MMIWG National Day of Action: Red Feather Ceremony

Event Details

October 4 2019, 8:45 am – 9:40 am Free

Following the release of the Final Report of the National Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls earlier this year on June 3, 2019, Cardinal Leger Secondary School’s Red Feather Committee wants to invite the public to join our community at our Red Feather Ceremony, as we commemorate the lives of the Indigenous women and girls, which include members of the 2SLGBTQQIA community who have been harmed by systemic violence and abuse in our country.

On Friday October 4th, we will gather in solidarity, upon the traditional territory of the Anishinabek, Huron-Wendat, Haudenosaunee, Chippewa peoples and home to the Métis to remember those that we have lost, and to raise awareness about the need for all members of Canadian society and especially the federal government, to take action in addressing all 231 Calls to Justice that are highlighted in the Final Inquiry Report, as well as other challenges that go beyond those addressed in this document.

This event will be held from 8:45am to 9:40am, and will include a diverse performance by Afro-Indigenous pow-wow dancer, singer and activist, Nenookaasi, whom we also have the honour of carrying-out a traditional smudging ritual or smudge ceremony. We aim for this to be a solemn event, giving space for commemoration and reflection, and most importantly, we expect the utmost respect from those who will be attending.

The ceremony will be held outside, right across the street from the Cardinal Leger Secondary School main entrance (75 Mary St. Brampton, ON L6W 3K5) at Centennial Park.

We believe in responsible ally-ship, and with that we must continue to elevate the voices of those that we seek to assist. We are grateful for the support that we have received from Amnesty International Toronto and fellow community leaders.

Background on the Red Feather Project:

The Red Feather Project was created in 2016 by Heather Reid as a school and art-based initiative to commemorate the lives of over 1200 missing and murdered Indigenous women and girls in Canada. It was inspired by the Red Dress Project, created by Metis artist, Jaime Black. Heather Reid is a digital arts and photography instructor at Cardinal Leger Secondary School in Brampton, Ontario.

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