“Change only comes from awareness.”
That was the phrase spoken to several people gathered at an Amnesty International event in Saskatoon on Tuesday night.
The theme of the event was “Protecting Indigenous Rights”, and it was put on in conjunction with Amnesty in Saskatoon as well as Iskwewuk Ewichiwitochik (Women Walking Together).
Alex Neve, Secretary General for Amnesty International Canada, was the keynote speaker and he spoke passionately on the issue of missing and murdered Aboriginal women and girls. Neve says there is hope on the issue because there has been an enormous growth of awareness on the issue of missing and murdered women over the last year.
“Change does only come from awareness, and even though there is a lot of reason to be despairing over this issue, we can take heart that we have seen an astounding growth in this awareness — not just in First Nations, Metis and Inuit communities — but in all communities in Canada,” said Neve. “That this is a very real and pressing human rights concern that is a responsibility of all of us.”
Neve says a huge factor in the growth in awareness is the courage and determination of the families of missing and murdered women. He says their stories have helped people understand the breadth of the issue.
“That it’s not just numbers and statistics, but it is real people with real stories,” said Neve. “I think at the end of the day that, probably more than anything else, has touched Canadians and built that awareness.”
Neve points to the growing number of supporters for a national inquiry into missing and murdered Indigenous women as evidence of the change that has come through awareness.
“We have every provincial and territorial premier, we have every relevant UN expert or body that has anything to do with this issue, we have the Opposition parties and we have a growing number of Canadians every day. This is significant,” said Neve. “I do believe we are at the tipping point and we need to put this issue central at the upcoming election and we can get there.”
Serena Gamble, a single mother from Beardy’s and Okemasis First Nation, says she was touched and encouraged by Neve’s message. Gamble was invited to sing a song in honour of murdered and missing Indigenous women to open and close the event. She says the ceremonial songs were for the memory of murdered and missing women.
“For me to be able to do that is just a small part I can do to honour them on behalf of the families,” said Gamble. “For me to be able to sing this song is just a very small part I can do to bring that awareness.”
Neve has been touring all over Canada speaking on human rights issues. During Tuesday’s event, he also spoke on Indigenous freedoms affected by mining operations in South America and the new anti-terror bill currently before Parliament.