NAN Supports Vigil in Honour of Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls
THUNDER BAY, ON: Nishnawbe Aski Nation (NAN) Deputy Grand Chief Anna Betty Achneepineskum will show solidarity with the Native Women’s Association of Canada (NWAC) and support for action on missing and murdered Indigenous women and girls at the Sisters in Spirit Vigil in Thunder Bay next week.
“I am honoured to join with the Native Women’s Association of Canada to remember our sisters while renewing our demand that the Government of Canada call a national public inquiry into murdered and missing Indigenous women and girls,” said Deputy Grand Chief Anna Betty Achneepineskum. “The candles we will light are in honour of the thousands of women we have lost and their memory will burn forever in our hearts.”
Sisters in Spirit vigils are held in October to raise awareness of the high rates of missing and murdered Indigenous women and girls across Canada. A candlelight vigil will be held in Thunder Bay on Monday, October 5 at the ONWA offices at Ray Boulevard from 5-7 p.m.
NAN and the NAN Women’s Council have undertaken and supported several initiatives to prevent violence and raise awareness, including:
- Honouring our Missing Sisters: A 24 hour Sacred Gathering of Drums on Victoria Island in Ottawa (May 2014).
- Gathering for Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls in Thunder Bay (February 2015).
- National Roundtable on Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls in Ottawa (February 2015).
- Draw-the-Line interactive campaign to recognize and prevent sexual violence (February 2015).
- Full Moon Memory Walk in Thunder Bay in honour of missing and murdered women and girls and their families (September 2015).
The need for a national inquiry is a federal election issue, and NAN has challenged Kenora incumbent MP Greg Rickford for clinging to the Conservatives’ tough-on-crime agenda while ignoring the need for a national inquiry into the violence perpetrated against these women, many of whom are believed to be from his riding. Rickford is the only candidate who does not support a national inquiry, despite that fact that his riding represents 40 First Nation communities.
NAN supports a national plan of action to prevent further violence against Indigenous women and girls, but continues to call for an inquiry to fully determine the scope of these disappearances, provide accountability and justice for the families affected, and to learn how to prevent violence against women before it occurs.
For more information please contact: Roxann Shapwaykeesic, Communications Officer – Nishnawbe Aski Nation (807) 625-4906 or cell (807) 251-6876 or by email rshapwaykeesic@nan.on.ca
NT5
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