Regional Chair Bradley’s statement on Red Dress Day
Regional Chair Jim Bradley offered the following statement for Red Dress Day, the National Day of Awareness for Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls:
"On behalf of Niagara Regional Council, I want to invite everyone to reflect on the ongoing national tragedy of Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women, Girls and 2SLGBTQQIA+ people across the country. On Red Dress Day, we mourn these senseless acts of violence that occur all too frequently in Canada and pledge that we will continue to work towards meaningful progress.
It goes without saying that Indigenous women, girls and 2SLGBTQQIA+ people are entitled to a safe community in which to live, work and raise families. Thanks to years of tenacious activism from survivors, and the families of victims, there is now a much better understanding of the dramatically disproportionate amount of violence that is experienced by Indigenous individuals across the nation and the root causes.
Armed with this clarity, it is obvious that systemic, substantial and transformative change is required if we are going to see meaningful progress in Canada. There is much more work to be done to end violence against Indigenous women, girls and 2SLGBTQQIA+ people and the Niagara Region is committed to doing its part.
Today, I encourage everyone to wear red to honour all the lives lost and those whose lives have been forever changed by violence. But it cannot stop there - it will take all of us working together to help end this epidemic of senseless violence against Indigenous women, girls and 2SLGBTQQIA+ people."
Media Inquiries
Daryl Barnhart
Niagara Region
289-969-3441
daryl.barnhart@niagararegion.ca
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