FEBRUARY 14 2010 'Valentines Day' in the Downtown Eastside (DTES) Canada's 'poorest postal code.'
December 2008. Aboriginal Women's Action Network
'The United Nations Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW) has called on Canada to set up an inquiry into the reasons for the failure of law enforcement agencies to investigate promptly the cases of missing and murdered Aboriginal women. Carrie Humchitt, President of the Aboriginal Women’s Action Network, said “The CEDAW Committee has clearly recognized the urgency and gravity of the documented disappearances and murders of over 511 Aboriginal women and girls from communities in Canada. It is important to everyone to examine why Canadian officials failed to protect these women, or investigate promptly. This is a human rights issue of central importance in Canada,” said Humchitt, “and one that needs the immediate attention on the facts and solutions that the UN Committee is calling for.”
In British Columbia over the last twenty years, dozens of Aboriginal women and girls have gone missing from the Downtown Eastside of Vancouver, and along the Highway of Tears which runs between Prince George and Prince Rupert. Many of these missing women and girls have been found murdered. “Aboriginal women and girls have been treated by violent men, and by authorities, as though their safety and their lives do not matter. Bringing the facts into the light is essential if Canada is to fulfill its commitment to treating Aboriginal women and girls as human beings of equal dignity and worth,” said Jackie Lynne, a Board member of AWAN.'
Amnesty International completed a report on the situation in 2004 Stolen Sisters: A Human Rights Response to discrimination and violence against Indigenous Women in Canada (October, 2004)
Audio and Video from the 2010 MARCH, with family members, Shawn A-in-chut Atleo National Chief of the Assembly of First Nations, Mayor Gregor Robertson, and Federal MP Libby Davies, echoing the calls of many groups for a provincial and/or federal inquiry. Something groups like AWAN and Native Women's Association of Canada have been calling for, for years.
In related news a Tent City was set up February 15 2010 to draw attention to homelessness at 58 East Hastings St, a site of previous housing, torn down, slated for redevelopment, which later stalled, and the site is currently parking for VANOC. 'No more empty talk, no more empty lots'. Check out a Cath Turner report on Al Jazeera with Stella August and Joan Morelli of Power of Women at the Downtown Eastside Women Centre
Xtrawest reports 'City Councilor Ellen Woodsworth began a seven-day hunger strike this week in support of housing the city's homeless. She is one of many local volunteers who have held the iconic wooden spoon in the 2010 Hunger Strike Relay। The relay began in December 2008 and will continue until June, when supporters from across the country will call on the federal government to reestablish a National Housing Program in Canada. Despite her hunger strike, Woodsworth is spending time this week at various city intersections handing out Valentine's Day cards that people can sign and send to their MP or to Prime Minister Stephen Harper in support of the bill.'
women do not die
peacefully
when murdered
deprived of life
livelihood
they do not lie
with vacant eyes
and angel expressions
like you see
on the tv shows
women fight
are beaten down
women yell
are silenced
women scream
are suffocated
women do not die
calmly
but in pain
in fear
and in anger
WOMEN
FIGHT
TO
LIVE
(2003)
TO WOMEN'S MEMORIES: PEACE. KIA PAI MARIE. NAMASTE.
19th ANNUAL WOMEN'S MEMORIAL MARCH, REMEMBERING WOMEN 14 FEBRUARY 2010Women who are missing, were murdered, died from drugs or poverty, the majority First Nations = died from the violence, and effects of colonialism, cultural genocide and racism. The Womens' Memorial March takes place every February 14, stopping at places where women died, or were last seen. The DTES is a couple blocks from several Winter Olympic 2010 Venues, VANOC tried to have the 19th Annual Womens' Memorial March canceled; delayed until after the Olympics; rerouted. They were unsuccessful.
December 2008. Aboriginal Women's Action Network
'The United Nations Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW) has called on Canada to set up an inquiry into the reasons for the failure of law enforcement agencies to investigate promptly the cases of missing and murdered Aboriginal women. Carrie Humchitt, President of the Aboriginal Women’s Action Network, said “The CEDAW Committee has clearly recognized the urgency and gravity of the documented disappearances and murders of over 511 Aboriginal women and girls from communities in Canada. It is important to everyone to examine why Canadian officials failed to protect these women, or investigate promptly. This is a human rights issue of central importance in Canada,” said Humchitt, “and one that needs the immediate attention on the facts and solutions that the UN Committee is calling for.”
In British Columbia over the last twenty years, dozens of Aboriginal women and girls have gone missing from the Downtown Eastside of Vancouver, and along the Highway of Tears which runs between Prince George and Prince Rupert. Many of these missing women and girls have been found murdered. “Aboriginal women and girls have been treated by violent men, and by authorities, as though their safety and their lives do not matter. Bringing the facts into the light is essential if Canada is to fulfill its commitment to treating Aboriginal women and girls as human beings of equal dignity and worth,” said Jackie Lynne, a Board member of AWAN.'
Amnesty International completed a report on the situation in 2004 Stolen Sisters: A Human Rights Response to discrimination and violence against Indigenous Women in Canada (October, 2004)
Audio and Video from the 2010 MARCH, with family members, Shawn A-in-chut Atleo National Chief of the Assembly of First Nations, Mayor Gregor Robertson, and Federal MP Libby Davies, echoing the calls of many groups for a provincial and/or federal inquiry. Something groups like AWAN and Native Women's Association of Canada have been calling for, for years.
In related news a Tent City was set up February 15 2010 to draw attention to homelessness at 58 East Hastings St, a site of previous housing, torn down, slated for redevelopment, which later stalled, and the site is currently parking for VANOC. 'No more empty talk, no more empty lots'. Check out a Cath Turner report on Al Jazeera with Stella August and Joan Morelli of Power of Women at the Downtown Eastside Women Centre
Xtrawest reports 'City Councilor Ellen Woodsworth began a seven-day hunger strike this week in support of housing the city's homeless. She is one of many local volunteers who have held the iconic wooden spoon in the 2010 Hunger Strike Relay। The relay began in December 2008 and will continue until June, when supporters from across the country will call on the federal government to reestablish a National Housing Program in Canada. Despite her hunger strike, Woodsworth is spending time this week at various city intersections handing out Valentine's Day cards that people can sign and send to their MP or to Prime Minister Stephen Harper in support of the bill.'
women do not die
peacefully
when murdered
deprived of life
livelihood
they do not lie
with vacant eyes
and angel expressions
like you see
on the tv shows
women fight
are beaten down
women yell
are silenced
women scream
are suffocated
women do not die
calmly
but in pain
in fear
and in anger
WOMEN
FIGHT
TO
LIVE
(2003)
TO WOMEN'S MEMORIES: PEACE. KIA PAI MARIE. NAMASTE.
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