Our Daughters and our Mothers: The Tragedy of the Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls

Our Daughters and our Mothers: The Tragedy of the Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls

In 2014, a report prepared by the RCMP stated that 1,181 Indigenous women were murdered or went missing between 1980 -2012. During the same period, Indigenous women and girls, who make up only 4% of the female population in Canada represented 16% of all female homicides. In response to advocacy from the Indigenous community, the government of Canada, in 2015, established a National Inquiry to shed light on this tragedy, and to understand examine and report on the systemic causes of all forms of violence against Indigenous women and girls. The mandate of the Commission is drawing to an end, but the work must continue. Our speakers today will talk about the work of the commission and what it means to all Canadians and to the national projects of healing and reconciliation.

When: December 5, 2018, 1 pm EST
Where: Online, via WebEx

Thank you to everyone who participated in this webinar. The recording can be accessed via this link:

View Webinar

Featuring

Hilda Anderson-Pyrz

Hilda Anderson-Pyrz is a member of the Nisichawayasihk Cree Nation and is well known for her advocacy work on ending violence for Indigenous women and girls. For the past 17 years she has been a grassroots advocate and has worked hard on educating the public of the collective responsibility on ending this National Tragedy of Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls (MMIWG).

Hilda is currently employed as the Manager for Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls Liaison Unit with the Manitoba Keewatinowi Okimakanak Inc, a political advocacy organization that represents 27 northern Manitoba First Nations. She is also co-chair of the Manitoba MMIWG Coalition consisting of political organizations, service providers, and MMIWG family members and survivors.

Hilda has been personally impacted by the National Tragedy of MMIWG and has found healing through her advocacy work. She is very dedicated and passionate on creating a better tomorrow for Indigenous women and girls, and firmly believes we are all part of the solution on ending violence against Indigenous women and girls.
Sandra DeLaronde, MA LT

Sandra DeLaronde, MA LT
Transformational Human and Organizational Specialist

Informed by the teachings of the ancestors, Sandra works to connect the present and the past to assist individuals and communities design their future from the strengths and resilience.

She has a lifetime of activism in women and Indigenous Leadership and currently serves as Co-Chair of the Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls Coalition of Manitoba(MMIWG-MB).

Her life work is about re-creating Indigenous women’s sovereignty in how we live in our bodies and how we live in the world.
Len Rudner (moderator)

Len Rudner is Principal at Len Rudner & Associates, a consultancy focusing on community advocacy, diversity & inclusion and human rights. He is the former Director of Community Relations and Outreach for the Centre for Israel and Jewish Affairs (CIJA).

Prior to working with CIJA Len was employed in successive roles with Canadian Jewish Congress, acting as Ontario Regional Director, National Director of Community Relations and Ontario Director of Community Relations. He has represented the position of the Jewish community on a variety of issues including antisemitism, discrimination in the workplace, reasonable accommodation and Holocaust denial. He has represented CIJA and CJC at international conferences focusing on Holocaust education, antisemitism, hate speech and freedom of speech.