Day of Action to raise awareness about murdered and missing Indigenous women

Oct. 4 is the National Day of Action for missing and murdered Indigenous women, girls and gender diverse people.

Organizers of the Sisters in Spirit Walk of Hope at the Gillies Lake Conservation Area on Friday in Timmins wanted to draw attention to the epidemic.

They said Indigenous women and girls are affected by human trafficking and are murdered at a higher rate than those who are non-Indigenous.

Natasha Martin, the deputy grand chief of Mushkegowuk Council, said the issue is real to her. A year has gone by since she lost her 21-year-old cousin, and the family still doesn’t know who took her life.

"I wear the shirt very proudly – 'Justice for Loni,'" said Martin.

"She was hit by a vehicle. It was a hit-and-run in Moose Factory, Moose Factory Island."

Martin said the Day of Action is an opportunity to reflect on those they’ve lost and to call for more support in the community.

"Our police services are so exhausted right now, and it's just like and I think that's where a lot of support is needed to our police officers to that system because that's where it's most needed, I think, right now to solve different cases,” said Martin.

The Sisters in Spirit Walk of Hope brought people together at Gillies Lake Conservation Area in Timmins on Friday to learn more about the Ontario Native Women’s Association 13 calls to Action it wants included in the 2021 Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women, Girls, and 2SLGBTQQIA+ People National Action Plan. (Lydia Chubak/CTV News Northern Ontario)

"It's important for the families, for people to know what happened in their families and that they are still continuing to search for their loved ones and they are still seeking justice for their loved ones who have been murdered and it's important that that message gets out there," said Alice Sackaney, cultural resource worker at the Timmins Native Friendship Centre.

"When that message is out there, I believe that, you know, the community can come together and help protect the Indigenous population."

In the meantime, the Ontario Native Women’s Association continues to advocate for change and awaits its 13 recommendations to be included in the 2021 Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women, Girls, and 2SLGBTQQIA+ People National Action Plan to ensure Indigenous women are at the centre of the plan.

It also encourages the public to get informed.

"People can educate themselves on the impacts of colonialism, on Indigenous people, and how it continues today and continues to impact us," said Chaylan Uiselt, youth education support worker for the Ontario Native Women’s Association.

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"Taking the time themselves to look into it is honestly, that's a huge step in and of itself."

Uiselt hopes the Walk of Hope event will help create a higher level of awareness in Timmins regarding the violence Indigenous women experience in the city.

One participant acknowledged the City of Timmis for naming a road in memory of Bernadette Sutherland from Fort Albany, who was murdered in Timmins in 1986.

Mike Metatawabin said it is the least a community can do to show how people can work together.