MMIWG DAY. Murdered and Missing Indigenous Women and Girls Day.

[niyad]

Calling attention to the horrific number of Indigenous women and girls murdered or missing, and how little attention is paid by law enforcement and other officials. The numbers, the stories, are heartbreaking, as is official indifference.

Also known as REDdress Day, as we are asked to wear red in memory.

[chowder66]

1. K&R!!

Thank you niyad.

[niyad]

2. You are most welcome.

[SheltieLover]

3. Kick

[niyad]

23. Thank you.

[obamanut2012]

4. Thank you -- our Episcopal church is holding a memorial

Both at the cathedral and at the CA Capital building, with other clergy and laity.

[niyad]

24. I am so glad to hear this, and so horrified by the need for it.

[obamanut2012]

41. That is an excellent -- and heartbreaking way -- to put it

[leftstreet]

5. DURec

[niyad]

25. Thank you.

[Spazito]

6. We have a spot along a riverside walkway that is dedicated to this and...

other Indigenous issues and people leave decorated stones with messages, children's shoes to continue to bring the residential school deaths to mind, red dresses hung from the nearby trees. Every time I do the walk and stop there, I am brought to tears.

Edited to add a photo of the spot, it's called The Healing Garden:

[efhmc]

12. Where, please?

[Spazito]

13. In Alberta, just outside of Edmonton...

it is a beautiful spot that honors Indigenous peoples in a most respectful way.

[efhmc]

15. Thanks for the answer. Should have known it was Canada.

[Spazito]

16. Our history with Canada's Indigenous Peoples has been atrocious...

the Truth and Reconciliation Report began the start of discussions on how to address the wrongs, very small steps have been taken but we still have a very, very long way to go.

This beautiful and moving spot on the walkway would never have happened without the Truth and Reconciliation Commission Report with it's 94 Call to Action Recommendations.

Here is a link to that report in case you're interested:

https://nctr.ca/about/truth-and-reconciliation-commission-of-canada/

[efhmc]

18. I had heard of this but did not know what it was. Thanks for the info.

[Spazito]

19. You're very welcome!

[niyad]

38. Would you consider making an OP about this very important inforrmation,

including the link to the report (and thank you for the link, I realized I did not have it).

This needs wider visibility.

[Spazito]

40. I did an OP, I'm not sure how much attention it will get...

Here's the link:

https://www.democraticunderground.com/100221220721

I hope it is what you were suggesting as to content.

[Spazito]

21. Here is a photo of the spot, it is called The Healing Garden

Some info on it's background:

The Healing Garden was created along the Red Willow Trail across from St. Albert Place in 2017 to recognize and acknowledge the survivors of Indian Residential Schools in St. Albert. It is meant to be a therapeutic place of reconciliation that will bring awareness, education, and cultural teachings to the community.

The Healing Garden is a community project led by a planning committee consisting of survivors of Indian Residential Schools, representatives from the First Nations and Métis communities, the United Church, the Catholic Church, the general community and the City of St. Albert.

Mission
It is to be a place of truth and reconciliation, a visible sign of our community’s commitment to walk in right relations with First Nation, Métis and Inuit peoples, and with all Nations.

Vision
To create an accessible therapeutic sanctuary for survivors of Indian Residential Schools, and victims of abuse on a transformative reconciling journey. To connect with an entire community for heightened awareness, to learn and grow from trauma to triumph, through prayer, meditation, and cultural teachings.

The Truth and Reconciliation Commission
In March 2015, Edmonton hosted the last national event of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission. The Truth and Reconciliation Report (TRC) was created as a component of the Indian Residential Schools Settlement Agreement and strives to document the truth of the survivors, families and communities who were part of the experience. This has been a historic time for our country that will help us to pave a path for all of us to walk together with respect and mutual understanding.

[niyad]

27. Thank you for this important background information.

[LetMyPeopleVote]

44. Thank you for posting this

[Spazito]

45. You're very welcome!

I love to visit it as often as I can.

[niyad]

26. Thank you so much for sharing this with us.

[Spazito]

32. You're very welcome!

It is a spot I visit often and it is ever-changing with the different messages, poems and much more. It is so respected that nothing is taken from the spot, it is added to instead. There are benches under the covered 'gazebo' where very personal and moving items are placed.

[LoisB]

7. Very important. Also, little or no attention paid to this by the media.

[niyad]

28. Sadly true on both counts.

[betsuni]

8. K&R

[niyad]

29. Thank you.

[Passages]

9. Heartbreaking and horrifying. This is how they get their own day.

[niyad]

30. It is indeed horrifying.

[GusBob]

10. I work for a Native American Tribe, they are calling it MMIP day and wearing red here

Every Rez has missing men and women

Edit: ya, May 5th is MMIP day M/M Indigenous People Day

[niyad]

31. Thank you. I should have included that.

[Solly Mack]

11. ...

[niyad]

33. Thank you.

[MorbidButterflyTat]

14. Heartbreaking

What a world.

[niyad]

34. Sadly true.

[dawn5651]

17. here where i live we don't have a death penalty. but everytime the police come to a

issue with a indigenous woman the woman ends up dead or if the woman is found dead then the cops brush off any indication that the woman was murdered and that she had just died....we need the same type of movement for indigenous men..just recently where i live a man was murdered in his kitchen by the police. the police say he was a fault. his family says otherwise and this man isn't the first one.

[niyad]

37. It is an ongoing horror.

[betsuni]

48. It's horrifying the way cases of missing/murdered indigenous women too often aren't investigated.

Like hunting season where authorities turn a blind eye.

[dawn5651]

49. sad but true

[58Sunliner]

20. Kick and rec.

[niyad]

35. Thank you.

[58Sunliner]

42. Thank you!!

[dlk]

22. Thank you for bringing this to everyone's attention

There is much to be done.

[niyad]

36. You are most welcome. There is indeed much to be done.

[LetMyPeopleVote]

43. This made me smile

Link to tweet

[niyad]

46. So beautiful. So sad it is needed.

[LetMyPeopleVote]

47. I agree