Niomi St. Paul dances at Riverside Veterans' Memorial Park in this 2019 file photo to celebrate National Indigenous Peoples Day. Medicine Hat College will be hosting its second annual day of awareness for missing and murdered Indigenous people on May 5.--NEWS FILE PHOTO
asmith@medicinehatnews.com
Medicine Hat College has announced its intent to host a National Day of Awareness for Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women, Girls and Two-Spirit People on May 5.
In partnership with several community organizations, this the second annual event surrounding this day, the college says in a press release. It will feature an Indigenous prayer, a one-kilometre awareness walk, a guest speaker and an honour song.
“We need allies to help be a voice for Indigenous people as we can’t do this alone,” says Chasity Cairns, manager of Indigenous engagement and student support at MHC. “Becoming involved helps show to the families that have been impacted that they are not alone, and their loved ones aren’t forgotten.”
The day began as Red Dress Day in 2010, but has since expanded to bring awareness to all the women, girls, two-spirit people and men who have gone missing or been murdered.
“When we have big events like these it brings our community together in the spirit of the cause, which can make a tragic event a place for connection and healing,” adds Cairns. “This year, we also wanted to focus on how impacted families can find support in Medicine Hat so we will be having booths at the event for individuals that need support or want to know more.”
The goal of the event is primarily to raise awareness, said Cairns, but also to help empower local groups in order to hopefully see some change.
“Basically, what’s happening is Canada’s Indigenous people are trying to create awareness, because there’s families that have been impacted by this. And nobody is doing anything,” said Cairns.
She added that many of the statistics that were initially shared on the topic have not significantly improved since information was first released.
“There are students that have been impacted, who have family members who are missing or murdered, even in Medicine Hat,” said Cairns. “So, when we think of that, what impact does that have on our community?”
With these extended partnerships, the college hopes to bring the Indigenous organizations and non-Indigenous allies together for the day, to create conversations that will ultimately create support networks for those impacted.
Attendees will be encouraged to wear red for the event, which will take place on campus from on campus from 2-4 p.m.
