Latest news with #NationalDayofAwarenessforMissingandMurderedIndigenousWomen
Yahoo
06-05-2025
- Yahoo
Celebrating Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women Day of Awareness in La Crosse
LA CROSSE, Wis. (WLAX/WEUX) – In 2022, the La Crosse City Council proclaimed May 5th as Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women Day of Awareness. Every May 5th since then, the Ho-Chunk Nation Youth Services Division has hosted the Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Relatives 5K Run/Walk. Tracy Littlejohn says 84% of indigenous women and girls have experienced violence in their lifetime. 'People aren't even aware that indigenous women, children, and men are much more likely to be victims of violence. We have a lot more people who are trafficked. We have a lot more people who are used in different types of illegal areas.' Mayor Shaundel Washington-Spivey adds it's important for everyone to be aware of these issues because if it impacts one culture, it impacts the entire community. 'Of course, the topic is very heavy, and not necessarily a happy topic to talk about. But what it does and what they're doing today about spreading awareness about missing and murdered indigenous women is extremely important. We, as a city, have to do our part and make sure that we are helping this community.' Ho-Chunk District 2 Representative, Stephanie Begay, says educating those who are unaware of the seriousness of this topic is the main goal of an event like this, 'If they don't know about it, it's not going to matter to them. I think that's one of the more important pieces of being here today is educating and making people aware that this is happening in our communities.' Littlejohn added, 'We want people to know that we're all in their community. We want them to know that there are people locally who are missing or murdered. Sometimes they're returned, sometimes they're not. We have people who have been missing for years or decades and there's never been any resolution.' Red dresses were also along the 5K route as another symbol to raise awareness. May 5th has been recognized as the National Day of Awareness for Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women since the passing of a Senate Resolution in 2017. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX2548 & WIProud.
Yahoo
06-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Advocates for missing and murdered Indigenous women raise awareness
WASHINGTON (NEXSTAR) – As the president aims to root out diversity, equity and inclusion in the federal government, some lawmakers say important policy documents have been swept up with it. That includes a report aimed at addressing missing and murdered indigenous people. 'It's really kind of a slap in the face of the community that we're trying to work with and protect,' said Sen. Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.). Nevada Senator Catherine Cortez Masto's bipartisan 'Not Invisible Act' created the commission that reported those recommendations. President Trump signed it into law his first term, with the White House at the time touting him as, 'the first president to formally recognize the tragedy…', but now the report isn't on the DOJ site anymore. An Interior Department page that links to the DOJ has a note that says links may not work and quote, '…any previously issued diversity, equity, inclusion or gender-related guidance on this webpage should be considered rescinded.' The DOJ does still have a page dedicated to missing or murdered indigenous people that summarizes the report's recommendations. The Justice Department did not respond to requests for comment when asked about why the report was removed. Cortez Masto says on this National Day of Awareness for Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women, lawmakers and the administration should be working together to address the tragedy. 'This is not a partisan issue. This is bipartisan. We've got great legislation coming from it,' said Cortez Masto. Cortez Masto is currently working to pass two bills aimed at supporting tribal law enforcement. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
05-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Performances, healing dances abound as Toronto commemorates Red Dress Day
Mayor Olivia Chow attended two ceremonies filled with dancing, drums, sacred fires and Indigenous artwork on Monday to honour Red Dress Day. The National Day of Awareness for Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women, Girls and 2SLGBTQI+ People is marked nationwide. Speaking at Toronto's Native Canadian Centre in the Annex area, Chow dedicated her remarks to the memory of women and girls that have been lost. She said she's thinking about the city's role in tackling violence against Indigenous women. "We need to work harder and imagine a life that is free of violence [and is] instead full of love. Let us imagine a city that has that," she said. Chow said that Toronto should offer shelter to Indigenous people and provide more affordable housing, along with making it easier for newcomers to find and connect with local Indigenous communities and elders. "We need to make sure there's enough shelter, housing… [that] there is education and employment opportunities," she said. Toronto's events are among dozens happening across Canada. Featuring powerful dances, songs and spirit plate offerings, many Indigenous people said the events are a chance to mourn lost loved ones and keep their memory alive. Lori Boros, who is Cree, performed a song at the Native Canadian Centre. Her mother was a residential school survivor, she said, and one of her aunts went missing and hasn't been found. Boros told CBC Toronto her performance is a healing process — one that helps her stay connected to her culture. "When the song comes to you, creator from above will bring you those words and the song, and then it just comes out of your heart and just flows," she said. "You're joining in spirit with one another, with the words, as it's flowing through the music." Joseph Harper, who is Ojibway and Cree, performed a cultural dance during a Sunrise Ceremony in Love Park. Harper said he went to the event to remember and connect with his family, and that he danced for them. "I'm thinking about my grandmother mainly today, but I usually think about my family. I think about family that came before me. That's why we dance, right?" he said. "That's why we have the feathers, the songs, it's just everything is connected. That's kind of how I feel when I come out, I want to be more connected."
