On the morning of October 4, a sacred fire will be lit to honour and remember missing and murdered Indigenous women and girls. This fire will burn in Sault Ste Marie, Ontario during the third USW National Gathering for Indigenous Steelworkers, held October 5-6 in that community. The USW National Aboriginal Committee thanks Firekeeper Mishomis and his helpers, and recognizes that the fire and the national gathering will take place on the territory of the Batchewana and Garden River First Nations.
Increasing safety and respect for Indigenous women and girls remains a critical need in Canada. A recent Statistics Canada report says that, nationally, 63 per cent of Indigenous women have experienced physical or sexual assault in their lifetime, a rate much higher than the experience of non-Indigenous women.
USW urges all governments to support steps to increase economic security and sovereignty for Indigenous nations and individuals.
As a small act of solidarity, we encourage you to take part in a vigil in your home community. Check with local women’s shelters or Indigenous people’s organizations, or google “2022 sisters in spirit vigil near me” or “2022 mmiwg vigil near me”.
In solidarity,
Marty Warren
National Director for Canada
Myles Sullivan
USW District 6 Director
Dominic Lemieux
USW District 5 Director
Scott Lunny
USW District 3 Director
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