Thunder Bay, ON – The Ontario Native Women’s Association (ONWA) invites families and communities across the province to attend our Sisters in Spirit Vigil on October 4th 2022. This initiative is held to support, and honour the stories, experiences, and lives of Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls (MMIWG).
This year, ONWA will be joined by special guest, National Chief Roseanne Archibald who will share words and reflection to honour the lives of survivors, murdered and missing Indigenous women and girls, and the loved ones of those who have been murdered or have gone missing. There will be an activity for in-person participants to take home or partake in onsite of planting a “Forget-me-not” flower. A small lunch will be available on a first come first serve basis.
Join ONWA in-person at ONWA Thunder Bay (380 Ray Blvd.) from 11:00 AM to1:30 PM EST on Tuesday, October 4, 2022, or participate virtually from 12:00 PM -1:30 PM EST via Zoom, by registering here: https://bit.ly/3Ci17Vd The Vigil will educate those in attendance regarding the high levels of violence against Indigenous women and girls in Canada and will help to provide healing for families who have experienced loss due to gendered violence.
The Sisters in Spirit Vigil will feature:
11:00 PM: lunch/Tea - “Forget-Me-Not” Activity (in-person only)
12:00 PM: Opening prayer and smudge - Elder Edna Wigwas
12:05 PM: Opening Passwewe Ikewug Drum Group
12:10 PM: Welcome/Land Acknowledgement
Michele Solomon, Manager of Community Development & Emcee
Tannis Kastern, Councillor, Fort William First Nation
Michele Solomon on behalf of Mel Hardy, North Superior Deputy Grand Council Chief
12:40 PM: Sisters in Spirit Initiative - Keynote address – Cora McGuire-Cyrette, Executive Director, ONWA
Special guest - RoseAnne Archibald, National Chief Assembly of First
Nations
1:00 PM: Anne McGuire Honouring Our Loved Ones
1:15 PM: Minute of silence for missing and murdered Indigenous women
4 strikes of drum to signal the end of the silence
Offering of tobacco ties & Spirit dish
1:25 PM: Closing song- Passwewe Ikewug Drum Group Drum Group
1:30 PM: Closing Prayer - Elder Edna Wigwas
ONWA also invites you to learn more about Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls by Visiting the ONWA MMIWG webpage which hosts resources, videos, and reports: https://www.onwa.ca/learning-resources-mmiwg
Reading the ONWA Report “Reconciliation with Indigenous Women- Changing the Story of Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls” https://www.onwa.ca/reports
If you or a family member have been impacted and require emotional support, contact the 24-Hour Talk4Healing helpline at 1-855-554-HEAL (4325)
For more information:
Monique DesRosiers
Ontario Native Women’s Association (ONWA)
Email: mdesrosiers@onwa.ca
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