CBC
05-05-2025
- Entertainment
- CBC
Performances, healing dances abound as Toronto commemorates Red Dress Day
Mayor Olivia Chow attended two ceremonies filled with dancing, drums, sacred fires and Indigenous artwork on Monday to honour Red Dress Day. The National Day of Awareness for Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women, Girls and 2SLGBTQI+ People is marked nationwide. Speaking at Toronto's Native Canadian Centre in the Annex area, Chow dedicated her remarks to the memory of women and girls that have been lost. She said she's thinking about the city's role in tackling violence against Indigenous women. "We need to work harder and imagine a life that is free of violence [and is] instead full of love. Let us imagine a city that has that," she said. Chow said that Toronto should offer shelter to Indigenous people and provide more affordable housing, along with making it easier for newcomers to find and connect with local Indigenous communities and elders. "We need to make sure there's enough shelter, housing… [that] there is education and employment opportunities," she said. Toronto's events are among dozens happening across Canada. Featuring powerful dances, songs and spirit plate offerings, many Indigenous people said the events are a chance to mourn lost loved ones and keep their memory alive. Lori Boros, who is Cree, performed a song at the Native Canadian Centre. Her mother was a residential school survivor, she said, and one of her aunts went missing and hasn't been found. Boros told CBC Toronto her performance is a healing process — one that helps her stay connected to her culture. "When the song comes to you, creator from above will bring you those words and the song, and then it just comes out of your heart and just flows," she said. "You're joining in spirit with one another, with the words, as it's flowing through the music." Joseph Harper, who is Ojibway and Cree, performed a cultural dance during a Sunrise Ceremony in Love Park. Harper said he went to the event to remember and connect with his family, and that he danced for them. "I'm thinking about my grandmother mainly today, but I usually think about my family. I think about family that came before me. That's why we dance, right?" he said. "That's why we have the feathers, the songs, it's just everything is connected. That's kind of how I feel when I come out, I want to be more connected."
CBC
05-05-2025
- CBC
Indigenous communities mark Red Dress Day honouring MMIWG, educating young girls
Indigenous communities in and around the London area are marking Red Dress Day with initiatives that focus on education and the prevention of violence against young women. Also known as National Day of Awareness for Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women, Girls, and Two-Spirit+ People (MMIWG2S+), the day draws widespread attention to an issue that continues to be felt by Indigenous communities daily, said Danielle Hill from Oneida Nation of the Thames. "This is our life. We have to be worried about this every single day," Hill said. "Every time we go out, every time we take a bus by ourselves, we're more prone to getting taken." Between 2009 and 2021, the homicide rate among Indigenous women and girls was six times higher than their non-Indigenous counterparts, according to Statistics Canada. Red Dress Day started in 2010, when Métis artist Jamie Black hung hundreds of red dresses to honour MMIWG2S+, and has since become an annual day, taking place every May 5 as more groups started similar initiatives. "In Indigenous cultures, a lot of them believe that red is the only colour that spirits can see," said Kristen Longdo, Fanshawe College's Indigenous Strategic Learning Guide, who is Haudenosaunee, Mohawk from Six Nations of the Grand River. "It's a way of making the invisible visible and calling spirits home, but also demanding justice." The college will have close to 40 donated red dresses on display around its main campus on Monday, Longdo said, each with a name tag of a different woman who has gone missing or been murdered within the last five years. "A lot of the names that are going to be on the dresses are from 2020 onwards, so this is still happening," Longdo said. "[Indigenous women] continue to face disproportionately high rates of violence, despite national inquiries, action plans and all these things that have been put in place to protect Indigenous people." It's why organizers at the Oneida Family Healing Lodge say they're marking the occasion with events teaching young Indigenous girls how to protect themselves. "It's a horrible feeling. We shouldn't have to do this, but it's what we have to do," said Hill, who is helping to organize the Monday event, which will include self-defence lessons and self-esteem workshops for girls. "We can't change the outside world but all we can do is make sure that we know we are loved and we are worthy." The all-day event, happening in and around Oneida's community centre, will have activities catered to further educating the Indigenous community in ways that matter to them. "It's different than having [an event] in the City of London or the City of Toronto because we live this," Hill said. "We don't need awareness." Other Red Dress Day events The Oneida Family Healing Lodge event will start with opening speeches and snacks before participants go on an interactive memorial walk. Attendees will be given a tobacco tie and will pray as they travel down the walkway, which will have statistics, pictures of missing and murdered women and safety tips displayed, said Hill. In addition to the Red Dress Day display, Fanshawe College will also host a morning vigil to honour MMIWG2S+ followed by a screening of Highway of Tears, a documentary about the unsolved murders and disappearances of Indigenous women in British Columbia. Atlohsa Family Healing Services in London will host a drop-in community fire and lunch at the Wiigiwaaminann Lodge at 550 Wellington Rd., where people are invited to bring drums, rattles and shakers to play around the fire. The City of London is also participating in the day by displaying red dresses at City Hall and ribbon skirts in the J. Allen Taylor Building. Some city facilities and buildings downtown will be lit red to mark the occasion.
