‘Connecting is healing,’ says organizer of Ottawa MMIWG2S+ vigil

About 50 people showed up on an overcast Friday morning for a vigil in Ottawa’s Annie Pootoogook Park. Large dark rain clouds loomed on the horizon; Inuktitut songs belted out from a lone speaker.

The vigil was ahead of the May 5 National Day of Awareness for Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls and Two-Spirit-plus people. Also known as Red Dress Day, the national observance is on Monday this year.

In 2016, Canada launched an inquiry into missing and murdered Indigenous women and girls as awareness grew about the prevalence of violence against Indigenous women.

Organizers from Tungasuvvingat Inuit, a non-profit that supports urban Inuit, had hoped for a bigger turnout Friday, but some stayed away because of the possibility of rain.

It didn’t rain, but the wind was steady.

Elder Jeanie Okalik had trouble lighting the qulliq to open the vigil, said organizer Meaghan Bannerman, a violence against women counsellor and advocate.

“Because of the wind, it wasn’t an even flame. And she shared that if it’s not an even flame, it’s not making the heart happy,” Bannerman said. “So she said a prayer.”

“I think it’s important for us to do one [vigil] specifically for Inuit to come together and just create a space where we can honour missing and murdered Indigenous women and girls and two-spirit-plus people,” said Eleanor Partridge, communications manager for Tungasuvvingat Inuit.

Vigil organizer Meaghan Bannerman says the day is about healing through connection, but also about connecting with the broader public which may not know about the prevalence of violence against Indigenous women. (Photo by Jorge Antunes)

Tara Arnatsiaq-Barnes, an Inuk woman originally from Iqaluit, said a day like this is important “because people of colour and LGBTQ are impacted by this.”

“I’m raising kids,” said the mother of two girls and a boy. They were in school so they couldn’t attend, but Arnatsiaq-Barnes has brought them to the annual vigil in the past.

“I think even for boys it is important. Living in the city, [we] have to teach our kids to be safe,” she said.

“I think it’s been really a good [day]. I wish it was sunnier, but I think it’s fitting for the topic,” she added.

Volunteer Norma Ventura said it was important for her because both of her aunts were murdered. Her family is originally from El Salvador.

“I sympathize with the [Inuit] community and realize the importance of raising awareness,” she said. “This is very important. It is something I hold near and dear as an ally to the community.

“[I] recognize the grief and the pain and the trauma that this day brings, so it’s always important for me to be able to be here and show my support.”

When organizers with Tungasuvvingat Inuit envisioned what the day would be like, they wanted to make sure “there’s a space for community to be connected, connection is healing,” Bannerman said.

The vigil was attended by people other than members of Ottawa’s Inuit community. Some walked by and stopped to have conversations with staff.

“That’s kind of the main thing. These events are honouring those voices that have been stolen, and remembering those who have survived,” Bannerman said.

But they are also to engage others in conversations about missing and murdered Indigenous women and girls and other marginalized people.

Bannerman said “something as simple as a five-minute conversation” can be the “seed to be planted in someone who maybe might not know about these things.

“Even if we can plant a seed for some people to take those conversations and carry it elsewhere, I think that that’s what’s important.”