Legacy of Hope Foundation hosting Winnipeg Regional Sessions for the Waniskahtan Project on Missing, Murdered, Indigenous Women, and 2SLGBTQ+

(Ottawa, ON) May 7, 2020 – The Legacy of Hope Foundation (LHF) is pleased to announce that it has held its sixth and seventh final regional group session for the Waniskahtan Project, which was held through two online virtual sessions, due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. The first sessions took place on Tuesday, May 5, 2020 the day that has been chosen as the National Day of Awareness for Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls, which began in the United States but now the day is also observed in many places in Canada.

Our second session was held all afternoon on Thursday, May 7, 2020, and will consist of participants from the Winnipeg region. The project seeks to honour the lives and legacies of Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls (MMIWG) and 2SLGBTQ+ individuals, to stop the instances of violence and to promote peace.

The goal of these sessions was to gather feedback from families across Canada who have lost loved ones through violence and to help us create an exhibition that will educate the public on the racism, sexism and violence against Indigenous women, girls and 2SLGBTQ+ individuals. “It is unfortunate that we will not be traveling directly to Indigenous communities to meet face-to-face, but we are grateful to still be able to talk with families affected by missing and murdered Indigenous women, girls and 2SLGBTQ+ individuals by having these virtual sessions, and by having them share their views about the development of the exhibition, to raise awareness of the discrimination and marginalization experienced, and to identify solutions to address these issues,” stated LHF Executive Director and In-House Legal Counsel, Teresa Edwards.

Individuals who are not able to make it to the sessions can still participate by getting us their feedback by filling out the “Ways to Participate Form” that can be found here

The end product will result in a travelling exhibition, Waniskahtan and accompanying Activity Guide on MMIWG and 2SLGBTQ+ individuals to honour the lives lost, increase awareness of the issues that put them at risk, address male violence, and promote actions to protect everyone. This includes encouraging exhibition viewers to make a personal commitment to stand up against violence and promote peace. Waniskahtan, is Swampy Cree and means “wake up.” Once completed, this exhibition will be added to the 19 LHF exhibitions that circulate across Canada to continue to educate and inspire positive action.

The LHF is a national Indigenous charitable organization whose purposes are to educate, raise awareness and understanding of the impacts of Residential Schools, the Sixties Scoop, Day Schools and the intergenerational harms caused to First Nations, Inuit, and Métis by colonial acts of oppression. LHF aims to support the ongoing healing process of Survivors and their families and to work with Canadians to address racism and discrimination in order to address injustices and to promote equality for all and to foster Reconciliation.

For media inquiries:
Teresa Edwards, B.A. JD.
Executive Director and In-House Legal Counsel
Legacy of Hope Foundation
Phone:  613-237-4806 Ext. 303 info@legacyofhope.ca