Batchewana First Nation and Sault Ste. Marie community partners invite all community members to gather at the courthouse for the 18th annual Memorial March for Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women, Girls and Two-Spirit Persons on Friday, Feb. 14.
The event takes place at noon. Local Indigenous leaders will speak about the work being done in their communities and their commitments toward dealing with this epidemic.
Community guest speakers will also share their vision of how we can demonstrate individual and institutional commitments to continue the critical work in violence prevention, according to a news release.
Sault Ste. Marie council has further proclaimed Feb. 14 as a Memorial Day to remember MMIWG2S+ persons since 2018.
Following is the complete news release:
The 18th Annual Memorial March for Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls will be held on Friday, Feb. 14 at 12 p.m. Batchewana First Nation and Sault Ste. Marie community partners invite all community members to gather at the courthouse for the 18th annual Memorial March for Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women, Girls and Two-Spirit persons (MMIWG2S+).
People are invited to come together to listen to local Indigenous leaders speak about the work being done in their communities and their commitments towards this epidemic.
Invited community guest speakers will also share their vision of how we can demonstrate individual and institutional commitments to continue the critical work in violence prevention and intervention.
Along side of our Indigenous communities, Sault Ste. Marie City Council, working in good faith as allies, has annually proclaimed Feb. 14 as a Memorial Day to remember MMIWG2S+ persons since 2018.
The final Proclamation declares “that from Feb. 14th, 2023 onwards, the Memorial Day to remember and honour Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women, Girls, 2 Spirit and Gender Diverse Persons will continue until the right to culture, health, security and justice are realized and demonstrated through improved social indicators for Indigenous communities for as long as the sun shines, the grass grows and the rivers flow. This is an opportunity to remember that we are all Treaty People and the city’s collective commitment to stop colonialism from inflicting further wounds is important.”
Significance/Background Information:
The Memorial March originated in 1992 on Feb. 14, in Vancouver's Downtown Eastside on unceded xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish) and sel̓íl̓witulh (Tsleil-Waututh) territories. The march calls attention to the disproportionately high numbers of missing and murdered Indigenous women, including transgender women, girls, and 2 Spirit individuals.
On Feb. 6, 2025, community member volunteers tied ribbons on trees in downtown Sault Ste. Marie of four different colours that represent the four cardinal directions, reminding everyone of Anishinaabe teachings about the interconnectedness amongst different peoples, beings, stages of life, and medicines.
We encourage the public to also hang red dresses, following the Red Dress Campaign, which is aimed at remembering, honouring, and grieving those who have passed on or who have gone missing, as well as our quest for answers and an end to this violence.
This march is a time to stand in solidarity with the families whose loved ones have gone missing and been murdered across Canada and beyond. It is also a time to demand concrete actions, such as equitable funding for ongoing culture-based violence prevention programs, coordinated efforts and wrap-around services that meet the needs of Indigenous Peoples.
Come out to show your love and demand concrete action from all levels of government to eliminate systemic violence!
Gendered and colonial violence implicates all of us who live on Indigenous land and territories. Let us walk to honour those who are missing and murdered, and say that today, this violence must stop. It starts with us.
Accessibility Information:
There will be seats available for Elders at the site in front of the Courthouse. The site and the Summit are wheelchair accessible. Please dress for the weather.
Memorial Round Dance:
A round dance will also take place later that evening at the GFL from 7-10 PM. Everyone welcome.