Today we recognize Moose Hide Campaign Day.
Indigenous peoples have had a deep and sacred connection with the natural world since time immemorial. This relationship has always included harvesting practices such as hunting, fishing, plant gathering, and berry picking. In this context, moose have always represented an important source of food and clothing for Indigenous communities and for many non-Indigenous communities.
For many generations, moose hide was used for ceremonial purposes and for making moccasins, jackets, gloves, rope, etc. It is associated with gentleness, warmth, comfort, hope, and love. The use of the moose hide for this campaign honours this sacred relationship and keeps the traditional protocols and teachings of our Elders alive.
The Moose Hide Campaign was created as a way to engage men and boys in efforts to end violence against Indigenous women and girls. As men took up the challenge to wear the moose hide and participate in ceremonial fasting events, so too did many women become involved. As a result, both the campaign and the role of women in the campaign have evolved. While the campaign still focuses on engaging men and boys, it has grown to engage all Canadians, including women and girls, in ending domestic and gender-based violence against women and children.
We know that in Canada, women have a 20% higher risk of being victimized by men, Indigenous women report experiencing spousal abuse at 3 times the rate of non-Indigenous women, transgender and gender diverse people are nearly twice as likely as cisgendered women to experience intimate partner violence in their lifetime.
We respect the dignity and gender identity of all peoples and believe all LGBTQ2S+ are sacred and we support any effort to raise awareness and bring an end to gender-based and domestic violence across all sectors of society.
- Adapted from information on the https://moosehidecampaign.ca site.
To learn more, click below for the video shown in class today.
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