The Indigenous Student Initiative along with the Native Student Alliance and the Aboriginal Education Centre at the University of Windsor are honouring missing and murdered Indigenous women.
A mini round dance was held at the CAW Student Centre on Thursday to mark the occasion.
The Indigenous Student Initiative, Native Student Alliance and Aboriginal Education Centre @UWindsor are holding a mini round dance honouring missing and murdered Indigenous Women. #cklw @AM800News pic.twitter.com/4vkaxfLOLG
— Rob Hindi (@rhindi800) February 14, 2019
Second year law student Stephanie Pangowish says the groups want to raise awareness and continue to educate the public on the missing and murdered Indigenous women in Canada.
She says she's an Indigenous woman.
"I face a higher likelihood of having violence committed on me than my non-Indigenous peers, this is an issue," says Pangowish. "There is systemic racism within all the institutions that are on Turtle Island and we're talking about education, health, the justice system that heighten rates of violence committed towards us."
A mini round dance was held at the CAW Student Centre to honour missing and murdered Indigenous women, February 14, 2019 (Photo by AM800's Rob Hindi)
She feels more questions need to be asked.
"What I would say is talking to your members of parliament, writing letters, identifying that this is an issue they're concerned about and voicing that," says Pangowish.
The groups say there are just under 1200 Aboriginal women homicides and unresolved disappearance between 1980 and 2012.
They also launched a red ribbon campaign on campus earlier this month.
21 ribbons were placed around campus as a symbol of empowerment, support and justice.