Photo: Tony Seed
The Council of Canadians Sudbury chapter participated in a Sisters in Spirit march yesterday calling for a national inquiry into missing and murdered Indigenous women.
The Sudbury Star reports, “The calls for a national inquiry into the deaths and disappearance of more than 1,000 First Nation women across Canada grew a little louder Friday, thanks to a Sisters in Spirit march by more than 75 people in Greater Sudbury’s downtown core. …Crystal Kimewon, who served as emcee for the event, …said it’s wrong for Prime Minister Stephen Harper to say that cases of missing and murdered aboriginal women are individual acts of crime and not a social problem, so no national inquiry is needed. …Andre Clement of the Sudbury chapter of the Council of Canadians said Ottawa needs to order a national inquiry.”
The article adds, “The Greater Sudbury march is one of more than 80 being held across Canada this weekend, the majority set for Sunday. This is the awareness walk’s seventh year nationally. …Not only do the vigils and marches support the families involved, but they also provide opportunities for grieving and act as vehicles for social change, according to organizers.”
The Native Women’s Association of Canada, which organizes the Sisters in Spirit vigils, notes, “October 4th is dedicated to honouring the lives of missing and murdered Indigenous women and girls and to support families who have been tragically touched by the loss of a loved one to violence. Vigils take many forms: a rally, a candlelight vigil, a workshop, a moment of silence, a walk, or a gathering of people to share memories and a meal. Together, the October SIS vigils have become a movement for social change and a reminder that our sisters will not be forgotten.”
For a complete listing of the vigils this year, please click here.
Over the past 30 years, 1,026 Indigenous women have been murdered and 160 are missing. The Council of Canadians supports the call that an inquiry is needed to understand the root causes of this situation and to develop a national action plan. We have repeatedly asked the Harper government to support a national inquiry into missing and murdered Indigenous women.
Further reading
Chiefs of Ontario launch “Who Is She” campaign (September 2015 blog)
