(Ottawa, ON) June 1, 2021 – The Legacy of Hope Foundation (LHF) is pleased to announce the completion of the Waniskahtan- Honouring ­ the Lives and Legacies of Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls and LGBTQ2S+ project. ­ This Exhibition is designed to educate and create greater awareness about the high rates of missing and murdered Indigenous women and girls (MMIWG), and lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, and 2-Spirit, Plus (LGBTQ2S+), in order to commemorate them and to prevent future occurrences of violence.

­The Exhibition was launched virtually in the spring of 2021 and is the only exhibition available in Canada that provides an overview of this issue making links to the Residential School System and the ongoing impacts, including addressing sexualized and racialized violence.

The LHF gratefully acknowledges and thanks the many families and friends of the Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls and LGBTQ2S+  and their support people, the Elders and health support workers who participated in regional in-person and virtual regional sessions held across Canada in the following locations: Ottawa Ontario, Miramichi New Brunswick, Kahnawake Quebec, Thunder Bay Ontario, Terrace British Columbia, with two virtual sessions held for the Manitoba region to provide their input into the design, development, and content of this Exhibition and Activity Guide. It is their vision, words, insight, art work, and personal life experience that has shaped this thought-provoking exhibition.

The LHF would like to especially acknowledge the Waniskahtan project Elder, Irene Compton, for her guidance, prayers, beautiful songs, as well as for sharing her drum, and for her knowledge and use of medicines when needed to give us all strength. Chi-meegwetch Irene.

The Legacy of Hope Foundation would also like to acknowledge and thank the Waniskahtan Project Advisory Committee for their guidance and support, their many tireless efforts and for their outstanding performance in organizing the regional sessions. This volunteer Project Advisory Committee was comprised of Indigenous (First Nations, Inuit, and Métis) individuals who are family members of MMIWG and LGBTQ2S+ or are a regional advocate of MMIWG and LGBTQ2S+, and are Residential School Survivors and/or are Intergenerational Survivors.

The Committee members were:

• Sarah Ward (New Brunswick)
• Sherry Condo (Quebec)
• Sharon Johnson (Ontario)
• Gladys Radek (British Columbia)
• Jackie Traverse (Manitoba)
• Sandra Delaronde (Manitoba)

The Waniskahtan project was funded by the Government of Canada, Department for Women and Gender Equality (WAGE), Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls Commemoration Fund, and in part, by the Legacy of Hope Foundation. The LHF would also like to acknowledge the following contributors to this project: Rip Jones, designer from Ladedo Visual Concepts Inc.: Sunniva Geuer and her Team, designer from Bouw Design Agency; Julie Bourbeau, translator from Julie Bourbeau Translation Services; and Lewis Barnaby, President and Principal Consultant from Apoqon Consulting for their incredible work and support.

If you would like to borrow this exhibition, or any of our exhibitions from our collection, please email info@legacyofhope.ca.

The Legacy of Hope Foundation (LHF) is a national, Indigenous-led, charitable organization that has been working to promote healing and Reconciliation for 20 years. The LHF’s goal is to educate and raise awareness about the history and existing impacts of the Residential and Day School System, Sixties Scoop, and other colonial acts of oppression on generations of Indigenous (First Nations, Inuit, and Métis) Survivors, their descendants, and their communities in order to promote healing and to address racism. The LHF works to encourage people to address discrimination and injustice in order to contribute to the equity, dignity, and respectful treatment of Indigenous Peoples.

The LHF is working on making its exhibitions available on line. LHF also has curriculum from K-12 and for adults, along with Activity Guides, and Workshops aimed at educating Canadians about Indigenous history and the shared history of Residential and Day Schools, the Sixties Scoop, and other colonial acts of oppression. To donate, or for more information about the LHF, please visit the website at www.legacyofhope.ca. LHF Charitable number is 863471520RR0001.

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

Adam North Peigan, Board President
Legacy of Hope Foundation
Email: anorthpeigan@legacyofhope.ca Tel: 780-935-9827