TORONTO — Artists Against Racism, founded in 1996, continued to use their spotlight to illuminate discrimination in society by backing a campaign to draw attention to Murdered and Missing Indigenous Women and Girls in June.
Leading up to National Indigenous Peoples Day (June 21), paintings including ‘Not Forgotten’ by Dakota Sioux artist Maxine Noel; She Who Loves The Truth by Cree artist Betty Albert and ‘Sisters’ by Anishinaabe artist Frank Polson will be part of the Eagles Rising series could be seen across the country
“Sisters is dedicated to the memory of our missing and murdered Indigenous women and girls. They were traumatized and stolen and it will continue if we do not commit to action and change. All Indigenous women and girls are sacred. We must break the cycles of violence,” says contributing artist Frank Polson in a press release.
The week-long campaign aimed to both honour the memory of the more than 1000 Indigenous missing and murdered woman and girls across Canada such as Tina Fontaine (on the DAUGHTER TO US ALL billboard by Metis artist Christi Belcourt) and keep the conversation about Indigenous missing and murdered women alive following the powerful MMIW Inquiry report released last month.
Placed along the Highway of Tears and in a dozen cities across Canada, the billboards by Indigenous artists nationwide soared across the country, as the locations of the billboards were placed in Halifax, 132 Main St. east of Gordon Avenue. Moncton, Paul Street north of Kennedy Street. Montreal, Rene Levesque Boulevard and Lorimier Avenue. Ottawa, Regional Road 174 Orleans west of Trim Road. Toronto, Gardiner Expressway east of Islington Avenue. Thunder Bay, Memorial Avenue north of Harbour Expressway. Winnipeg, St. Mary’s Road north of Vivian Avenue. Saskatoon, Idylwyld Drive N REGINA: Victoria Avenue west of Park Street. Edmonton, 50 Street south of Sherwood Park Freeway. And Vancouver, Scott Road south of Larson Road. Kamloops, Highway 5 south of Halston Avenue.
