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“No More Stolen Sisters”

Event in Red Deer to honour Missing & Murdered Indigenous Women

Mar 23, 2021 | 2:46 PM

An event taking place this weekend in Red Deer aims to bring awareness to Missing & Murdered Indigenous Women, Girls, 2 Spirit Plus and Trans folx.

It’s part of a nationwide rally to honour and commemorate the lives of those women who have been murdered or are missing.

The event at Coronation Park (4536 50 Street) goes Saturday, March 27 starting at noon. There will also be a live feed available for online viewing.

“MMIWG2ST has actually been deemed a national crisis but it has been discovered, little no one is aware of the reality that is taking place in front of them,” organizers say on Facebook post for the event.

They note Indigenous woman make up only four per cent of Canada’s population, but homicide rates reach as high as 22 per cent. Indigenous woman are 12 times more likely to go missing or get murdered than any other demographic group in Canada, they add.

“The color red is the color that our ancestors and those who have walked on can see, therefore calling on them to guide back the missing,” the Facebook post explains.

“The red handprint is not only symbolic of the violence that happens towards indigenous woman, it is also to represent the victims who have been silenced and continue to be silenced. The lack of acknowledgement and lack of knowledge in general on this issue in a sense in itself is silencing.

“The red dress pins, red dresses, they serve as stand-ins for the potentially thousands of native women who go missing or are murdered each year. To acknowledge in a respectful manner the families, grieving, searching, and longing for their loved ones to return home someday.”

Those attending Saturday’s event in person are asked to wear red, bring signage, and follow COVID-19 public health guidelines (social distancing, wear a mask, stay home if you feel sick). You can also show support from home by hanging a red dress in your window or driveway.