ATLOHSA calls to action: MMIWG2S
LONDON– Indigenous women, girls and Two-Spirit Peoples are sacred in our cultures, yet face disproportionate rates of sexual, gender-based and domestic violence due to a variety of systemic factors that sit at the intersections of settler-colonialism and global capitalism.
Two years ago, on June 2, the final report on Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women, Girls and Two-Spirit Peoples (MMIWG2S) was published, containing over 200 Calls to Justice rooted in the stories of thousands of survivors and family members of MMI2WG2S.
On May 5, in honour of REDress Day, Atlohsa is inviting London and surrounding communities to reflect and act on the roles and responsibilities of every government, institution, organization, business and individual, to protect Indigenous women, girls and Two-Spirit Peoples.
Métis artist Jaime Black’s REDress Project is an installation art aesthetic response to this National issue, using the red dress as a reminder of the thousands of Indigenous women who are no longer with us. However, it is also a reminder of the presence and strength of those who are. Atlohsa has recreated the REDress project in our window display, and is hosting a virtual event at 3:00 PM on May 5 to honour survivors and those no longer with us by offering an opportunity to have conversations around self-care in response to the systemic violence that affects our communities.
This systemic violence is described in the MMIWG2S Report as “acts of genocide against First Nations, Inuit and Métis women, girls, and 2SLGBTQQIA people.” The report attributes the violence depicted in the thousands of stories gathered as “empowered by colonial structures, evidenced notably by the Indian Act, the Sixties Scoop, residential schools, and breaches of human and Inuit, Métis and First Nations rights, leading directly to the current increased rates of violence, death, and suicide in Indigenous populations.”
Two years later, this reality remains unchanged. Atlohsa is dedicated to providing prevention and support to those impacted by this systemic violence through our Indigenous-led programs and services, but we believe that it is through working together that we can strengthen and support community healing, and change the systems that perpetuate this violence.
Many grassroots and local organizations continue to raise awareness and support Indigenous women, girls and Two-Spirit Peoples facing violence, and we want to express gratitude for your voices and hard work.
In partnership with My Sisters Place and N’Amerind, we are inviting you to a sharing circle on May 5 from 3 pm-5 pm. Self-care kits were provided to the first 75 people to register. There’s still time to join the circle to help keep the conversation going.
Today, we are also calling for action. Our shelter services as they exist currently do not suffice for congregate living, and will not post-pandemic. We are calling for investment into more resources and safe spaces for Indigenous women experiencing violence, and the dismantling of structures and policies that perpetuate violence against Indigenous peoples. We also call on the city, organizations and institutions doing this work to invoke harm reduction practices and continue to educate themselves on their roles and responsibilities in the Calls to Justice.
Together we can change the story of MMIWG.
Resources:
Native Women’s Association of Canada MMIWG2S Fact Sheet
Atlohsa Family Healing Services is a non-profit, charitable organization, dedicated to strengthening community through Indigenous-led programs and services that offer holistic healing and wellness. Atlohsa has been serving individuals and families across Southwestern Ontario since 1986 providing low-barrier wraparound services to community members with complex needs, including mental wellness, substance use, homelessness, domestic violence, and trauma. We specialize in providing strengths-based healing and wellness supports, utilizing trauma-informed and harm reduction approaches.
Atlohsa Family Healing Services also operates two social enterprise initiatives: Atlohsa Gifts offers unique Indigenous gifts serving individuals and corporate gift giving needs – visit AtlohsaGifts.com to learn more. The Atlohsa See Me Tour and art installation honours Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls (MMIWG) and raises awareness on the legacy of residential schools and the impacts of colonization – the Atlohsa See Me Tours are temporarily closed while we re-design the program to meet social distancing protocols. All proceeds from these social enterprise initiatives go directly to Atlohsa Family Healing Services’ essential needs and programs. For more information or to donate, visit: Atlohsa.com
Contact:
Alana Lees
Director of Development
Atlohsa Family Healing Services
343 Richmond St., London, ON N6A 3C2
T (519) 430-7582 |AtlohsaPeaceAwards.com
Email: alees@atlohsa.com
Phone: 519-430-7582