Friday, February 13, 2015

Friday Feb. 13th 


Grassroots across Canada are organizing direct actions in unison to show this government what we can do when we work together. 1187 missing and murdered indigenous women that PM Harper says “is not on their radar” due to economic reasons and we continue to see indigenous women assaulted and disappear without any meaningful investigation. Through a diversity of tactics there will be direct actions in cities across Canada. ‪#‎ShutDownCanada‬ is for the people to stand and exercise the right to protest and take direct action. Shutting down Canada by targeting the Canadian economy is the only way to get this government's attention. This is not to target everyday workers but to make a statement that cannot be ignored by a government that prioritizes corporate profits over people.
- We demand an independent inquiry into the murdered and missing indigenous women ‪#‎mmiw‬ to shed light on the systemic racism and structural violence inherent to government institutions of Canada. Make no mistake that attacks on indigenous women are attacks on indigenous communities which is directly connected to the colonial agenda to maintain control of the land and natural resources. That is why we must call attention to these issues at the same time - the tars sands, the pipelines, fracking, mining, mega-dam projects and the #MMIW -- it's all connected.
- We demand that Bill C-51 be dismissed. Now, more than ever we need to take a stand and stop this government from passing legislation that can effectively label anyone a terrorist. We are not terrorists for standing up to protect our mother earth or fellow human beings under systemic attack.
- We demand that Bill C-38 and Bill C-45 be repealed. Namely, we demand that government restore environmental regulations and protect our drinking water from the private sector. We won’t stand for a government that passes omnibus bills without any public consultation. Environmental issues have been a top priority for most Canadians whether you are against pipelines, open pit mining or any other destructive industry. The government is using propaganda to brainwash school children into working for resource extractive industries and also working hard to make the average Canadian believe that a resource based economy is the only way neglecting the multitude of green jobs that could be created.

*February 14th, 10th Annual Strawberry Ceremony for Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women, Girls, Trans and Two Spirit People and those who have died Violent Deaths



 WHAT: Gathering at Toronto Police Headquarters


WHEN: Saturday Feb 14th at 12:30 pm

WHERE: 50 College Street


Since we gathered last year on this date, there has been unprecedented media and public attention on missing and murdered Indigenous women.
However the violence continues and Indigenous women are still going missing, facing violence, and being murdered.
This is our 10th annual Strawberry Ceremony and it has been 2 years since the stories of three Indigenous women who passed away under violent and suspicious circumstances in Toronto have become known.


*Cheyenne Fox* was 20 and a mother when she fell from the 24th floor of a condo in April 2013.

*Terra Gardner* was killed by a train only a few weeks later and *Bella Laboucan-McLean* fell from the 31st floor of a downtown condo in July of the same year.

We honour these women and seek justice for the many women, Two-Spirit people and their families and communities whose stories have not been in the media.

We stand behind the families who advocate for justice in all its forms.