding women in the river.”[1] Ms. Black also was an artist involved in the REDress Project, which slung red dresses from trees in cities across Canada in honour of MMIWG. She hopes to continue her efforts of drawing attention to the ongoing problems and violence for Indigenous women, hoping to get a group together for more participation in creating more snow figures on the river, or other art displays.[2]
In December, two grade 12 students, Trinity Harry and Joseph Ginter, used welding skills to create an art display drawing attention to the issue of MMIWG. In 2017, they welded a rose in honour of Tina Fontaine, which is now located at Tina's Safe Haven, a 24/7 drop-in centre in Winnipeg.[3]
Trinity Harry and Joseph Ginter
(Image retrieved from: www.cbc.ca/news/canada/manitoba/rb-russell-welding-mmiwg-1.4931544>).
Jaime Black’s idea of the red dress hanging in a tree as a symbol of MMIWG was adopted by the two students into a welding project commissioned by LNG (pictured below). The tree has seven branches, which Ms. Harry explained represent the seven teachings. Each leaf has a province or territory name on it to identify where each woman was missing or murdered.[4]
Image retrieved from: www.cbc.ca/news/canada/manitoba/rb-russell-welding-mmiwg-1.4931544>
The movement to alleviate the ongoing issues with the continuation of the murder and abduction of Indigenous women in Canada is unfinished. The National Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls shared on January 19, 2019, that the theme of the 2019 Women’s March was “Ending Violence Against Women.” The Inquiry felt the theme resonated well within the Canadian climate, which is characterized by the “unacceptable reality that Indigenous women and girls are the most vulnerable people...and are 12 times more likely to be subjected to violence than non-Indigenous women.”[5] Canadian organizers specifically acknowledged the plight of MMIWG with the theme of “You are Not Forgotten”.
As Canadians, our awareness of this issue cannot only occur once or twice a year. It is the current reality for Indigenous women and girls in Canada, and so it must also be our reality. We must remember them and take action in the ways that we can -- with our art and with our voices.
Until next time,
ReconciliAction YEG
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[1] “Red River snow sculptures honour murdered, missing Indigenous women and girls”, CBC News (4 January 2019), online: <www.cbc.ca/news/canada/manitoba/red-river-snow-sculptures-mmiwg-1.4967005?fbclid=IwAR04Lhmn8Ngk_ajro6TTSI9QEpRQ5wT6X4EwKuyHC3sCD7d8HfkpZc2aEIU>.
[2] Ibid.
[3] “These students spent 300 hours welding metal into a red dress sculpture honouring MMIWG”, CBC News (4 December 2018), online: <www.cbc.ca/news/canada/manitoba/rb-russell-welding-mmiwg-1.4931544>.
[4] Ibid.
[5] “On January 19, we march again”, National Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls, News Release, online: <www.mmiwg-ffada.ca/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/2019-01-19-Womens-March_EN.pdf>.
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