Display to honour Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls

Saskatchewan Polytechnic unveils a REDress display to honour and bring awareness to Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls


April 8, 2019 – Today Sask Polytech’s Indigenous Strategy local advisory committee at Moose Jaw campus unveiled a permanent REDress display to honour Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls (MMIWG).

“Indigenous students and employees are an important part of our campus communities,” says Deanna Speidel, Indigenous Strategy coordinator. “Guided by the principles of reconciliation, Sask Polytech continues to look for opportunities to holistically integrate Indigenous ways of knowing, teaching and learning into our practices, procedures and services. This REDress display honours Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls and serves as a reminder of our commitment to reconciliation.”

The display includes two empty red dresses to symbolize the lives of MMIWG. According to certain Dakota spiritual beliefs, the colour red is sacred and is the only colour spirits can see. The spirits of the Indigenous women and girls who are no longer with us will see the dresses and know that they have not been forgotten.

The smudged display also includes a white dreamcatcher, a pouch of the four sacred medicines, an eagle feather and other items that symbolize strength, peace, love, dignity, respect and healing. The background includes the words for my mother, my grandmother, my sister, my daughter, my auntie, my niece, my cousin and my friend in Dakota, Lakota, Nakoda, Michif, Cree, Denesuline, Saulteaux, and English.

In June 2017 a set of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission reports donated by Eugene Arcand, a member of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission's Indian Residential School Survivor Committee, was put on permanent display at Saskatoon campus. Through these displays Sask Polytech is bringing attention to important Indigenous issues. Including Indigenous displays, artwork and ceremonies on our campus communities helps our Indigenous faculty, staff and students see their culture and history reflected on campus.

MMIWG

Saskatchewan Polytechnic serves students through applied learning opportunities on Treaty 4 and Treaty 6 Territories and the homeland of the Métis. Learning takes place at campuses in Moose Jaw, Prince Albert, Regina and Saskatoon and through extensive distance education opportunities. Programs serve every economic and public service sector. As a polytechnic, the organization provides the depth of learning appropriate to employer and student need, including certificate, diploma and degree programs, and apprenticeship training. Saskatchewan Polytechnic engages in applied research, drawing on faculty expertise to support innovation by employers, and providing students the opportunity to develop critical thinking skills.

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