Toronto Women’s Bookstore
http://www.womensbookstore.com
416-922-8744
Join us for the screening of Finding Dawn directed by Christine Welsh
* followed by an on-stage interview
THURSDAY OCTOBER 25, 7:30 pm
Koffler Auditorium
569 Spadina Avenue
wheelchair accessible
admission: $3 to $10 sliding scale, at the door
Dawn Crey. Ramona Wilson. Daleen Kay Bosse. These are just three of the
estimated 500 Aboriginal women who have gone missing or been murdered in
Canada over the past thirty years. Directed by acclaimed Métis filmmaker
Christine Welsh, Finding Dawn is a compelling documentary that puts a human face to this national tragedy.
This is an epic journey into the dark heart of Native women’s experience in Canada. From Vancouver’s skid row, where more than 60 women are missing, we travel to the “Highway of Tears” in northern British Columbia, and onward to Saskatoon, where the murders and disappearances of Native women remain unresolved.
Along the road to honour those who have passed, we uncover reason for hope. It lives in Native rights activists Professor Janice Acoose and Fay Blaney. It drives events such as the annual Women’s Memorial March in Vancouver and inspires communities all along the length of Highway 16 to come together to demand change.
Finding Dawn illustrates the deep historical, social and economic factors that contribute to the epidemic of violence against Native women in this country. It goes further to present the ultimate message that stopping the violence is everyone’s responsibility.
Opening and closing songs by Manitou Kwe Singer Amber O’Hara.
Onstage interview with director Christine Welsh and Robyn Bourgeois.
About Robyn Bourgeois:
Robyn Bourgeois is a mixed-raced Lubicon girl raised in Sewempemc and
Okanagon territory in the interior of BC. She is a committed activist in the fight against violence against Canadian Aboriginal women. Robyn is currently a Ph.D candidate at OISE/UT, where her doctoral work is also focused on violence against Aboriginal women. She is the proud auntie of two fierce little grrls, and loves cooking, her little dog, and books. She is co-editor [with Adrianne Lickers] of the forthcoming collection, “Squaw: Aboriginal Women write and reflect on the word”.
About Amber O’Hara:
Amber, known to the Spirits as Waabnong Kwe is a Cherokee (eastern band) and Ojibwe woman living in Toronto. She is a member of the Wolf Clan. Amber founded Manitou Kwe Singers in 1995. Herstorically, we took up our drums in song to honour the missing and murdered women of native ancestry in Canada, for prisoners, and to help end violence in this world. Manitou Kwe translates from Ojibwe to be “Woman Spirit”. The women of Manitou Kwe singers have all been given the Traditional Teachings of our Sacred drum, and honour these Teachings. We are committed to educating the public and our audiences about violence against Aboriginal women, prison injustice, and violence in general, through our music. Manitou Kwe Singers - http://manitoukwesingers.com/
co-sponsored by The School of Women’s Studies at York University, First
Nations House at U of T and the Centre for Women and Trans People at U of T
Toronto Women’s Bookstore
73 Harbord Street
Toronto, Ontario M5S 1G4
ph: 416-922-8744/ 800-861-8233
info@womensbookstore.com
http://www.womensbookstore.com
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one comment
I am looking forward to this. I saw the film already but will be there. I've heard Amber sing and drum and she always touches my spirit when she does. She is an amazing speaker as well and I recommend her for any event addressing missing or murdered native women, aboriginal womens issues in general.
Posted by Sara
October 19, 2007, 2:17 PM
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