February 13, 2025- The Indigenous Student Affairs team at Laurentian University is hosting a day recognizing the Red Dress campaign and the Moose Hide Campaign on February 14th to encourage awareness and education. This combined initiative of two well-known awareness campaigns aims to draw attention to the urgent need to end gender-based violence and to encourage accountability in building a future founded on mutual respect.
The day will feature a full agenda of activities including lunch in the Indigenous Sharing and Learning Centre (ISLC) and group activities to promote community-building and sharing. Attendees can look forward to two presentations from Laurentian faculty:
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Paula Pitawanakwat, Master Lecturer in the School of Social Work
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Paula will lead a presentation on the meaning and ongoing importance of Red Dress Day, highlighting the crisis of missing and murdered Indigenous women, girls, and Two-Spirit-plus individuals.
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Randy Pitawanakwat, Assistant Professor in the School of Indigenous Relations
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In his presentation, Perspectives of Anishinaabe Fatherhood and Indigenous Masculinity: A Modern Look at Our Shared History, Randy will be examining historical and sociological perspectives on fatherhood in Anishinaabe communities, including the impact of colonialism and residential schools, and the path toward healing for future generations.
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The event will honour MMIWG2S+ and emphasize the collective role society plays in ending violence against women, children, and LGBTQ2S+ individuals.
“The amalgamation of these two awareness days reinforces the message that we all have a role in fostering safety and respect,” said Mary Laur, Director of the Indigenous Sharing and Learning Centre. “This year, the red dress installation will be in a more concentrated area outside the ISLC to create a higher impact and ensure that this message resonates strongly within our community.”
In addition to his academic research on Anishinaabe fatherhood, Professor Randy Pitawanakwat has a personal connection to the awareness campaigns and highlights the importance of educational institutions in fostering healing and reconciliation.
“As the eldest of five siblings with four sisters, I have always felt a deep responsibility to support and uplift the women in my life,” Randy noted. Laurentian University has been an ambassador campus for the Moose Hide Campaign since taking the pledge in 2022. “This reinforces our commitment to reconciliation, the Calls to Action, and ending violence against women, children, and Two-Spirit-plus people. This event gives all community members the opportunity to learn and commit to being part of the solution.”
He emphasized the campaign’s significance in advocating for the end of violence against women and children, particularly within Indigenous communities. “By wearing the piece of moose hide, we acknowledge our collective responsibility to take action. This isn’t just an Indigenous issue—it’s about everyone on Turtle Island coming together to end gender-based violence.”
This event is open to the community and will begin with an opening ceremony at 10:00 a.m. in the Parker Building Atrium at Laurentian University, followed by activities throughout the day in the Atrium and ISLC.