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Hamilton Spectator

‘A crisis of epidemic proportions': Huntsville advocate calls for urgent action and ‘no more stolen sisters' during Red Dress Day

On May 5, Huntsville gathered in solidarity to remember missing and murdered Indigenous women, girls, and 2SLGBTQQIA+ people. 'How best to destroy a culture, you might ask? To target its heart — women,' said Indigenous advocate and founder of the Hope Arises Project Joyce Jonathan Crone to nearly 50 people outside the Huntsville Legion Monday morning. According to The Assembly of First Nations, May 5 — or Red Dress Day — is a call for urgent action and accountability from all levels of government to protect Indigenous women, girls, and 2SLGBTQIA+ people. 'What we're experiencing in this day and age is a crisis of epidemic proportions,' Crone said during her speech. 'It's a crisis that is born out of colonization, a multi-generational and intergenerational dehumanization of Indigenous Peoples.' The Assembly of First Nations says Indigenous women continue to face violence at rates higher than non-Indigenous women — four times more likely to be victims of violence and are vastly overrepresented among homicide victims. 'Why should I and all Indigenous women live under this threat? We are not disposable,' Crone said. 'This is the stark reality that continues, and continues, and continues today … These are facts that should make us feel uncomfortable.' Crone also cited the National Inquiry's Final Report and its 231 Calls for Justice, urging legal and social change. Humanity, she said, faces a choice: restore balance and respect or risk moral collapse. 'Let this honour walk be the spark that lights your fire of personal reckoning, a flame of commitment to community and healing and justice,' Crone said. 'Remember, we too as Indigenous women are mothers, sisters, grandmothers, daughters, someone's child, aunties, and friends.' Shatira Jackson took part in the walk that went along Veterans Way, Brunel Road and Main Street. 'To yell out and to sing out, 'no more stolen sisters,' is an act of bravery,' Jackson said. 'Gathering for the missing women is so important because they don't have a voice now … and gathering in general, learning from others, and showing up in your most brave self is an honour and I'll do it again and again.' Jackson said the vibe among the participants felt very connected, but the turnout felt 'a little bit sparse,' and she'd 'like to see more people out' for future events. 'But everybody who showed up really held a safe space,' she said. 'It was beautiful.' Learn more about Indigenous initiatives in the Muskoka region on Hope Arises' website . For more information, read these opinion columns from Jody Harbour — MISSING AND MURDERED: Confronting reality and demanding justice for MMIWG2S+ people and MISSING AND MURDERED: How did the MMIWG2S+ crisis begin? Megan Hederson is a Local Journalism Initiative reporter covering Huntsville and Lake of Bays for . The Local Journalism Initiative is funded by the Government of Canada.