For the third year, Niagara College’s Indigenous Education department is inviting employees, students, alumni, and community members to participate in the Moose Hide Campaign.
The Moose Hide Campaign is an Indigenous-led grassroots movement to engage men and boys in ending violence towards women and children. It began in British Columbia over 10 years ago along the Highway of Tears and has since become a nationwide movement supported by both Indigenous and non-Indigenous Canadians.
NC will be hosting a drop-in event on May 17 from 10:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. to raise awareness of the Campaign and to demonstrate the College’s commitment to ending gender-based violence and violence towards children. The event is taking place in the Outdoor Classroom by the Indigenous Gardens at the Daniel J. Patterson Campus in Niagara-on-the-Lake and is open to all employees, students, alumni and the community.
NC’s Indigenous Education and Cultural Consultant Karl Dockstader encourages everyone to attend the event.
“Men are responsible to end violence against women. Period,” said Dockstader.
“Anybody can wear a pin, change their status pic, and rattle off a slogan, but can we take responsibility for our toxic masculinity, misogyny, and apathy towards a society where women – especially Indigenous women, girls, trans, and two spirited people – are at risk of violence? Come put medicine in our fire at the college and let’s chat about our role in ending this cycle of harm.”
Event schedule
Participants are welcome to gather in the Outdoor Classroom for the lighting of a sacred fire at 10:30 a.m. At 11:30 a.m., Dockstader will provide a traditional opening and introduce guest speakers Dylan Ritchie and Jeff Hill, two Indigenous men who have been working with men to end violence against women through cultural approaches.
A moose hide pin is attached to information about the campaign, which notes that the moose hide signifies the wearer’s commitment to honour, respect and protect women and children, and to work to end violence against them. Photo from NC’s 2022 Moose Hide Campaign event.
A pinning ceremony will begin around 12 p.m. when participants can take the Moose Hide pledge – a commitment to respecting and protecting women and children, support for truth and reconciliation, a willingness to reverse the harm done by residential schools, and a symbol of honouring Indigenous medicine and belonging. Those who take the pledge will receive a symbolic moose hide pin to proudly display. Participants will have the opportunity to ask questions following the ceremony and listen to a traditional closing from Dockstader. The fire will close at 1 p.m.
All are welcome to drop-in any time their schedule allows, without the expectation to attend the entire event. Light refreshments will be available.
About the speakers
Dylan Ritchie, Bear Clan from Saugeen First Nation, is a proud Ojibway who works with men and boys in Fort Erie on living a culturally, mentally, physically and spiritually healthy lifestyle. Dylan’s work centers around the importance of ceremony, healing and connection for positive outcomes. You can find Dylan on the Powwow trail in the summer with his family Woodland dancing.
Jeff Hill, Oneida Bear Clan, is a longhouse Haudenosaunee who has used his intrinsic charisma to connect with other Indigenous men and guide them back to their path to the Red Road. He has been working with First Nations people for his entire career, most recently with the Fort Erie Native Friendship Centre. Jeff is a proud dad, is family centered, loves to chat about lacrosse and current events, and is always down to share a great story.
Related initiatives
The Moose Hide Campaign event follows the College’s observance of Red Dress Day on May 5, when flags were lowered and red dresses were hung at both campuses to honour Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls and Two-Spirit People (MMIWG2S). A panel event was also hosted on May 6 featuring Jillian Isaacs, Linda John and Jackie Labonte, who shared their personal experiences and work with MMIWG2S.
