Hundreds gathered at Victoria's Thunderbird Park Thursday to share in a cause symbolized by a uniform: a small square of moose hide leather pinned to their chest.
It was called the Walk to End Violence – an event held May 15, in conjunction with Moose Hide Campaign Day, a day of ceremony that brings Canadians together to take a stand against violence towards women and children.
The Moose Hide Campaign was started by the Lacerte family as an effort to engage men and boys in ending gender-based violence. Since then, it has grown into a nationwide movement engaging Indigenous and non-indigenous communities.
“My heart is so full of love and of hope today,” said Raven Lacerte, co-founder and executive director of the Moose Hide Campaign.
“There are over 300,000 people that have joined us today from across Canada to take a stand against violence towards women and children.”
Together, supporters in Victoria marched, sang and drummed their way to the B.C. Legislature where several speakers took the stage to acknowledge the land, to share stories and experiences of gender-based violence, and to make a call to action.
“Being protectors is an important role, being a voice is an important role, and being together collectively is an important role,” said Bradley Dick, traditionally known as Yuxwelupton Qwal’qaxala, who opened the ceremony by sharing the meaning of Nuts’a’maat with attendees.
“It means to work with one heart and one mind together.”
Premier David Eby spoke at the event as well, expressing his thanks and admiration for a cause that has grown from humble beginnings to a nationwide movement.
“Thank you so much for marching in the rain to show your solidarity, for the right to safety of every single person in this province, and for your recognition that Indigenous women, girls and children face more of that violence than any other group of people in this province,” said Eby.
“Overall, it's the responsibility of all of us in the work of reconciliation to address the historic reasons for this – colonization, residential schools and the impact on Indigenous people in our province and in our country. Thank you for your work today.”
Following Eby, Neveah Pine, a young public speaker and advocate for missing and murdered Indigenous women, girls and two-spirited people, took to the stage – adorned in a jingle dress– to make an impassioned call for action.
“Dancing has given me a gift; it has taught me to be proud of who I am and the responsibility it carries keeps me grounded,” said Pine, who explained the jingle dress is a dress for prayer and healing and represents many Indigenous teachings.
“The Canadian justice system continues to fail Indigenous peoples of Canada, as we are over-represented in the criminal justice system and invisible when victim to injustice. Today we are coming together to stand collectively for change,” said Pine.
“If there can be any reconciliation of the past, it consists of the retelling of what happened and recognizing and challenging systemic racism and discrimination. Silence is your compliance. This is a call to action.”
Attendees were proud to be part of the event and glad to see many people in participating.
“This is my second year, and what I was really pleased to see is that it’s probably about twice as large as last year, and more people are wearing moose hides, so I hope it continues to grow,” said Dan McCarthy.
“I think it’s moving forward, it’s an act of reconciliation.”
Some attendees explained it was a great opportunity for non-indigenous people to learn about and pursue reconciliation.
“I still think there’s a lot of people who talk the talk and don’t walk the walk when it comes to reconciliation and repairing the relationship (between) Canada and traditional Indigenous communities,” said Allison Higinbotham, a schoolteacher who brought some of her students to the event.
“I’m a non-Indigenous person and I think every time I come, I learn a bit more and see how important it is for others that are maybe not as connected with the work to start to learn more.”
Despite the rain, the event was a success and closed the same way it opened as organizers and attendees took to the grass to celebrate, to sing and to dance.
