To our daughters, nieces, sisters, and Two-Spirit youth yet to come,
I write to you not only as an Indigenous woman, but as one voice among many – as a woman walking alongside all those who carry the memory of those we have lost and the determination to ensure you inherit something better.
Today, on the National Day of Action for Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women, Girls, and 2SLGBTQ+ People (MMIWG2S), we stand together to say: your future must be different. You deserve to grow up in communities where your safety is not in question, where your laughter is not interrupted by fear, and where your dreams are not diminished by systems that fail to protect you.
We have walked through silence, through grief, through the painful absence of those taken too soon. We carry their stories with us, stories that weigh heavy but also give us strength. Every red dress swaying in the wind, every vigil candle lit, every name spoken aloud is both a reminder of what has been stolen and a vow to never stop fighting for change.
We are walking ahead for you. Each step is a demand: for justice, for accountability, for systems that value Indigenous lives as sacred. Each step is also an offering: to create spaces of care, to design places that honour safety and belonging, and to weave joy and dignity into the world you will inherit.
And to those reading this now: the responsibility is shared.
There are concrete actions you can take today and every day:
- 1
Say their names.
Speak the names of women, girls, and Two-Spirit people who are missing or have been taken. Refuse their erasure. - 2
Read and share the Calls for Justice.
The Final Report of the National Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls laid out 231 Calls for Justice that are not optional; they are legal and moral obligations. Begin with them, reflect on them, and push for their implementation in your workplace, community, and government. - 3
Push for policy change.
Demand investment in safe housing, shelters, and culturally grounded services. Insist on improved data collection, data sovereignty, and accountability systems so that no case is ignored. Support laws and initiatives that centre Indigenous self-determination and community-led safety. - 4
Support the families and grassroots groups.
Donate, attend vigils, amplify their work. Healing and justice must be resourced. - 5
Educate yourself and others.
Read the works of Indigenous women. Share them with your circles. Acknowledge the truths of this violence openly, even when it feels uncomfortable.
With love and solidarity,
Desirée Thériault & all the women walking ahead for your safety