Oct. 4 is recognized as Sisters in Spirit National Day of Action, a day to raise awareness and advocate for justice for Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women, Girls, and Two-Spirit, Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer, Questioning, Intersex and Asexual (MMIWG2SLGBTQQIA+) people.

To honour this important day, Niagara College will display Red Dresses across both campuses beginning Oct. 1. The Red Dress has become a symbol of remembrance for the lives lost and the families and communities impacted by the ongoing crisis of violence against MMIWG2SLGBTQQIA+ people.

This initiative is being organized by Niagara College’s Equity, Diversity and Inclusion team, in collaboration with Indigenous Education. Each Red Dress will feature a QR code, inviting the NC community to learn more about the significance of this day and the call for justice.

Community event

The St. Catharines Downtown Association will be hosting the Sisters in Spirit Walk, on Oct. 4. in honour of Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women, Girls, and Two-Spirit (MMIWG2S) people.

The day will begin with a sunrise gathering at Willowbank School of Restoration in Queenston. Walkers are asked to meet at the St. Catharines Public Library at 12:30 p.m. The walk will conclude at the Marilyn I. Walker School of Fine and Performing Arts.

Resources to support further learning

The following resources are available to help the NC community learn more about MMIWG2SLGBTQQIA+ and the ongoing work for justice:

• Reclaiming Power and Place: The Final Report of the National Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls;
• Our Sisters In Spirit: MMIWG Documentary from alumnus Nick Printup (BRTF, 2015). Printup created the film as a student in NC’s Broadcasting – Radio, Television and Film program to explore the question of calling a national public inquiry into Canada’s missing and murdered Indigenous women and girls;
• Learning Resources from the Ontario Native Women’s Association (ONWA);
• Safe Passage (an initiative of Native Women’s Association of Canada);
• Finding Dawn: a compelling documentary that explores the epidemic of missing or murdered Indigenous women in Canada;
• Missing and Murdered: The Unsolved Cases of Indigenous Women and Girls (CBC);
• A Moral Argument to Search the Landfill in Winnipeg for Murdered Indigenous Women (article on the Search the Landfill movement, posted by The Conversation, Sept. 7, 2023); and
• NC’s Libraries and Learning Centres Indigenous Education sources page.

Support is available

Learning about the experiences of MMIWG2SLGBTQQIA+ and residential school survivors can be difficult and may bring up strong emotions. Support is available to members of the NC community.

Residential School Survivor supports: a list of supports is available on the Indigenous Education website, including the National Indian Residential School Crisis Line at 1-866-925-4419.

Talk 4 Healing: Beendigen’s Talk4Healing Helpline offers help, support, and resources 24/7 to Indigenous women and their families through talk, text, and chat. Call or text 1-855-554-HEAL. Click here for the live chat.

Student supports are also available through Student Health and Counselling, including NC’s Indigenous Counsellor, who is available to support students’ mental wellness needs.

Employees are encouraged to access the Employee and Family Assistance Program.