Mississauga mourns with Indigenous community on national day of awareness

By May 2, 2025May 5th, 2025Announcement

City half-masts Every Child Matters flag to honour those who have been lost and call for action against violence.

May 2, 2025

May 5 is the National Day of Awareness for Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women, Girls and Two-Spirit People (MMIWG2S) – a time for reflection and action in Canada. The day aims to recognize and raise awareness about the tragic rate of violence and abuse that Indigenous women, girls and two-spirit people face in Canada.The 2015 Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada’s Calls to Action report identified 94 steps to address the damaging impact of residential schools in Canada. One of these steps, Call to Action #41, focuses on the issue of disproportionate violence against Indigenous women and girls, and proposes the creation of a public inquiry into this crisis, which remains an urgent matter of concern.

As a City, Mississauga honours the lives of missing and murdered Indigenous women, girls and gender diverse people, while recognizing the grief shared by their families, friends and communities. On May 5, the City will recognize these tragic moments in Canada’s Indigenous history, by:

The community is encouraged to show their support and raise awareness of MMIWG2S by wearing red, joining the conversation online, viewing the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada’s report and other related material. Additional information and resources can be found on the City’s webpage.

“We stand solid in our commitment to the families who are still impacted by these horrific crimes and to bring awareness and education to the public. We can’t change the past, but we can certainly change the future for Indigenous women, girls and 2SLGBTQI+ individuals who have been devasted by violence or are still missing. We need to be a voice for those we’ve lost and a strength to those who are left behind. For survivors, we need to continue to create safe spaces that allows them to tell their story.” – Ogimma-kwe (Chief) Claire Sault, Mississaugas of the Credit First Nation