Dressed in red shirts and ribbon skirts, with the smell of sage in the air, around 100 Anishinaabe-Kwe and allies walked through downtown Sudbury Friday morning to mark Red Dress Day.
The sound of drums, of singing, and of mothers, sisters and aunties giggling filled the air; a release of sorts, coming together to remember those they have lost.
Each year, May 5, Red Dress Day, is the day to remember the thousands of missing and murdered Indigenous women, girls and two-spirit people.
In Sudbury, that meant a community walk beginning from the Elm Street location of host organization N’Swakamok Native Friendship Centre, and presentations from community organizations about human trafficking.
It’s a crisis that disproportionately affects women Indigenous women and girls, and the women of Northern Ontario, with Sudbury considered a “hub.”
Autumn Lewis, organizer of the event and healing and wellness co-ordinator for the N’Swakamok Native Friendship Centre, told Sudbury.com that the choice of theme was to raise awareness of the tragedy and danger that is human trafficking.
“We're on the highway to Thunder Bay and on the highway to Toronto, which are two major big hubs,” said Lewis of Sudbury’s location. “And today about raising awareness, but also, offering and providing the knowledge and support that are available here in Sudbury.”
Prior to the walk, which took supporters dressed in red down Elm Street, up Paris Street to Tom Davies Square, along Brady Street to Elgin Street and back to the friendship centre at 110 Elm street, there were speakers from local organizations that support vulnerable people, including:
Chelsea Gauthier, the Indigenous trauma prevention and support co-ordinator with the Greater Sudbury Police Service; Tiffany Pyoli York with Sudbury and Area Victim Services; Stephanie Kehoe, the Indigenous clinician at Angels of Hope Against Human Trafficking; and three members of the outreach team at the Ontario Aboriginal HIV/AIDS Strategy (OAHAS).
“To have all these agencies come and show their support and speak on the issues, it's such a good step,” said Lewis. “And it's a great turnout.”
A young woman also spoke at the event, sharing deeply personal details to educate attendees about human trafficking. Jazlyn Bertrand told the group that as an early teen, she fell deeply into the grips of addiction, and found herself being trafficked.
“I was heavily addicted to hard drugs and alcohol for seven years, and nearly a year ago, I found myself in a house where I was trafficked for over two months,” said Bertrand.
She said that her trafficker had made arrangements to take her to Toronto, and she knew in her heart that she needed to get out. “Had I not escaped, I believe that I would have never been seen alive again, thus becoming another statistic,” Bertrand said.
The day she left, Bertrand said, she made the conscious decision to “get help and get sober.” She has now been off drugs and alcohol for 10 months, and told the crowd she has made it her mission to raise awareness of human trafficking, “For the women who are still missing and those who didn’t get a second chance,” Bertrand said.
She said that more information “about these atrocities” will help combat trafficking. “I believe educating our society will result in changes being made for all vulnerable women,” said Bertrand.
“If you or someone you know needs help, advice or guidance, you are not alone, and there are many agencies ready to assist and help keep us safe.”
You can find out more about missing and murdered Indigenous women, girls and two-spirit people by visiting the National Inquiry page, mmiwg-ffada.ca
Jenny Lamothe covers vulnerable and marginalized communities for Sudbury.com.
