ISAN – Oxford’s MMIWG2S+ memorial calls for more action

(Left to right) Pandora Beausoleil, Charlie-Jo Smith, Rebecca Neepan, and Patricia Marshal-DeSutter drummed and sang some songs towards the end of the MMIWG2S+ memorial at Museum Square on May 5. (Emily Stewart Photo)

Emily Stewart, Echo Correspondent

About 25 people gathered at Museum Square as red dresses in nearby trees blew in the wind to honour Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women, Girls and Two-Spirit+ (MMIWG2S+).

Indigenous Solidarity and Awareness Network (ISAN) – Oxford held its annual MMIWG2S+ memorial at Museum Square on May 5. The memorial included a speech from ISAN – Oxford founder/director Patricia Marshal-Desutter, drumming, and a walk of solidarity among the red dresses displayed throughout the square. ISAN-Oxford also had opportunities for guests to make prayer bags in honour of women who experienced intimate partner violence (IPV), write letters to parliament demanding the 231 calls to action in the MMIWG2S+ are met, and for youth to make memorial crafts.

"As we remember, we must also commit. Our presence here must be more than solemn remembrance. It must be a promise - a promise to the spirits of missing and murdered and exploited, to the survivors, to the families, and to future generations that we'll not stand idly by,” said Marshal-DeSutter. “Here in Oxford County, through the work of ISAN - Oxford and other committed allies, we strive towards this change, but it requires all of us. We must demand action."

She read statistics highlighting the violence faced by Indigenous women, girls, and Two-Spirit individuals. In Canada, Indigenous women make up 50 per cent of all human trafficking victims in the country. Indigenous women in Canada are also 12 times more likely to be murdered and 16 times more likely to go missing than non-Indigenous women.

There are seven out of 10 Indigenous women who report experiencing IPV and half of all Indigenous women report experiencing sexual violence in their lives. Seventy-three per cent of Two-Spirit people face violence, in addition to transphobia and homophobia.

"These are not just numbers. Each statistic represents a sacred life, a future stolen, a family shattered, a community wounded,” Marshal-Desutter said.

Just three people attended the MMIWG2S+ memorial in 2024. Marshal-Desutter said that they were impressed with the turnout for 2025.

“I'm really grateful that the awareness is spreading and I have seen that a lot of the people who are here are in positions of power in their industries so I'm really hoping that they take away some information and act in their roles, perspectively, and in their personal lives because it's not just about the 9 to 5 action that we could take. It's about the 5 to 9 action we could take too,” she added.

The memorial occurred after the Woodstock City Council officially proclaimed May 5 as the National Day of Awareness for MMIWG2S+, also known as Red Dress Day, during their May 1 meeting.