TRU councillors have been hosting “Stolen Sister Gatherings” to support students and faculty amidst the crisis of missing and murdered Indigenous women.
According to the Government of Canada, Indigenous women face a far greater risk of violence and homicide, with the rate of homicide being six times higher than that of non-Indigenous women in 2022. In 2014, the RCMP reported more than 1,200 missing and murdered Indigenous women between the years 1980 and 2012. This topic has only recently become a subject of discussion within the mass media, despite Indigenous communities’ numerous calls to action that have been continuously ignored by the federal government.
In a collaborative process, TRU’s Indigenous Student Services, Indigenous Education, Sexualized Violence Prevention and Response and Counselling and Wellness Centre have been holding a support group for an open discussion on missing and murdered Indigenous women and girls.
The gatherings began with a weekly Indigenous wellness circle held on Wednesdays in House 5. During one of the circles, the topic of missing and murdered Indigenous women came up. Many students wanted more support with the subject, so a regular group dedicated to the issue was created. Organizing the group was a careful, collaborative process involving TRU councillors, students and a Secwépemc elder to determine how to make the gatherings safe and supportive.
The National Inquiry’s Final Report delivers 231 Calls for Justice that are directed at governments, institutions and industries across Canada. These detail changes that should occur to resolve the challenges Indigenous communities face. These cover topics such as the rights to culture, health and security. According to the Government of Canada, “The National Inquiry’s 231 Calls for Justice offer a powerful vision to end violence against Indigenous women, girls, Two Spirit and lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer and intersex (2SLGBTQI+) people, inspiring action across governments and partners.”
Each gathering lasts two hours, beginning with a free 45-minute lunch. According to TRU councillor Andrea Brassard, who helps organize each gathering, “We start with lunch because it’s grounding, it’s connecting and it’s safety-building.”
After lunch, the group moves to a table in the meeting room. The Calls for Justice are divided into 18 parts, each several pages long. Each session delves into one part and discusses how to enact it. Participants are encouraged to share what about the calls resonated with them and what significance they hold for them and their communities.
During the first gathering, each person had the opportunity to name the missing and murdered Indigenous women in their own lives, an experience that is far too common in the Indigenous community. Brassard, who is French, Ukrainian and Métis-Cree, shared the importance of the discussion.
“Sheley-Anne Bacsu was my neighbour, and she disappeared at 16 years old just before I turned two. I’ve always lived in the shadow of that fear… When we started the conversation, it became more apparent how real that is for most Indigenous people,” Brassard said.
Although the gatherings cover deeply personal and uncomfortable topics, the group is grounded in safety and trust. According to Brassard, the meetings provide a space to build community and reclaim a voice.
“This was an opportunity to act on something that’s always been important to me, but there’s always been this holding it at a distance. I think because of the magnitude of it, because of how big and powerful and scary it can be, or at least in my mind’s eye… The process itself has already taken that fear away, and what’s coming in its place is a sense of reclaiming power,” Brassard said.
There is space at each gathering for 14 people, and it is open to students, faculty or individuals who value a supportive learning environment. The meetings take place in the OLARA building on the second floor. The group plans to have two more meetings this semester, one this month and another in April.