The Manitoba legislature has voted unanimously to establish October 4 as an official day to honour missing and murdered Indigenous women.
Bill 221, which passed on May 25, was put forth by NDP MLA Nahanni Fontaine. The bill makes Manitoba the first province with an official day recognizing missing and murdered Indigenous women, who number at least 1,200 across Canada since 1980.
“I say meegwetch (Cree for “thank you”) to all members of the assembly who supported Bill 221 to honour Manitoba’s missing and murdered indigenous women and girls and their families,” Fontaine said in a press release. “The families have long fought to draw attention to the crisis of violence against Indigenous women and girls.
“An official day will bring greater recognition of the crisis of violence against indigenous women and girls. It is one small step toward honouring those whose lives were tragically lost. And it recognizes the deep and ongoing anguish felt by the surviving family members of these women and girls.”
