Today I Wear Red: Akwesasne, New York
May 5, 2017 National Day of Awareness for Missing and Murdered Native Women pursuant to Tribal Council Resolution (TCR) 2017-23 signed by the Tribal Council on Onerahtókha/April 23, 2017. Tribal Council expressed its support for the federal resolution by passage of the same in TCR 2017-23; which calls for education and public awareness on May 5th to demonstrate solidarity with the families continuing to deal with the loss of a loved one. Community events took place to help educate and raise awareness, as well as to commemorate the lives of missing and murdered women and girls.
Seven Dancers Coalition along with the Saint Regis Mohawk Tribe in Akwesasne, NY collaborated and combined their two events. The day began with Chantel Henderson, a survivor of being abducted twice, and now turned advocate and activist, presenting at Seven Dancers Coalition with the Three Sisters Program (below left).
Above: Saint Regis Mohawk Tribal Police Chief, Matthew Rourke and Akwesasne Mohawk Police Services police chief Leanne O’Brien holding hands with Chantel Henderson. We asked local law enforcement to participate in this action campaign to recognize the victims and to bring awareness to the issue of Missing and Murdered Native Women and Girls to a wider audience.
