Our community’s advocates come together on Oct. 4
Emphasizing the need for healing and awareness the National Day of Action for MMIWG2S+ event at the Gaynor Family Regional Library last week showcased the many people in our community that won’t let the missing and murdered be forgotten.
The event was called Ziibaaska’iganan Ga Gii Ge Shimoon or Jingle Dress Healing Dance and in addition to the dancing featured healing drums, a sacred fire, and discussions about the ways in which we as a community need to both heal and do more so that fewer people join the list of murdered and missing Indigenous women, girls and two-spirit people which is already too long.
The event started with Fire Keeper or Scabe Grey Wolf who explained the meaning behind the scared fire and how to offer tobacco to the fire.
“My job is to be sure that this is taken care of properly. So, nobody gets hurt as we walk out of here. As we see what goes on, we want to understand. As a Scabe, we do a lot of work to make sure that this line of work is our traditional way of life. A lot of this was taken away from us and we’re fighting that back to get our spirit back,” said Wolf.
Tammy Wolfe, co-chair of the MB MMIW2S+ Coalition then explained that Oct. 4 is both the provincial day of awareness and education and the National Day of Action for missing and murdered Indigenous women, girls, two-spirit, and gender-diverse people before the opening prayer.
Jaime Grasby provided the opening prayer explaining that by coming together today the memory of our ancestors will not be forgotten.
Grasby then explained that tobacco was the first medicine given to the First Nations people by the Creator and the significance of tobacco ties as part of prayer and ceremony. Participants were then given the chance to offer tobacco ties to the sacred fire.
Wolfe then spoke about her story of her mother’s death 20 years ago and how that loss has affected her entire life and will continue to affect her future.
Jocelyn White, the granddaughter of the creator of the jingle dress dance Maggie White, then led the way from the scared fire to the amphitheatre shaped sculptural mural, Manidoonsag Imaa Mikinaako-Minisiing Sacred Spirits Of Turtle Island where the rest of the ceremony took place.
Jeannie White Bird co-chair of the MB MMIW2S+ Coalition welcomed the group and thanked them for taking part in this ceremony. She then explained how the Manidoonsag Imaa Mikinaako-Minisiing Sacred Spirits Of Turtle Island came together and some of the many teachings that have been incorporated into it in order to honour MMIW2S+ people who have been lost in a way that acknowledges their loss as well as ways that healing takes place in our local Indigenous culture.
After her teaching, she asked that White be given the space to dance on her own around the circle of the amphitheatre as the jingle dress dance originated as a healing dance.
Lorie Fiddler, representing the City of Selkirk then said a few words. “Over the decades, there’s been such a national tragedy. I think all of these events really lend to making a difference and taking action. Seeing everybody here today, it sheds a light, and it tells us we want justice, we want action, we want closure, and we want it to stop.”
Speaker Courtney Bear then spoke about her direct experience of her family losing her aunt Kimberly Clarke to violence. She spoke of the trauma of that experience and how it affects not just their past but that the grief is now part of their lives.
“The grief and the sorrow have affected my family. It has everlasting effects,” said Bear.
She emphasized that there is a lack of support for the families of the MMIWG2S+ community.
“I have questions that are still unanswered. How is that possible? We as a family have been re-victimized and had to deal with all that,” she said.
She went on to explain that aspects of the justice system such as parole hearings bring all of the grief back and that support for the families is greatly lacking.
“What about our victims? What about our families? What about our healing plans? What about the support?” said Bear.
Attendees then participated in a friendship round dance before returning to the library for some kookum’s blend tea from Three6Tea.
The event ended with a walk from the library to the Selkirk Friendship Centre where a meal was shared.
Record Photos by Katelyn Boulanger
