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Honouring Our Sisters The Red Shawl Campaign

Author: Communications

Posted on Oct 5, 2015

Category: UNB Fredericton

During the month of October, the Mi’kmaq-Wolastoqey Centre at UNB will host The Red Shawl Campaign to bring awareness to the issue of missing and murdered indigenous women of Canada.

Campus events begin on Oct. 7 with the opening of the Red Shawl Exhibit at UNB's Alumni Memorial Building and end with a public presentation of the REDress Art Instillation by Métis artist Jaime Black on Oct. 26th. All events are free and open to the public.

The Mi’kmaq-Wolastoqey Centre joins all Sisters in Spirit collaborators to bring attention to the plight of Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women in Canada, and to honour these women and their families.

During the month of October, community and university members, students and faculty will work together to provide hope and healing for kinships and to reclaim justice for these women. We encourage everyone to participate in the actions that take place in the greater Fredericton area throughout October.

The Red Shawl is a symbol of protection; this is what a young girl earns in her footsteps to becoming a woman. When adult women wear shawls, as grandmothers, mothers, sisters and aunties, they embrace the gift of healing.

Supporters who wish to contribute to the Red Shawl exhibit or the campaign are asked to call the Mi’kmaq-Wolastoqey Centre.

All attending the Memorial Vigil or the Healing Walk are encouraged to wear red to signify their support of the women and their kinships. Community and university members wishing to volunteer during these actions may also call the centre.

For more information contact Shelley Chase.

The Red Shawl Campaign events

Sunday, Oct. 4: Sisters in Spirit Walk

  • St. Mary’s First Nation - 6 pm
  • Kingsclear First Nation - 7 pm
  • Maliseet Nation at Tobique - TBA

Wednesday, Oct. 7: Opening of the Red Shawl Exhibit

  • UNB Alumni Memorial Building
  • 9 am – 4 pm Wednesday, Oct. 7
  • 12 pm – 9 pm Thursday, Oct. 8
  • 9 am – 4 pm Friday, Oct. 9

Wednesday, Oct. 7: Red Shawl Memorial Vigil

  • Government House, Fredericton - 5 pm

Thursday, Oct. 8: Red Shawl Film Screening - Highway of Tears Community Gathering and Conversational Tea

  • UNB Alumni Memorial Building 6:30 pm

Friday, Oct. 9: Red Shawl Healing Walk

  • Walkers gather at Legislative Assembly 12 pm
  • Ceremony, prayer, speeches, walk and blessing at St. Dunstan's Roman Catholic Church.

Monday, Oct. 26: Public Presentation of REDress Art Instillation by Métis artist Jaime Black.

  • UNB Marshall d'Avray Hall Room 356 - 12 pm

Wednesdays in Oct.: Ringing of the Bells: Church communities will ring bells for ten minutes every Wednesday during the month of October.

  • Northside - 11 am
  • Southside - 5 pm
  • Begins Wednesday, Oct. 7, and continues on October 14, 21, 28. Noon prayers on Oct. 28 will honour our Sisters.

Media contact: Claire Geldart

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