Men march to bring awareness to Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls crisis
By Jennifer Ashawasegai
ESPANOLA – A sky looming with ominous clouds and threatening thunderstorms didn’t stop a men’s march to support awareness around Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls in Canada.
Just over 40 people participated in the march happened August 18th in Espanola and was organized by the United Urban Warrior Society. Member Isadore Pangowish challenged men to participate in the event. He said, “The reason why we ended up calling out only the men, is because over the past several months when we’ve had peaceful protests, mainly women have been with us on the front lines.”
“For me I ended up challenging First Nations Chiefs and other men because we do need to have a lot more men out there to look after our men, and more men to protect our women,” he added.
That challenge didn’t go unmet. Anishinabek Nation Deputy Grand Council Chief Glen Hare walked with the group to support awareness of this very important issue. To Hare, the issue is not just for Indigenous people. He encouraged all women to stand alongside Anishinabek. Hare said, “If some kind of fate meets their family, they ask us to stand with them.”
Jordan Pine, a 22-year-old youth from Serpent River First Nation supported the march and a call for a national public inquiry. Although he doesn’t have any children of his own, he has a sister whom he loves. “Being a young Aboriginal man, I have a sister and a niece and nephew. She gave me a lot. That right there is part of the reason why I’m here, because if I lost my sister, I don’t know what I’d do,” he said.
The number of Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls has continued to climb. According to Pangowish, that number has reached over 2,000. For just over ten years, there have been unanswered calls for a national public inquiry into the issue.
Hare is disappointed with the increasing number of missing and murdered women, and the lack of federal government movement. He said, “It’s unfortunate that this is a political issue, but it is.”
Hare also pointed out the lack of justice for Indigenous people in the dominant justice system. He said, “Right now, the justice system is not good. As an example, a restraining order is nothing. We hear far too often that a restraining order is nothing…. It’s one of many, many things that could be addressed. And it alone, doesn’t cost money to do.”
In the midst of a federal election campaign, the issue remains far from the radar of those currently in government. However, it is on the radar for the New Democratic Party. NDP Candidate for Algoma/Manitoulin/Kapuskasing, Carol Hughes attended the rally. She said it’s an important issue, and a national public inquiry is something the NDP has been onside with. Hughes said, “It’s something the NDP have been advocating for, for quite some time. And Thomas Mulcair, our party leader, is committed to calling for an inquiry within the first 100 days of forming government. It has to be done.”
For Pangowish, that length of time is too long. He said an inquiry should have already happened. He said has already let candidates in his riding know a national inquiry is taking too long. “It’s not acceptable,” he said.