Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls

Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls is a subject of police investigations.

In Anishinabek News

• June 2017: Youth gathered in Ottawa in June 2017 to hold prayers regarding murdered and missing women and girls.
• March 2018: The protest at Old City Hall highlighted police apathy regarding cases where First Nations women are victims. The death of Tina Fontaine is associated with this larger systemic issue.
• March 2018: A sacred Eagle Staff was created to honor the spirits of those lost to this crisis. Family members of the victims contributed feathers to be placed on the Eagle Staff carried by John Fox.
• April 2018: A new Eagle Staff was created to honour the victims of this tragedy alongside missing and murdered Indigenous men and boys. The Timmins Traditional Pow Wow focused its 2018 theme on remembering those lost across Canada.
• September 2018: John Bobiwash carries an Eagle Staff specifically dedicated to the women and girls affected by this issue. The Candles of Tears project aims to raise awareness for those who suffered violent deaths.
• December 2018: Glen Hare noted that police misconduct undermines the efforts of communities working to find resolve for this issue.
• March 2019: A commissioner from the Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls inquiry interviewed Elaine Antone in London, Ontario, in October 2018.
• March 2019: In March 2019, Glen Hare argued that the federal budget did not sufficiently address the issue of Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls.
• September 2019: John Fox uses his personal story to advocate for justice and awareness regarding this issue. The death of Cheyenne Fox is discussed in the context of violence against Indigenous women.
• November 2019: Lily Armstrong started creating red dress pins for this cause around 2016.
• March 2020: The group was represented at the Minweyaang Round Dance by participants wearing red handprints. Activists held a presentation at a mall to raise awareness about the issue in Ontario.
• June 2020: Leaira Solomon stated in 2020 that she dances to raise awareness for Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls and to support those impacted by the crisis.
• July 2020: Isabelle Bailey painted a red hand on her face during a 2019 dance to represent the silenced voices of Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls. The color red is used to honor them because it is believed to be the only color spirits can see.
• October 2020: The Experiential Voices Project was launched in coordination with an awareness day for this cause on October 4, 2020. Indigenous women, girls, and LGBTQ2S+ individuals face higher risks of exploitation which can lead to them becoming missing or murdered.
• February 2021: The film Rustic Oracle was created to bring international awareness to this issue. Filmmaker Sonia Bonspille Boileau noted that the epidemic has become highly political over the years.
• March 2021: The Elders' Council provides spiritual and emotional support to the families of these women and girls.
• March 2021: Statistics Canada figures from 2012 to 2018 indicate that Indigenous women accounted for 27 percent of all missing or murdered women in Canada. A red dress display in Sarnia served as a visual reminder of the violence faced by these women.
• March 2021: The graphic novel Will I See? serves as an accessible window into the subject of Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls. The story uses supernatural elements to represent the spirits and ongoing presence of these women.
• July 2021: The Fort William First Nation virtual pow wow was dedicated to paying tribute to these individuals. A red dress with 365 jingles was created as a symbol of healing and remembrance for those affected by this violence.
• September 2021: Cynthia Wesley-Esquimaux facilitated more than half of the pre-inquiry discussions across Canada for this initiative.
• October 2021: This issue is one of eight primary areas of focus for the Ontario Native Women's Association as of October 2021.
• March 2022: Katrina Keech chose the Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls crisis as her platform for the 2022 Miss North Ontario Regional Canada pageant. Indigenous women are five times more likely to experience violence than other Canadians and four times more likely to be murdered than non-Indigenous female victims.
• May 2023: Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls refers to the disproportionate violence faced by Indigenous women, girls, and Two-Spirit people. Indigenous women represent less than five per cent of the population in Canada but account for 24 per cent of female homicide victims.
• May 2023: The Medicine Lines of Womanhood project was created to bring awareness to this crisis through Indigenous arts-based healing. A commemorative exhibition for the movement opened on the National Day of Awareness on May 5, 2023.
• July 2023: Jagmeet Singh noted that people at the Fort William First Nation pow wow expressed concern over the lack of action on this issue.
• December 2023: Natasha Fisher created talking videos about this subject to share information on social media.
• May 2024: Advocate Nevaeh Pine began speaking publicly about this issue at the age of 12. An episode of Warrior Up! focuses on community efforts to bring awareness and education to this injustice.
• June 2024: Sarah Lewis uses her platform to address the over-representation of Indigenous people experiencing violence and the issue of missing and murdered women. The Miss Indigenous Canada pageant provides a space for contestants to challenge the statistics associated with this issue.
• June 2025: Artist Natasha Fisher uses her social media platform and music to advocate for awareness regarding this crisis.
• May 2026: The group is commemorated annually on May 5, also known as Red Dress Day. A Red Dress Walk was held in Fort William First Nation to honour those lost and to advocate for the National Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls 231 Calls for Justice.
• June 2026: Daniel Bussieres stated that community-supported camera systems are a tool used by police when investigating these cases.