Dear Editor:
Regarding the missing murdered Indigenous women and girls remembrance on May 5.
This is a day to reflect on many things impacting Indigenous women. Historically, many Indigenous women were married to traders, yet the traders often did not honour them as official wives nor can much of the information be found on record. Yet, at that time, these women helped facilitate trade solidifying the economy (and traders survival) as key players in the trade.
Today, there is often violence and aggression (including verbal abuse) and indifference toward Indigenous women as a key factor in why Indigenous women end up in poverty, single-parenting, lost to addictions, shunned or abandoned or isolated from their own communities. Let’s begin with raising awareness and let’s focus, in First Nations communities, on these key factors. I can name many Indigenous female leaders who are working hard to raise up and stand alongside many others and raise awareness of this campaign.
Keep the momentum strong. For those that do not fully understand the Indigenous communities and the struggles of drugs, alcohol and addictions need to understand, it’s masking an issue far bigger, and one that has been silenced for too long. Violence and aggression in its many forms toward Indigenous women and girls. End the stigma faced by too many Indigenous women.
Brenda Celesta
Simpcw First
Nation
