By Sebastian Kanally, Times Chronicle
Oliver is committed to showing its support for addressing the crisis of intimate partner violence in Canada by supporting the Moose Hide Campaign.
At their April 2, 2024 council meeting Oliver agreed to proclaim May 16, 2024 as Moose Hide Campaign Day and purchase and make pins available to staff for the cause.
The Moose Hide Campaign is an Indigenous-led grassroots movement that allows people to move towards reconciliation and eliminate intimate partner violence (IPV) in Canada.
“Wearing the free gift of Indigenous medicine – the moose hide pin – is a way to show your solidarity with victims and to make a commitment to honour and protect the women in your life,” the campaign’s letter to the Town explained.
Councillor Petra Veintimilla expressed her support for the cause, saying that she “can’t think of a single reason we would not support this proclamation”. The motion passed with unanimous support.
Statistics Canada shows that the crisis of IPV exists across all of Canada and one in three women will be sexually assaulted in their lifetime.
According to an April 2022 Statistics Canada report the numbers are much worse for Indigenous women, who are more likely across all provinces to experience violence from current or former partners.
In the letter to Mayor Martin Johansen, Raven Lacerte the national ambassador and co-founder of the Moose Hide Campaign Development Society and David Stevenson, CEO explained that mayors across Canada took part last year by sharing videos of support and making proclamations.
The Moose Hide Campaign Development Society is based in Saanichton, BC and more information can be found at moosehidecampaign.ca.
