Babaamaajimowinan (Telling of news in different places)

Take Back the Night Rally Held in Red Lake and Ponemah

"Sexual Assault is NOT an Ojibwe Tradition"

"We are a diverse people. All our ceremonies are about man and woman. Where did you come from? The silly answer is from my mother and father. But this is true. Your mother and father are contained in you. You must therefore be balanced with the male and female. If you are not, you will be out of harmony and have stress. If you are a man and not in touch with the female, you cannot treat your woman right. We must balance the feminine with the masculine. If you neglect the feminine you will do the same with your partner. The switch around is also true." ~Chi-Ma'iingan, (Larry Stillday) Obaashiing. (Notes from a Healing Lodge)

More than 100 women, men, girls and boys, gathered for a Take Back the Night Rally at Red Lake Seven Clans Casino on Wednesday, October 22, 2014. The following Tuesday, October 29 a similar event was held along with a "Walk to the Lake" at Ponemah. At Red Lake, from 5:30 to 8:00 pm, elders and youth gathered to take a stand against domestic violence and sexual abuse.

Equay Wiigamig has been hosting a remembrance event in October, Domestic Violence Awareness month, since it opened in 1998.

Upon entering Red Lake's Seven Clans Event Center, at first glance the room seemed near festive. Thirty-eight blue and white helium filled balloons reached for the ceiling, while 38-bagged luminaries sat lonely, one each to a chair, on the far side of the room. But these symbols of remembrance were anything but festive. They represented and reminded all of 38 people who have died in the last year due to domestic abuse, women, children, and men.

On the opposite wall - using it nearly to it's entirely - were several single large block signs each with a single letter. Small lights outline each letter sign. Placed in their proper order the runes spelled an important message, "NO MORE DOMESTIC VIOLENCE."

T-shirts were worn by many that said, "Domestic Violence is a Crime" on the front and "Real Men Don't Hit" on the back, which men at the event wore proudly.

The Program

Sponsored by Equay Wiigamig (Women's Shelter) of Red Lake, Wesley Cloud was the emcee for the evening's activities.

"We are meeting here to create awareness and attempt to end domestic violence," said Cloud. "Men are also coming forward, they are supporting their mothers, daughters, sisters, grandmothers, aunts, and nieces."

A prayer was soon offered by Cloud's mother Rose Cloud, "We challenge everyone to speak up against domestic violence," she said. "Together we can make a difference." Healing Songs came next from the P-Town Boys Drum at the center of the room.

A light dinner and refreshments were served at 7 p.m. Darlene Lussier, Director of Equay Wiigamig, and Victoria Fineday of Ponemah Out-Patient then shared the mike with a brief welcome and described the next activity.

Thirty-eight attendees seized one balloon each while 22 more picked up each of the lighted letter signs. The entire group walked slowly through the hotel lobby and out the front door into the dark and grassy area just outside the casino. Illuminated letters moved about in seeming disarray until merging again with the message on domestic violence. Concurrently Fineday orchestrated the balloon release.

While balloons rose into the darkened sky, seemingly spontaneous, several women led by Lussier and Fineday formed a semi-circle and sang a "women's song."

"Songs of healing are always so powerful and helpful," said Lussier. "We need to take a stand, we need to talk about it. If we do not talk about it, it remains hidden and people will deny it. We must expose this violence to the light of the sun."

Without fanfare, attention was slowly drawn again to the 38 votive still glowing upon chairs to the side of the room. On the outside of each luminary bag a paper was pasted on which was printed a short biography of a victim. Thirty-eight attendees, men and women and youth, took turns volunteering to read the story of each victim.

Thirty-eight names, 38 stories, 38 lives, women, children and men whose lives were lost due to domestic violence in 2013. Equay Wiigamig will not let these people be forgotten. "If you read the stories, they will make you cry," said Alyss Seki, a child youth advocate with Ikwe Wiigamig.

Ponemah

Equay Wiigamig teamed up with Ponemah Out-Patient again this year to host a Take Back the Night and Walk to the Lake, which was attended by over 75 people, according to Darlene Lussier.

After a prayer and a song and dark having set in, the crowd left the building weaving their way down the streets of Obaashiing toward the water. Participants sauntered, illuminating a path nearly three blocks long while lighted candles seemed as though dancing on this quiet walk to the Sacred Lake known as Miskwaagamiiwi-zaaga'iganiing. Here a healing ceremony was held.

"After the walk," Lussier reported, "we had an open mike and the P-Town Boys provided songs for everyone. We had a meal of cabbage stew and chili with fry bread. It was mentioned to move to the Club (boys and girls) because we didn't have enough chairs or room this year at the Outpatient Building. Everyone seemed to like the event. We had a balloon release also."

Later Lussier commented that she was very pleased with the turnout at both events. She said that the show of support was encouraging considering the working conditions surrounding a job that has its share of sadness and unpleasantries.

"The job can be heartbreaking more often than not," said Lussier, "but the staff takes good care of themselves. They are very empathetic and supportive, and their willingness to approach their work in a team effort empowers them to keep doing what they do."

Codicil

"Violence against women was imported, it is not an Ojibwe tradition. Our tradition was one of respect for women and their sacred role in life giving. Social pressure, tradition, and respect prohibited such behavior. Remember those who have died before offering your tobacco."

"We are doing violence to ourselves now. They have left us alone. Those who brought the violence to us are living their lives. This is the purpose of our ceremony; we are raising our voice against this violence, this hideous violence and resentment. Remember your mothers, your daughters, cousins, sisters, aunties...remember. Rely on tobacco and the drum." ~Chi-Ma'iingan, (Larry Stillday) Obaashiing. (2013 Ponemah Take Back the Night)

Take Back the Night is Sponsored by: Red Lake Equay Wiigamig (Women's Shelter) & Ponemah Outpatient Program.

For more information call: Red Lake Equay Wiigamig (Women's Shelter) @ 218-679-3443 or Ponemah Out-Patient Program @ 218-554-7401.

 

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