The Timmins Native Friendship Centre held a vigil Thursday morning to honour missing and murdered Indigenous women and girls (MMIWG), and the LGBTQ2+ community.
About a dozen community members as well as the friendship centre’s staff and students attended the event, where they paid tribute to MMIWG, listened to a drum performance and held a minute of silence.
This week, the centre held a variety of in-person and virtual events. To raise awareness about those who have gone missing or have been murdered, the centre’s staff hung a large canvas with messages from community members and partners in front of the facility. Red ribbons were also tied to a few trees, and masks with a red handprint across the mouth were put on display.
“This is just symbolizing the unity that needs to happen in our community. We need to stand together on this issue and bring awareness together,” said Jaylin Renaud, the centre’s Aboriginal Healing and Wellness co-ordinator. “It’s happening in our community and it’s relevant here in Timmins, so I’m really happy to see all these agencies, the Timmins Police and our agency at the friendship centre, come together and send an important message.”
Wasa Nabin youth worker Alana Graham made a red jingle dress, which was also hung at the fence. She said it took her three days to make it.
“I ended up putting this together as a contribution to this campaign. Red is the (MMIWG) campaign colour. I used some teepee poles to keep it up and some cotton from a cultural resource program and ribbons from other programs,” she said.
