Red Dresses

I am listening to the swearing in of Canada's next Governor General, Mary Simon. It is incredibly moving with the Inuk / Inuit and Indigenous components so beautifully integrated into the ceremony. It is long past time that we should have an Indigenous Governor General. May her appointment be one of change and reconciliation that this country so desperately needs.

In a recent trip to northern Ontario, I took the accompanying photo along the highway. We had driven by, and the overwhelming feeling of sadness and despair I felt was like a gut punch. I stopped the car to go back to honor the memory of the missing and murdered indigenous women that these dresses represent, and pray for a resolution. We have an arduous journey ahead of us as we work to correct the many wrongs and injustices that have been perpetrated on the Indigenous peoples of this country. May we as settlers learn to listen to the true stewards of this country and find a way to move forward together.