National Day of Awareness for Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women, Girls, and Gender Diverse People
On Friday, May 3rd, the CDSBEO observed the National Day of Awareness for Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women, Girls, and Gender Diverse People, which fell on Sunday, May 5th. In response to the CDSBEO Indigenous Education Council and the Ontario Ministry of Education’s mandate, high school classes were provided with a variety of resources and information to support awareness building and education about this epidemic. Below is information on some resources that supported student learning:
- The graphic novel “If I Go Missing”, is derived from excerpts of a letter written to the Winnipeg Chief of Police by 14-year-old Brianna Jonnie. She is from Roseau River First Nation and wrote the letter after she “saw the differences between how Indigenous women were treated when they went missing versus non-Indigenous women”.
- A special thank you to the Canadian Border Services Agency, and niawen’kó:wa to Acting Regional Indigenous Affairs Advisor for Akwesasne/Cornwall, John Bay, for donating approximately 500 Red Dress Pins with an information card exposing the harsh realities faced by Indigenous Women, Girls, and Gender Diverse People in Canada. An additional thank you to Nish Tees and Dominique O’Bonsawin for the creation of the 400 Red Dress Pin Beading Kits and video tutorial.
- A Red Dress Day presentation, which was delivered to high school students with information on how the Red Dress Project began, the risks and realities faced by Indigenous Women and Girls in Canada, human trafficking, and how schools and individuals can show support, champion, and raise awareness for this epidemic.
The CDSBEO and Indigenous Education Team would also like to especially thank all Indigenous community partners that supported the learning and shared their personal stories prior to, during, and after this day.
