McMaster Moose Hide Campaign event brings men together to end gender-based violence

“McMaster marked Moose Hide Campaign Day this month with urgent calls to end gender-based violence, as men in particular were asked to take greater responsibility and move from awareness to action. The Moose Hide Campaign event at McMaster, attended by faculty, staff, students and community members was one of several held across the country. It highlighted rising violence against Indigenous women, girls and gender-diverse people in Canada. The McMaster chapter of the campaign was organized in collaboration with Circle of Indigenous Social Work Action (C.I.S.W.A) chaired by Social Work assistant professor Laurie Sherry. It began with a livestream from the national event in Toronto, before moving on to an in-person discussion, a march around campus, a smudging ceremony and a beading workshop. In moving remarks over the livestream, Moose Hide Campaign co-founder Raven Lacerte spoke of starting the initiative 15 years ago with her father, Paul Lecerte. Back then, only 20 people attended. This year, more than 300,000 individuals tuned into the Moose Hide Campaign livestream. Symbolic to the initiative is the moose hide square, worn by individuals in support of the event. Each square sparks conversations regarding stereotypes, self-awareness and emotional regulation, reflecting the campaign’s call for critical introspection, personal accountability and self-government within oneself. Paul Lacerte shared some alarming statistics in his remarks: There are over 4,000 missing or murdered Indigenous women. In the past 10 years, crime against queer people in Canada increased by 388 per cent. And as of May 14 — the day of the event — 30 women and girls have been violently killed this year. He urged men to act and relearn the virtues of empathy, love, and kindness. Over the livestream, Elder Perry McLeod-Shabogesic from Nipissing First Nation described the significance of the moose as a symbol of kindness to the Anishinaabe as evident in the Moose Dance, which emulates the behaviour of moose where women choose men as partners, and must follow the lead of the women. The moose symbolizes the framework for Anishinaabe partnership, which was disrupted by the trauma of residential school violence and assimilation policies. Keynote speaker Niigaan Sinclair, a renowned Anishinaabe writer, editor and activist from Peguis First Nation, discussed the importance of cultivating community solutions that inspire people to act while encouraging value-building. He used a fire-starting activity as a metaphor for how men should nurture virtues and be vulnerable to one another: When young boys are instructed to gather materials for a fire and attempt to light it, frustration and exhaustion often ensue. Nevertheless, the boys eventually learn that patience, kindness and collaboration are key ingredients to kindle a fire. Furthermore, once a fire has ignited, all individuals in the group must do their best to be responsible and care for it, even though it may not be their own. Following the live-cast, the McMaster chapter hosted a panel discussion moderated by author and McMaster instructor Adam Barker, featuring Randall Jackson, director of the McMaster Feast Centre; community members Patrick Skye and Astotin Mistohi Jim Adams; and livestream keynote speaker Niigaan Sinclair joining virtually. The discussion revolved around themes of masculinity, vulnerability and cultural infrastructure. All the panelists addressed the need to reclaim a sense of masculinity rooted in vulnerability and accountability, which has been disrupted by colonialism. They called for better cultural infrastructure for activities and initiatives that would bring men together for this purpose. The panel ended with the thought-provoking story of the “Pesky Rabbit,” which was symbolic of persistence, being true to oneself, and resisting external pressures. After the panel discussion, there was a march around campus with signs in support of the Moose Hide Campaign, followed by a smudging ceremony, lunch and a beading workshop hosted by volunteers. “In just eight short weeks, we took our commitment to take a stand against gender-based violence in a way that encourages others to join us.” Sherry said about organizing the event with the C.I.S.W.A team. “Seeing their commitment to leading with kindness and compassion was the highlight of my day. I want them to know how proud I am to work alongside them.” The post McMaster Moose Hide Campaign event brings men together to end gender-based violence appeared first on McMaster News .

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