GUELPH — Mike Schreiner released the following statement to recognise the annual Women’s Memorial March, commemorating the lives of missing and murdered Indigenous women and girls.
“The Women’s Memorial March honours the lives of missing and murdered Indigenous women and girls across Turtle Island, and offers us an opportunity to come together and demand action against systemic violence in our communities.
Since 1992, when the first march was held in Vancouver’s Downtown Eastside, it has been a day to grieve, to remember, and to highlight the traumatic and wide-ranging impacts of violence against Indigenous women and girls – on their families, loved ones and communities.
We know the root causes of violence against Indigenous women, girls and 2SLGBTQQIA people. They are systemic and deeply embedded in our society: racism, colonialism, poverty, lack of social services and the enduring harms of Canada’s residential schools.
We come together to mourn. But we also must hold ourselves and our government leaders accountable and demand stronger action to prevent violence and build stronger, safer communities.
I encourage everyone to attend a march if they’re able to, and to familiarize themselves with the 231 Calls for Justice from the National Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls.
These calls set out the legal pathway to redress the generations of violence and trauma faced by Indigenous women, girls and 2SLGBTQQIA people and lay the foundation for meaningful, permanent change.”