Hundreds of people, dressed in red, took part in the commemorative events of the national awareness day for women, girls and people 2ELGBTQQIA+ Aboriginal who has disappeared and murdered.
The day of the red dress raises awareness of the community on violence against women, girls and people bispirituals.
In Sudbury, the event was punctuated by testimonies from members of families of victims.
Valerie Ross, from the Mushkegowuk-scri community, shared the stories of family members.
She honored Josephine Chakasim, her aunt who died at the age of 17 in 1977. At the time, a coroner determined that the cause of his death was the exhibition to the cold. His file was closed in 1978 and then reopened in 2017 by the Ontario Provincial Police.
The details of forensic pathology reveal that it is impossible to eliminate the possibility of a homicide.
This really had an impact on family generations
explains Ms. Ross.
For her part, Juliette Wemigwans paid tribute to Wanda Taylor, who died in 2010, following a violent attack.
Open in full screen
Juliette Wemigwmas gives a speech to the Bell Park in the Grand Sudbury.
Photo : Radio-Canada
It is not a day that aims to glorify the disappearance and murder of Aboriginal women and girls, there is trauma, loss, mourning
she underlines.
Need to raise awareness
Nancy Raymond, the director in equity, diversity, inclusion, accessibility and relations with indigenous peoples at the Boréal college, believes that the general population ignores statistics on violence targeted towards women, girls and people bispirituals.
According to the survey on security in public and private spaces (ESEPP) of statistics Canada published in 2022, more than 6 in 10 indigenous women underwent physical or sexual violence during their lifetime.
Indigenous people represent 25 % of homicide victims in Canada, according to a report by the Ministry of Justice of Canada, published in 2023.
If we don’t talk about it, we don’t know. So this day really increases the level of awareness
she says.
Open in full screen
Nancy Raymond thinks that the community should be made aware of violence against Aboriginal women and girls.
Photo : Radio-Canada
Daniel Prévost, one of the participants of Métis origin and Algonquine, has two family members who were victims of violence. Events like the day of the red dress are close to his heart.
It’s really a day of healing
he said.
Open in full screen
Two members of the Daniel Prévost family were victims of violence.
Photo : Radio-Canada
He intends to continue to fight the injustices that affect indigenous and metis peoples.
Janique Labelle, an artist, played the drum during the day. According to her, it would take a community effort to prevent cases of violence on indigenous women to continue to occur.
Open in full screen
Janique Labelle thinks that it is important to discuss the injustices faced by the indigenous population.
Photo : Radio-Canada
His wish is not to have to teach his 8 year old daughter How to go about protecting yourself
.
I am tanned to need to do this
she is sorry.
