Two-day event honours murdered, missing Indigenous women

The Indigenous Women’s Anti-Violence Task Force (IWAVTF) is hosting Honouring Our Sisters, a gathering at Quattro Hotel & Conference Centre in Sault Ste. Marie that is bringing together parents, families, agencies and organizations impacted by missing and murdered Indigenous women. 

The two-day event began with a sunrise ceremony Tuesday morning. 

“This gathering is for you - to heal, to continue on our path to mino-bmaadiziwin [the good life],” said IWAVTF member Lauren Doxtater during opening remarks. 

The gathering will provide a number of traditional-based teachings in addition to information on the national inquiry into MMIWG (Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls).

“It’s a very full agenda,” said IWAVTF member Jennifer Syrette, who serves as executive director for Nimkii-Naabkawagan Family Crisis Shelter in Batchewana First Nation. “We’ve reached out to different knowledge keepers and elders, and those in the community that have knowledge to be able to work with people that have been impacted.” 

Organizers say that event is primarily for families and parents who want to heal through the sharing of their stories, as well as providing training and awareness for people who work with women and vulnerable people. 

“I think it’s all about learning, it’s about connecting and it’s about seeing where we can work together to create change,” Syrette said. 

The Honouring Our Sisters gathering was made possible by an application for funding that was submitted to the national inquiry into MMIWG by Missanabie Cree First Nation. 

More information on the event can be found at the Honouring Our Sisters Facebook event page.