Remembering and Centering Indigenous Women, Girls, Two-Spirit and Transpeople

Image from the The REDress Project, an installation conceived by Winnipeg artist Jaime Black

This story contains material that may be disturbing to some individuals. Readers will find supports and resources listed at the end of this article. 

Rebecca Contois, Morgan Harris, Marcedes Myran, and an unknown woman, now named Mashkode Bizhiki’ikwe (Buffalo Woman), were all Indigenous women. They were people who deserved a beautiful life free from violence. Rebecca Contois, Morgan Harris, Marcedes Myran, and Mashkode Bizhiki’ikwe were taken too soon through the alleged violent crimes of Jeremy Skibicki. Skibicki has been charged with first-degree murder in all four deaths. 

News outlets have called this news “shocking.” However, that Indigenous women, girls and two-spirit, trans, and genderful folk continue to be at the centre of colonial violence in the settler state of Canada is not “shocking” to Indigenous communities; our ancestors and Nations have been at the centre of violent and genocidal policies and actions for more than a century. Gendered violence, forced sterilizations, institutionalization in and deaths at Indian Residential Schools, Indian sanitoria, and psychiatric institutions; failed treaty promises on the part of Canada and the outright theft of Land; starvation policies on the Plains; and forced relocations are a part of Canada’s history. 

But what about the contemporary context? Settler colonialism is ongoing in Canada. Indigenous Peoples on these occupied Lands are subjected to systemic racism, ongoing Indian Act legislation, underfunded on-reserve education, and are both disproportionately the victims of violent crime but also overrepresented in Canada’s federal prison system. What does it say when Winnipeg policing bodies refuse to search a landfill, where they believe the remains of Indigenous women are located? This is a clear indicator that our lives, as Indigenous Peoples, continue to be less worthy of human dignity; that the remains of Indigenous women do not have the right to  proper ceremonies; and that our communities and Nations should not be granted the opportunity to mourn and heal. If these women were white and settler Canadian, how would the narrative and actions of the state be different? 

In 2019, the National Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls said that “no one knows an exact number of missing and murdered Indigenous women, girls and 2SLGBTQQIA people in Canada.” That continues to be the case. Too many deaths have come before Rebecca Contois, Morgan Harris, Marcedes Myran, and Mashkode Bizhiki’ikwe.

I urge everyone, especially our leaders, to thoroughly and regularly visit and revisit the Report and Calls for Justice. Our lives and safety as Indigenous Peoples is critical as we pick up the work of our ancestors and rebuild our languages, cultures, and sovereign Nations.

For the Arts and broader university community, if you are feeling especially vulnerable or affected, please reach out. You are not alone in feeling this way.

If you need to speak with someone by phone: 

• ACCESS 24/7: 780-424-2424, ext 2
• Kids Help Phone:1-800-668-6868
• Canadian Mental Health Association (CMHA) Edmonton 24-Hour Distress Line: 780-482-4357(HELP)
• The 24-hour National Indian Residential School Crisis Line is  set up to provide support to former residential school students: 1-866-925-4419
• The Hope for Wellness Help Line offers immediate help to all Indigenous peoples across Canada:1-855-242-3310
• Residential School Survivors Helpline: 1-800-721-0066
• Abuse Helpline: 1-855-443-5722 for information on supports related to physical, sexual, emotional and mental abuse or  exploitation or neglect. Help is available 24/7 in multiple languages
• Child Abuse Hotline: 1-800-387-KIDS (5437) to get help if you, or children you know, are being neglected, abused or sexually exploited. If you believe a child is at risk, you must report it. Help is available in multiple languages.
• Sexual Violence One Line: Call or text 1-866-403-8000 from 9 am to 9 pm daily for confidential support
• Trans Lifeline: 1-877-330-6366. This is a non-profit hotline dedicated to the well-being of transgender people.
• You can also reach out to First Peoples’ House to visit with an Elder in residence.To inquire, email fph@ualberta.ca

Or contact the Indigenous Student Engagement and Recruitment specialist, Jackie Bellerose at Arts Undergrad Student Services (jbellerose@ualberta.ca) who can help you find resources available to you. She is available to all Indigenous Arts students. 

Suggestions for self-care:

Call an Elder, be kind to yourself, walk and exercise, visit the Land, smudge, meditate, pray, sing, sew, drum, dance, be creative, spend time with loved ones, laugh, cry, talk, sleep, rest, nourish your body with foods, ask for help, seek spiritual support, seek counselling. 

Dr. Crystal Gail Fraser (she, her, hers) is an Assistant Professor in the Department of History, Classics & Religion, Faculty of Arts and the Faculty of Native Studies. Crystal is Gwichyà Gwich’in, originally from Inuvik, Northwest Territories, Treaty 11 territory. She is the Special Advisor to the Dean of Arts on Indigenous Initiatives.