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Written by Sxwpilemaat Siyam, aka Chief Leanne Joe (she/her)
Following closely after Red Dress will be the Moose Hide Campaign Day on Thursday May 11th, 2023. The campaign is an Indigenous-led grassroots movement of men, boys and all Canadians - standing up to end violence against women and children. Participants are asked to wear moose hide pins. The pin is your commitment to honour, respect and protect the women and children in your life, work to end gender-based violence and take action towards reconciliation with Indigenous peoples.
We hope you will take these opportunities to show your support, grow your knowledge, and help build a world dedicated to eliminating violence and achieving reconciliation.
Moosehide is Medicine
“Each moosehide pin sparks 5 conversations. Moose Hide Pins shine a light into the shadows of a devastating social illness impacting all Canadians”. (https://moosehidecampaign.ca/pins/)
RIGHT NOW, IN CANADA, THE UNACCEPTABLE IS STILL HAPPENING. VIOLENCE AFFECTS TOO MANY OF OUR MOTHERS, SISTERS, WIVES, DAUGHTERS AND FRIENDS. THIS IS SOMETHING THAT IS COMPLETELY PREVENTABLE.
The Moose Hide Campaign recognizes that all forms of violence are unacceptable, regardless of gender. We see the disproportionate number of women who are victims and the importance of engaging men and boys in addressing this issue. We also know that “shame and blame” isn’t the answer.
Did you know?
Every year there are over 60,000 physical or sexual assaults against women in BC – more than 1,000 per week.
One in three women will be sexually assaulted in her lifetime (Stats Canada, 2006).
In 2014 there was a daily average of 7,969 women and children staying in shelters across Canada because it was not safe at home (Statistics Canada).
There were 1,181 cases of missing or murdered Aboriginal women in Canada between 1980 and 2012, according to the RCMP, with BC recording more than any other province (Native Women’s Association of Canada, 2010). However, according to grassroots organizations the number is much higher, closer to 4,000
Domestic violence is preventable.
Half of all women in Canada have experienced at least one incident of physical or sexual violence since the age of 16.
Spousal violence of Indigenous women is three times higher than non-Indigenous women.
A woman or girl is murdered every two and a half days in Canada.
Indigenous women are killed at six times the rate of non-Indigenous women.
The heart of the Moose Hide Campaign is the pin – a small square of moose hide that we offer as a medicine for a social illness impacting all Canadians – namely domestic and gender-based violence against women and children, and particularly indigenous women and children – and it acts as a symbol of solidarity in standing up against violence towards women and children in Canada.
Co-founders Raven and Paul Lacerte were inspired to start the Moose Hide Campaign on an annual moose-hunt eleven years ago. The hunt took place on their traditional territory along the Highway of Tears in British Columbia, where so many Indigenous women were murdered or went missing.
Wearing the moose hide pin signifies a commitment to honour, respect and protect the women and children in your life and speak out against gender-based and domestic violence. The pin is a symbol of connection, concern and solidarity.
“Many Canadians don’t know how to take the first step towards ending this kind of violence, and towards healing and reconciliation,” said Dominic Paul, the campaign’s National Ambassador who is also responsible for overseeing the pin production.
“The small, humble piece of moose hide is a concrete way to spark conversations and build personal and collective commitment and capacity to address this critical issue.” You can order your Moosehide pin from their website, they are free, but please make a donation to this amazing space and the work of Paul, his daughters and their team. Remember even though you may not have your pin for May 11th, 2023, still wear it all year long as it will spark a conversation along your journey. Share this knowledge with your friends, family, children, colleagues, throughout your network and even those you don’t know yet. This crisis state doesn’t resolve itself on this day, it requires us to be aware all the time.
Take Action against Gender based violence. Check out what you can do alongside this years Moosehide campaign to be in allyship and solidarity for their continued tireless efforts: https://moosehidecampaign.ca/campaignday/