(Ottawa, ON) May 5, 2023 – The Legacy of Hope Foundation (LHF) commemorates the National Day of Awareness for Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women, Girls, and Two-Spirit People (MMIWG2S). Today, and everyday, it is important to remember the Indigenous women, girls, and Two-Spirit people who have been lost to or experienced violence, as well as the families of victims and Survivors.

The MMIWG2S crisis and gender-based violence against Indigenous women, girls, and Two-Spirit people is a national crisis, and must be treated as such. Indigenous women have been systematically discriminated against since First Contact, resulting in the violence that continues today. The LHF stands with victims, Survivors, and their families today and everyday, and encourages Canadians to bear witness and stand with Indigenous communities to address this crisis. The LHF Waniskhatan exhibition explores the MMIWG2S crisis and is free to host for those who would like to learn more about this important issue. The LHF is also currently developing an exhibition about gender-based violence against Indigenous women, girls, and Two-Spirit people and how this violence can be addressed. Please reach out to the LHF Exhibitions team to learn more about these projects at exhibitions@legacyofhope.ca.

The LHF is a national, Indigenous-led, charitable organization that has been working to promote healing and Reconciliation in Canada for over 23 years. The LHF’s goal is to educate and raise awareness about the history and existing intergenerational impacts of the Residential and Day School Systems and the Child Welfare System on Indigenous (First Nations, Inuit, and Métis) Survivors, their descendants, and their communities to promote hope and healing in Canada. 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 and to foster Reconciliation.

The LHF has more than 25 educational exhibitions that promote awareness of Indigenous history that are free to borrow and is working on making exhibitions available online. LHF also has curriculum for K-12 and for adults, along with Activity Guides, Workshops and Training, and Podcasts all aimed at educating Canadians about Indigenous history and the shared history of Residential and Day Schools, the Sixties Scoop, etc. The LHF works to develop empathy and understanding so as to eliminate racism against Indigenous Peoples.