Stolen Sisters - October 4th Vigil

On October 4th, 2004 Amnesty International Canada released "Stolen Sisters: A Human Rights Response to Discrimination and Violence Against Indigenous Women in Canada". The report inspects four factors which have contributed to an intensified risk of violence against Indigenous women in our cities:

1) social, economical, and political agents which have pushed Indigenous women into precarious situations such as prostitution, poverty, and homelessness
2) the failure of police to protect Indigenous women
3) the exploitation on the vulnerability of these Indigenous women
4) violence motivated by racism or belief that perpetrators will evade the law due to societal disregard to the welfare and safety of Indigenous women

Today over 582 Aboriginal women are missing or have been murdered since the 1970s in Canada.

Since the report was released every October 4th has become a day to commemorate the lives of murdered and missing Indigenous women and to bring awareness to this national tragedy. This year more than seventy communities across Canada are holding vigils. Please join the Sisters in Spirit initiative, the Native Women's Association of Canada, and Amnesty International Group 91 this October 4th and show your support. The event begins at the CBC Galleria at 4pm with art, painting, drumming, chili and bannock, and information tables. The candlelight vigil down Broad Street with start at 6:30pm.