Thousands of people around the country called out an ongoing injustice – the high rates of violence impacting Indigenous women – on May 15 as part of the annual Moose Hide Campaign Day.
This event is an opportunity for people to come together and address the extremely high rates of physical and sexual abuse that Indigenous women face, which is something that impacts 63 per cent of these individuals, according to Statistics Canada.
The University of the Fraser Valley joined the many other B.C. organizations that participated in this year's Moose Hide Campaign Day in order to try and create a safer future for the Indigenous communities.
On May 12, members of the UFV Student Union Society handed out pins on the Abbotsford campus that had messages sharing the importance of the Moose Hide Campaign initiative.
Paul Brammer, director of UFV's Indigenous affairs office Xwexwílmexwawt, explained that it is important for students to engage with such an influential program.
"The Moose Hide Campaign is a powerful reminder of the responsibility men and boys have to help end gender-based violence against women and children," Brammer said.
"For non-Indigenous people especially, the campaign and its pin symbolize our duty to support Indigenous communities in healing from the intergenerational impacts of residential schools and colonialism, in the spirit of reconciliation."
Premier David Eby was another one of the many participants in this year's Moose Hide Campaign Day, calling it a powerful force for positive change.
"Our government is proud to support the campaign as part of our ongoing work to end gender-based violence and work toward true and lasting reconciliation with Indigenous people," Eby said.
"Today, I will wear my moose hide pin and reflect on what further actions I can take as a father, as a husband and as premier, to make British Columbia a place where everyone feels safe and supported. I encourage everyone to do the same. Together, we can end the cycle of violence and create a brighter future for all."
While the Moose Hide Campaign Day only took place on May 15, the larger initiative is a year-round effort, with more information on how to participate available at moosehidecampaign.ca.
