National Day of Remembrance and Action on Violence Against Women

National Day of Remembrance and Action on Violence Against Women

Thunder Bay, ON – Today, we remember and honour the 14 women who lost their lives at the Montréal École Polytechnique tragedy (Montreal Massacre) on December 6, 1989. Their loss continues to remind us of the urgent need to confront and end gender-based violence in all its forms. The Ontario Native Women’s Association (ONWA) condemns all forms of violence and calls for urgent action to end the ongoing violence and tragic loss of Indigenous women and girls.

On this day of remembrance, we hold close the Indigenous women and girls who continue to experience disproportionate rates of violence. These harms are driven by longstanding systemic racism, sexism, and discrimination.

The proportion of Indigenous femicide victims in Ontario has steadily increased from 5.4% in 2019-20 to 8.1% in 2022-23¹. This is not just a statistic but represents the lives of Indigenous women, girls, their families and communities, and simply cannot continue. This reality reflects the ongoing failure to ensure safety, justice, and equality for Indigenous women and girls, and demands immediate and sustained action. Every Indigenous woman and girl has the fundamental right to live in safety and to a future free from gender-based violence.

In remembering, we are called to action. We call for continued commitment to creating safe spaces, strengthening accountability, and advancing concrete steps that protect and uplift Indigenous women and girls.

Today is also known as White Ribbon Day, which is a Canadian movement of men and boys working to end violence against women and girls, promote gender equity, healthy relationships and a new vision of masculinity. Today, ONWA honours the men and boys who support Indigenous women and girls. ONWA encourages all men and boys to take the pledge: “I pledge never to commit, condone, or remain silent about violence against women.” We call on Indigenous men and boys to join us in standing up against violence.

Together, we honour the lives lost and work toward a future free from violence.

To learn more about how you can help end violence against the women in your life explore:

• The White Ribbon movement, a Canadian movement of men and boys working to end violence against women and girls, promote gender equity, healthy relationships, and a new vision of masculinity. Take the pledge today: https://www.whiteribbon.ca/pledge

• The Moose Hide Campaign, an Indigenous-led grassroots movement to engage men and boys in ending violence towards women and children: https://moosehidecampaign.ca

• The Centre for Research & Education on Violence Against Women & Children resources and programming: https://www.learningtoendabuse.ca

• The National Action Plan to End Gender-Based Violence – Women and Gender Equality Canada report: https://www.canada.ca/en/women-gender-equality/gender-based-violence/intergovernmental-collaboration/national-action-plan-end-gender-based-violence.html

• ONWA’s Missing & Murdered Indigenous Women & Girls (MMIWG) learning and resource page: https://www.onwa.ca/learning-resources-mmiwg

For more information and media inquiries, contact:

Andre Morriseau, Communications Manager
Ontario Native Women’s Association (ONWA)
Email: amorriseau@onwa.ca

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