In the last few classes we discussed sexualized violence and indigenous voices. These are both sensitive topics but are important to talk about in a classroom setting to hear others perspectives and thoughts. I have always felt personally strong about the missing and murdered women of Canada. This issue was touched on in both of our classes. I first learned about this crisis the fall and it has changed my perspective of Canada ever since.

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A march for the missing and murdered women
  Many of the murdered indigenous women were also victims of sexualized violence. This is an act of power and control expressed in a sexual way. There is an obvious pattern of indigenous women being targeted; based on there race and gender. In the text Marika Morris reports "research shows that a vast majoritiy of Aboriginal women have been assaulted"(Morris, 2013). This fact is sad but true and the missing and murdered indigenous women are proof that racism exists strongly in Canada. The stereotypes of indigenous women have been repeated so much within our society that our systems are built in discrimination.

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And the number continues to rise
      Often these cases are brushed off and not taken seriously because it involves indigenous women. This roots from a negative female image for indigenous women. Native females have been constantly sexualized and thought of as less. Kim Anderson proves that indigenous girls are born into discrimination when she writes "Native girls begin to hear racial/sexual slurs from an early age, often before they even understand the terms themselves"(Anderson, 2013). These stereotypes are taken and used as excuses to blame the victim. For example one may use the excuse that she was a sex and that is why she died from sexual violence inflicted upon her. There are many excuses I have heard like, she was on drugs, she ran away, she was hanging out with gang members, she was hitchhiking...... and the list goes on. What is interesting about these excuses is that it brings up the crazy idea that somehow killing or abducting another human can somehow be justified. Yet everyone in a sound mind knows that murdering is wrong. So why do people show indigenous women as the problem? The missing and murdered women are not to blame; Canada is because they have not stopped discrimination.
                         

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Young girls need to know they matter
          Indigenous women are treated like they do not matter in Canada. To be proud Canadians we should put out a message that everyone is accepted. To stop predators from victimizing indigenous women we must stop letting them get away with there crimes. Justice needs to be served. Racism must be purged from our justice system and police force so hopefully more people will care. The missing and murdered women are not just statistics; They were sisters, daughters, and mothers. They had families that loved them and still do. They have people that will live with pain of there absence, even more so if justice is never served. This video gives a family perspective on the crisis: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vqpsoEuQEjU



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Bibliography

Aljazeera. (2014, September 9). Indigenous women in Canada ask #AmINext . Retrieved from The Stream: http://stream.aljazeera.com/story/201409092036-0024141
Hipolito, C. (2016, March 8). Let's Put an End To Sexual Violence On Campus. Retrieved March 26, 2018
Kilkenny, C. (2016, February 16). Radio Canada International. Missing and murdered indigenous women: from 1200 to 4000? Canada.
Morris, M. (2013). Factsheet: Violence against Women. In M. H. Rice, Gender and Women's Studies in Canada: Critical Terrain (pp. 503-514). Toronto: Women's Press.
Ulrichsen, H. (2016, October 16). Walk Raises Awareness for Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women. Retrieved from Sudbury: https://www.sudbury.com/local-news/walk-raises-awareness-of-missing-and-murdered-indigenous-women-8-photos-430521
Ultius. (2016, April 7). Expository Essay on Missing and Murdered Aboriginal Women in Canada. Retrieved from Ultius Blog: https://www.ultius.com/ultius-blog/entry/expository-essay-on-missing-and-murdered-aboriginal-women-in-canada.html





                       






                                      

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