Event encouraged solidarity with people impacted by crisis of missing and murdered Indigenous women, girls, two-spirit people

GUELPH – It could be described as a haunting display.

Red dresses – approximately 40 of them – hanging from the trees in Royal City Park in the dying light of Oct. 4 as part of the Sisters in Spirit event.

The installation represented the lives of missing and murdered Indigenous women, girls and Two-spirit people (MMIWG2S+).

The event was held by Guelph Wellington Women in Crisis (GWWIC) to offer an opportunity for reflection on the impacts of gender-based violence, which impacts Indigenous people at a disproportionately higher rate, as well as for remembrance and healing.

“I know that people come to Sisters in Spirit events for all kinds of reasons,” GWWIC public educator Cindy McMann told a small crowd of some 35 people gathered in the park for the informal event.

She acknowledged that some in attendance might be grieving loved ones, and noted some may want to voice injustice or engage in advocacy.

According to GWWIC’s website, Indigenous women represent about four per cent of Canadian women, but represented 24% of all female homicide victims between 2015 and 2020.

The same stat was quoted by local social justice advocate Kween, who also spoke at the event.

She drew a link between gender-based violence and traumatic brain injuries, and highlighted the importance of standing together with Indigenous women to ensure their stories don’t get neglected.

“We must work in solidarity to dismantle the systems that put us at risk,” said Kween, who identified herself as a Black settler.

“Our pain might be different, but in its details, our roots are very [much] the same.”

She led the group through some meditative breathing exercises, before encouraging them again to make the commitment to stand beside those who are impacted by the MMIWG2S+ crisis.

She asked the crowd to recognize three key Rs as they embarked on their meditative walk along the trail lined with red dresses: “We remember, we resist and we rise – together.”