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At Grandmother’s Voice, we believe both are necessary. There can be no healing without justice, and there can be no justice without action. We have called out the violence. We have stood in protest. Now, we stand in ceremony, listening to the wisdom of those who came before us, asking: What can we do today?

We are still living in the aftermath of the Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women, Girls and 2SLGBTQ+ people (MMIWG2S+) — a genocide. Not just in the distant past, but right now. We still lose our women. Our children still go missing. And yet, despite everything that has been stolen from us, our communities continue to rise. That is what the Grandmothers teach us: to rise.

I think of White Buffalo Calf Woman and her teachings. She came to our ancestors in a time of great need, bringing the sacred pipe and the teachings of balance and respect. She reminded the people of their responsibilities to one another and to the earth. She promised that if we followed her teachings, we would thrive. And if we forgot them, we would suffer. In many ways, Canada has forgotten. But we remember. And through remembrance, we heal.

The healing begins with the work we do together, as community. Grandmother’s Voice was born from the courage of women who said, “No more.â€� Women who stood beside families of missing and murdered Indigenous women and girls, who organized vigils, who walked in red dresses, who partnered with groups like Women Halton Action Movement to amplify women’s voices.

WHAM is a feminist advocacy organization in Halton Region that has long fought for women’s rights and systemic change.

Together, we walked the Spirit Walks, raised red dresses in remembrance, and made sure that the voices of our women and girls were heard throughout Halton. We chose to stand up — not just for the women lost to this violence, but for those still here. The children growing up today who deserve a different world.

And we are not alone. Across this country, Indigenous women and Two-Spirit leaders are reclaiming ceremony, language, and land. They are organizing Red Dress campaigns, leading Spirit Walks, offering trauma-informed supports to families, and demanding that we centre Indigenous women in every conversation about justice and reconciliation.

At our gatherings, we listen to the Grandmothers. They remind us of the power of stories. They teach us how to sit in circle, to share without judgment, and to listen deeply. And they remind us that healing isn’t a quick fix. It is a lifelong commitment. Healing is an action. It is in how we raise our children, how we treat our relatives, how we stand up for what is right. It is in how we honour our women — not just in death, but in life.

There is hope. But hope alone is not enough. We need action. We need Canada to implement the 231 Calls for Justice from the . We need accountability from police forces, from governments, from institutions that have failed us again and again. We need real resources for our communities — not just empty promises.

And for those who are not Indigenous, there is a role for you, too.

Listen to our stories. Attend the vigils. Stand beside us, not in front of us. Support Indigenous-led initiatives and organizations. Learn about our history, and then ask yourself how you can be part of our future.

At Grandmother’s Voice, we know that healing happens in community. We have witnessed it. We have seen women reclaim their power. We have seen families find strength in ceremony. We have seen allies step forward in genuine solidarity. And we have seen young people rise up, carrying the teachings of their Ancestors with pride.

White Buffalo Calf Woman’s message was simple: Walk in a good way. Live in balance. Respect all life. We can return to those teachings. We can rebuild the web that Spider Woman once wove. We can call upon Thunderbird to bring the storm that clears the way for new life.

This work is not easy. But it is sacred.

Before healing, there is remembering. Before justice, there is truth.

The first step is to say their names.

They were daughters. Sisters. Mothers. Lovers. Friends.

They were sacred.

And they are missed.

Say their names. Carry them with you. Speak them aloud so they are never forgotten.

Tanya Nepinak, 31

Tina Fontaine, 15

Morgan Harris, 39

Marcedes Myran, 26

Rebecca Contois, 24

Maisy Odjick, 16

Shannon Alexander, 17

Loretta Saunders, 26

Cindy Gladue, 36

Patricia Carpenter, 14

Delaine Copenace, 16

These are only 11 names. Eleven of thousands.

The National Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls documented that more than 1,200 Indigenous women and girls were officially reported missing or murdered between 1980 and 2012. Community advocates and family members insist the real number is much higher — closer to 4,000 and growing.

We must remember.

We must say their names.

We must act.

Until they are found, until they return home, we will keep walking.