An event to honour missing and murdered indigenous women and girls was recently held in Windsor.
It was all part of Sisters in Spirit Vigils day across the the country.
The vigils can take many forms including moments of silence, a rally or a community feast.
Beverly Jacobs, a member of Six Nations Grand River Territory and a Professor at the University of Windsor's Faculty of Law, says it's important to bring attention to the issues.
"For people just to come together and support families, because at one time there was nothing like this and none of the families felt there was any support — but now this is occurring internationally."
She says its encouraging this event now happens internationally.
"That kindness and compassion is important."
Jacobs says there is still a lot of work that has to be done.
"The system itself, so the criminal legal system itself, the Canadian political and legal system, we're still dealing with racism and systemic discrimination."
The number of SIS Vigils has grown from 11 in 2006 to 212 in 2017.
— with files from AM800's Gord Bacon