Women's Memorial March facts for kids

The Women’s Memorial March is an important event held every year on February 14. It remembers and honors the lives of Indigenous women who are missing or have been killed. This march is also a protest against unfairness, racism, and violence.

The first march started in Vancouver’s Downtown Eastside. It begins at Main and Hastings streets and moves through downtown. Along the way, people stop at important places to remember the women. Each woman's name is read, along with who she was to her family, like a daughter or a mother. Then, families and supporters pause to grieve.

The Women's Memorial March shows strength and hope. It helps bring back the respect and honor that many Indigenous women in Canada have been denied. The march also works to change how Indigenous women are shown in the media. It aims to correct unfair ideas and stereotypes that have led to misunderstanding and unfair treatment.

Why the March Started

The first Women's Memorial March happened because of a sad event. On January 20, 1991, a woman lost her life on Powell Street in Vancouver's Downtown Eastside. Her name is not shared to respect her family.

On February 14, 1991, her mother, Linda Ann Joe, and other family members gathered at that spot. They were joined by others to mourn their loss. This gathering was started by Linda Ann Joe and other women from the area. It brought the community together to show care and respect for all Indigenous women in the Downtown Eastside. It also honored those who were missing or had been killed.

How the March Grew

Today, the Women's Memorial March in Vancouver brings together thousands of people every year. It has also grown into a larger movement. Similar events now take place in many cities across Canada. These marches help to honor and bring attention to missing and murdered Indigenous women in their own communities.

Every year, the organizers in Vancouver share a list of names of women and girls from the Downtown Eastside who have been killed or are still missing. Since the first march in 1992, more than 970 names have been added to this list.

Understanding the Downtown Eastside

Vancouver's Downtown Eastside is one of Canada's poorer neighborhoods. While Indigenous people make up about 2% of Vancouver's total population, they are about 10% of the Downtown Eastside's population. Many women from this area have gone missing or been killed. However, the reasons why this neighborhood became the way it is, and what life was like for the women and girls living there, are not always well understood.

Historically, Vancouver's Eastside was a place for immigrant and working-class families, as well as migrant workers. In the 1900s, many loggers, miners, fishers, and railway workers lived there in cheap hotels. Because it was seen as a working-class area with many men, the Downtown Eastside was sometimes unfairly called a place of "bad behavior" and "decay."

Changes in the Community

In the 1950s, more and more Indigenous people began moving to the city from different parts of North America. They joined the Coast Salish peoples who already lived in British Columbia. This move happened for many reasons. These included economic and social challenges in their home communities and reserves.

Many Indigenous men and women moved from reserves to city centers. Cities offered better social and health services, especially for those escaping violence. They also offered job opportunities. In some cases, the government even helped with these moves.

Impact of Past Laws

Old laws also played a part in these changes. For example, under the Indian Act, Indigenous women who married men who were not legally recognized as "Indian" lost their own legal status. This also meant their children were not recognized. Before 1985, when the Indian Act was changed, thousands of women lost their right to be part of their band and to live on reserves. This forced them to move to city centers.