An Indigenous perspective of the human-trafficking issue in Ontario will be presented through song, dance and discussion at an upcoming event in Orillia.
Grandmother Isabelle Meawasige, of Serpent River First Nation, will be one of the featured guests during the March 14 event at the Orillia Opera House. Meawasige has travelled the continent to raise awareness of the problem and even took part in a forum at the United Nations.
“We’ve gotten to know Grandmother Isabelle over the past few years. She’s really trying to step up her efforts to help women who have been trafficked,” said Becky Big Canoe, who is organizing the event with Dawn Ireland.
Big canoe feels “all women of grandmother age have a responsibility” to speak up.
“It’s an echo from our previous society that we had prior to colonization,” she said of grandmothers’ roles as teachers and their caring for kids and grandkids. “We want to bring that knowledge back.”
The Orillia event will also include a presentation from Edna Simmons, of Crime Scenes2 Investigations, a performance of Sisters by Kehewin Native Dance Theatre and music by Yellow Butterfly.
After the presentations, there will be a meet-and-greet, and agencies that deal with the issue of human trafficking will be on hand with information and educational material.
Education and awareness are the main objectives of the event, said Big Canoe.
“The resources that are devoted to awareness and stopping it just aren’t enough,” she said. “We just want the community to know that the Indigenous community is doing everything it can. Indigenous people are as affected by it as everyone else and we need to empower ourselves to address it.”
Big Canoe encourages anyone to attend.
“Trafficking is something that’s throughout all communities. You never know how someone might be affected,” she said. “People can pick up information (at the event) that might help them.”
Anti-human trafficking groups and agencies that are interested in reserving a table for the event can call Ireland at 705-309-1293.
Tickets cost $25 each and can be purchased here from the Orillia Opera House online box office or by calling 705-326-8011. All of the proceeds will go toward covering the cost of the event.
