Share
October 4, 2018
On October 4, Unifor asks it members and allies to stand in solidarity with Indigenous families and communities to honour the lives of missing and murdered Indigenous women and girls whose lives have been cut short by violence. Countless families and communities have been devastated by this national tragedy.
The pain of loss and of justice denied echoes through our history, our present and will echo into our future if we fail to act. Unifor is committed to working towards reconciliation with Indigenous people and creating a more equitable, inclusive union that celebrates and support First Nations, Inuit and Métis members.
Vigils are being held across the country this year, and concerned citizens and Indigenous community members will gather together to draw attention to this crisis and demand action from all levels of government to stop the violence.
In Winnipeg, members will participate in events, including a vigil, in a show of solidarity and support on Manitoba’s official day to honour missing and murdered Indigenous women and girls.
Members are encouraged to attend vigils that are organized from coast to coast to coast. The Native Women’s Association of Canada compiled this list of vigils to remember our stolen sisters.
In order to more wholly address the systemic violence that is perpetuated against Indigenous women and girls, local unions should directly support Indigenous organizers and members who are taking action to build community and preserve cultures, language, and tradition.
Through our unions, we can build spaces for Indigenous workers to self-organize, make real change, and become more deeply involved in their union.
Locals can display their commitment to challenging the systemic violence that continues to target Indigenous women and girls by printing the, “Justice. Awareness. Respect.” poster and sharing the image online at unifor.org/awoc.
Download this statement as PDF
Download the poster as PDF
