Violence against Indigenous women and girls knows no borders

Thunder Bay, ON - Today on May 5th, the Ontario Native Women’s Association (ONWA) is standing in solidarity with our sisters in the United States on their National Day of Awareness against Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls (MMIWG).

Violence against Indigenous women and girls is an issue that knows no borders. Please join ONWA in supporting the National Indigenous Women’s Resource Center in recognizing this important day. Show your support by wearing red and sharing a photo of yourself on social media with #MMIWGActionNow and #NoMoreStolenSisters.

May 5th marks the birthday of Hanna Harris (Northern Cheyenne), an Indigenous woman taken by violence in 2013. After her disappearance, there was a lack of response from the justice system, Hanna’s family and friends had to search for her. In 2017, in Hanna’s memory, the Montana Congressional Delegation led the way for the passage of a United States Senate resolution declaring May 5th the National Day of Awareness for Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls.

ONWA recognizes and honours the lives of our lost loved ones, and the families, friends, and survivors of Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls. We know these women are so much more than a statistic. They are daughters, mothers, grandmothers, sisters, aunties, and cousins. They are the heart of our families, communities, and nations.

Community members Annette Klement and Sarah White are committed to reconnecting with their culture while supporting their community: “MMIWG is an important issue, and bringing awareness to this cause is, and should be a high priority for everyone. [We hope our] donation [to ONWA’s MMIWG work] will help support this cause, and someday no more of our mothers, daughters, and sisters will go missing.”

The strength and determination of Indigenous women coming together continues to raise awareness of this tragedy. ONWA commends all the good work being led by Indigenous women advocating for legislative and policy change, and increased resources to end this crisis.

ONWA offers our report Reconciliation with Indigenous Women (2020) developed by and for Indigenous women, to our American sisters as a tool to help advance our collective fight.

For more ways to take action, you can also visit the National Indigenous Women’s Resource Center website.

For more information:

Andre Morriseau, Communications Manager

Ontario Native Women’s Association (ONWA)

Email: amorriseau@onwa.ca

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