Fredericton Red Shawl Campaign honours missing and murdered indigenous women

The second annual Red Shawl Campaign aims to raise awareness about missing and murdered indigenous women in Canada and to provide healing to families.

The Mi’kmaq-Wolastoqey Centre at the University of New Brunswick started the event to coincide with the Red Dress Project.

READ MORE: Red dress campaign looks to raise awareness about missing, murdered indigenous women

Red shawls can be seen at churches, the Fredericton Police Force headquarters and at an exhibit in the Alumni Memorial Building on campus.

UNB assistant professor in the Faculty of Education and Mi’kmaq-Wolastoquey Centre, Margaret Kress, says the red shawls are a symbol of protection.

Kress says there is an increased need for awareness and that the federal government needs to launch an inquiry for justice of aboriginal women.

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“RCMP statistics say there are more than 1,200 women that have been declared murdered or missing but the reality of the Status of Women Canada indicates that it’s up to 4,000 women that are missing or murdered across our country,” Kress said.

READ MORE: More than 1,200 missing or murdered: Bennett

Kress says there have been events held throughout the week, including panels with elders, a ballet performance and an Academic & Activist Panel.

The Mi’kmaq-Wolastoquey Centre, in collaboration with the Atlantic Ballet Theatre of Canada, worked together to create Ghosts of Violence, a ballet performance infused with aboriginal culture and symbolism of domestic violence.  The show is hosted at the Fredericton Play House.

One-hundred-and-fifty high school students from École Sainte-Anne attended a Thursday morning performance that was also open to the public.

École Sainte-Anne Vice Principal Mario Pitre says it’s a great educational experience for students to bring important issues to light.

“Perhaps it’s not something we talk about enough in school in terms of safe, respectful relationships,” he said. “The students we brought here today are at an age where it’s important to have that dialog.”

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READ MORE: Murder victim’s family highlights risks faced by aboriginal women

Staff from Gignoo Transition House were on-site at the performance to provide information and resources on their services.  The organization helps women who need support ending violence in first nation communities.

Gignoo Transition House administrative assistant and crisis intervener Chelsea Cullins says the organization offers a wide range of services to help women heal.

“We are an aboriginal transition house but we do take in all women … so if anyone has the strength to call and just get the first step – we do have an outreach worker … she can also come to where you are just for some counselling,” Cullen said. “She’s a social worker as well.”