The City has proclaimed Oct. 4 as Sisters in Spirit Day, a day to honour the lives of Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women, Girls, and Gender Diverse people. It is an opportunity to support families who have lost a loved one and help create a safe space for understanding and healing.

Violence against Indigenous women, girls, and gender diverse people continues to be disproportionately high in Canada. We encourage residents to use Sisters in Spirit Day to help raise public awareness about how past and current trauma from racism, cultural genocide, and gender-based violence continues to impact First Nations, Metis and Inuit communities.

You can participate by attending the local Sisters in Spirit Vigil hosted by Timmins Native Friendship Centre on October 4 at 11:00 a.m. from their location on Kirby Ave. You can also light a candle and place it in a window of your home or reach out to local Indigenous agencies and ask how they are taking action to help bring an end to violence and, more importantly, how you can help.

Indigenous women, girls and gender diverse people have the right to be safe and free from violence. To learn more, visit the National Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls. The Native Women’s Association of Canada is also a great resource on how to create meaningful moments of dialogue and reflection that support Indigenous women, girls, and gender diverse people.