Oshawa and Canada commemorates Feb. 14 as day to honour missing and murdered Indigenous women

Valentine’s Day is usually about love but it is also a day to honour love lost and recognize the deep pain and loss experienced by Indigenous communities across the nation from the ongoing gender-based violence crisis that disproportionately targets Indigenous women and girls.

Since 1992 February 14 has been recognized as a day to remember, grieve, heal and honour the Indigenous women, girls, and gender diverse peoples who are missing or murdered; a day to take time for reflection and remembrance and commit to addressing the root causes and preventing future violence and tragedy.

Created in response to the Women’s Memorial March, first held in Vancouver 32 years ago, the Day to Honour Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women, Girls, Two-Spirit and Gender Diverse Individuals commemorates the lives of Indigenous women and girls murdered in Canada – with many of those cases never solved. The march began as a response to the murder of a Salish woman in Vancouver’s Downtown Eastside neighbourhood, it has become a significant event for Indigenous communities and their allies across Turtle Island (Canada and the USA) to raise awareness about the ongoing issue of violence against Indigenous Peoples, to demand justice, and to call for action to address this national crisis.

“We are committed to supporting initiatives that address the root causes of this crisis,” said Oshawa Mayor Dan Carter, who supports “advocating for policy changes, allocating resources for victim support services and fostering greater understanding and reconciliation” in Oshawa and Durham Region through education and awareness to prevent further violence and “ensure the safety and wellbeing” of all Indigenous people.

“On this day, let us reaffirm our unwavering support for Indigenous communities and their calls for justice, accountability and meaningful action.”

“I urge all of us all to take this opportunity to reflect. Reflect on Canada’s history, our present day relationships with Indigenous Peoples and what we can each do to work toward reconciliation and forge a better future together.”