Marking the plight of the missing and murdered

Craig Bakay | Aug 30, 2019

It wasn’t an organized thing, but several Silver Lake Powwow attendees decided to join in the MMIW (Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women) issue by displaying red hands across their mouths this weekend. They were joined by grandmothers displaying ‘grandmothers’ tears,’ again in red paint.

“It’s about honouring those we’ve lost and it’s also a very subtle form of protest,” said Sharp, who agreed to act as spokesperson for those participating. “Red is the colour of life and life has been stolen from them (the missing and murdered indigenous women).”

The concept is simple. The hand over the mouth signifies how voices have been silenced when it comes to this issue.

“Indigenous women are still disposable in today’s society,” Sharp said. “When an indigenous woman goes missing, the first question people ask is ‘was she involved in the sex trade?’

“When a white woman goes missing, search efforts are organized and you hear about what a good person and good mother she was.”

Sharp said it’s not just showing up at powwows. Indeed, a Google search for MMIW face paint images shows how many athletes and others are taking up the cause as well.

“It’s not just women,” Sharp said. “It may be mostly women but there are men and two-spirit folks as well.

“People are doing it all over Turtle Island.”

She said she worked with a woman who had her name tattooed on her back “for when and if it happens.

“It still happens.”

“We need to get rid of the violence and I want to help as best I can,” said grandmother Francine Desjardins. “Get the young people to have a better take on life.

“If we could just tear down all the marketing (ways women are portrayed), that would be awesome.”