The Sisters In Spirit Campaign is a national research project that has been researching missing and murdered aboriginal women across Canada. This research has been done in order to shed light on the fact that Aboriginal women continue to be targets of hatred and violence based on their gender and their race. They continue to be objectified, disrespected, dishonoured, ignored and killed, often with impunity. The Yukon Aboriginal Women's Council alongside with the Whitehorse Aboriginal Women's Circle and The Women's Directorate has initiated their own Yukon research project specifically looking at missing and murdered Aboriginal women.
The 5th annual Sisters in Spirit Vigil will take place on October 4, 2010.� Since 2004, October 4th has been designated as a day where we honour the lives of missing and murdered Aboriginal women and girls across Canada.� Over the last 5 years we have had many inspiring and moving speakers, but this year on October 4th, we would like to incorporate a youth speaker.
In order to generate some possible candidates we are holding a youth writing competition, and are asking secondary teachers across the territory to possibly introduce the research project and present their students with information about the competition.
We are looking for content expressing why it is important to respect and honour the women in our lives and communities. We are asking that submissions be ANY written form of expression such as; a poem, a song or a speech, and must be no longer than two to three minutes in length.
We know that this is a busy time of year for teachers and in no way do we want to impose on your already busy schedules, but we do feel it is important to give our youth a voice on this matter.
Submissions can be sent via e-mail, fax or postage and must be received by no later than September 24th.
Yukon Aboriginal Women's Council
Suite 202-307 Jarvis Street
Whitehorse, Yukon, Y1A 2H3
Fax: 867-667-7539
For more information, please contact Michelle Beckley at 456-6541
More information here.
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