Stop the Silence: Artists respond to violence against Aboriginal women in Canada

Do you see how I see?

Many ghosts in the afterglow of sunset nights
Nature’s beauty lost by the loss of human rights
Daughters deserted, mothers are murdered: the women of First Nations
The afterglow is filled with all of our relations

These words begin a powerful performance written by artists Khodi Dill and Theresa Point. The video Stop the Silence is being released today as part of a new online initiative to raise awareness of violence against Indigenous women and to raise funds for a gathering of affected families and ensure that they get the supports they need in their struggle for justice.

The Embracing the Families initiative is a collaboration between Beverley Jacobs, a highly respected advocate for the rights of Indigenous women and long-time partner of Amnesty International, and Mix 3 Productions, an Aboriginal owned media company based in Vancouver.

The new website features not only the Stop the Silence video, but also a series of other performances by amazing artists lending their talents to support Embracing the Families. 100 percent of funds raised through this site will be used to organize a gathering of families of missing and murdered women.

Amnesty International is honoured to be part of this important initiative.

From the beginning of our Stolen Sisters campaign in 2004, we have believed in the central importance of working alongside the families who have lost sisters, daughters, aunts and mothers.  We remain convinced that supporting these families, listening to their voices and acting on what they tell us is an indispensable part of stopping this violence.

In the face of violence, injustice and indifference, we know that by working together, we can make a difference. There must be no more stolen sisters.

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