Shades of Our Sisters

On March 8th 2021, the Centre for Sexual Violence Response, Support & Education and Centre for Aboriginal Student Services (CASS) at York University co-hosted the Shades of Our Sisters Digital Exhibit Opening and Film Screening to bring awareness to Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women, Girls, Trans and Two Spirit People (MMIWGT2S) and in commemoration of International Women’s Day.

https://yfile.news.yorku.ca/2021/03/03/shades-of-our-sisters-exhibit-honours-and-celebrates-lives-of-missing-and-murdered-indigenous-women/

Shades Of Our Sisters also launched our new, digital exhibit. While we normally gather in person for the Shades of Our Sisters Exhibit, we were honoured to work with York University to bring the exhibit online. The Gagnon, Carpenter and Cywink Families invite you to explore their stories online at www.exhibit.shadesofoursisters.com

'Shades of Our Sisters' exhibit comes to the Keele Campus

Shades of our Sisters opened March 9th 2020 - March 13th 2020 in the second-floor atrium of the Scott Library.

The exhibit was on display at the Keele Campus for a limited engagement and  made possible through a collaboration between York University’s Centre for Sexual Violence Response, Support & Education and the Centre for Aboriginal Student Services.

https://yfile.news.yorku.ca/2020/03/10/shades-of-our-sisters-exhibit-comes-to-the-keele-campus/

Fanshawe College’s Institute of Indigenous Learning and Sexual Violence Support and Education have collaborated to honour the lives of Murdered and Missing Indigenous Women and Girls, Transgender and 2 Spirit Peoples (MMIWGT2S) through the Shades of Our Sisters Exhibit.

This display is part of London’s Shine the Light on Woman Abuse campaign.

This year’s Shine the Light on Woman Abuse Campaign honourees are Sonya Cywink and Fanshawe student Natalia Jimenez.

During the installation, guests will hear from Sonya’s family, Elder Liz Akiwenzie, a Student Drum Group and have an opportunity to view the installation.

What: Shades of Our Sister Installation Date: Monday, November 4, 2019 Time: 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. Location: M3001 (see campus map here)

Attendees will be transported into the grief, laughter and love of Sonya Cywink’s family as they share who she was and what the loss of her life means.

Challenging Canadians to realize the injustice of this National tragedy, the installation tells the stories of MMIWGT2S through a combination of film, soundscapes and personal artifacts.

One of the artifacts Fanshawe will proudly display is the original cross from Sonya’s grave that has been refurbished and repainted by Fanshawe Fine Art graduate, Holly Pichette.

https://www.tumblr.com/new/text?name=shadesofoursisters

https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/london/london-shades-of-our-sisters-sonya-cywink-1.5346894

Shades of Our Sisters | February 15th, 2019 | Opening Ceremony  St. James Cathedral, Toronto, ON, CA

Yesterday, we held an opening ceremony for Shades of Our Sisters at the St. James Cathedral in Toronto. This is the first time we’ve held the exhibit in a church of such size, and it’s also the first time the exhibit will be up for half a month. It has been scaled down to fit the location. 

The opening ceremony consisted of remarks from the families, a moment of silence for 11 year old Riya Rajkumar, who lost her life the night before & prayers from people of different faiths and religions. 

On top of our usual Feathers for Our Women mobile, there is also a red dress in the exhibit. Anyone is welcome to write down their thoughts about what they think a world without violence would look like and pin it on the dress. As per our photo from last night, it’s starting to resemble a jingle dress!

This marks the two year anniversary of Shades of Our Sisters, as the premiere was originally held on February 17th, 2017 at the Tecumseh Auditorium on Ryerson U Campus. We’ve come a very long way since 2016, and we couldn’t be more proud of Shades of Our Sisters’ growth and the overall support we receive from communities all around the province. 

Shades of Our Sisters @ Li Ka Shing Knowledge Institute (in partnership with St. Michael’s Hospital) 06/21/2018 - Toronto, ON

Another successful Shades of Our Sisters exhibition was held at St. Michael’s Hospital last Thursday (06/21) in Toronto, Ontario in honor of National Indigenous Day. On top of Sonya & Patricia’s stories, we were also able to showcase some new stories we created for 4 other families of Missing & Murdered Indigenous Women, Girls, Transgender & 2 Spirit Peoples of Canada.

Please check out the new stories in the links below!

Pamela Holopanien Tammy-Lynn Lamondin Gagnon Germain Gagnon Shelley Mae Anderson

For International Women’s Day on March 8th, 2018, Shades of Our Sisters & the 519 held a joint event, showcasing the exhibit and adding to the Feathers for Our Women installation. Here are some photos courtesy of the 519.

From the Shades of Our Sisters Facebook:

We are so honoured to have been hosted by The 519's U are We: International Women's Day Event. What an incredible community partner to work with. The loved ones of Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women, Girls, Transgender and Two Spirit People deserve to be supported and loved as they fight for justice and we are so happy that we were able to hold space at the 519.

From the 519 on the photo of Joyce Carpenter:

Shades of Our Sisters Toronto, Ontario | November 4th-5th, 2017 | Women Rising Conference, Chelsea Eaton Hotel

We opened the exhibit for two days at the beginning of November in Toronto, ON. The Ontario Public Service Employee Union invited us to be apart of their Women Rising Conference, where we were able to screen the two films to 300 people at once. A steady flow of people came through to learn about the issue of MMIW and to get to know Sonya and Patricia. Again, we were lucky to have both Joyce Carpenter, Alex Cywink and Maggie Cywink’s support during the exhibit. We also featured Helyna Lynn Rivera, another MMIW whom we featured in our last exhibit in London, ON. Helyna’s family was also in attendance the exhibition and brought some personal items, too.

We’ve released our stories pages on our website, and with the help of Storymap JS, mapped out the visuals of Patricia and Sonya’s stories. 

Shades of Our Sisters  London, Ontario | August 25th-26th, 2017 | London Public Library

We opened the exhibit for two days at the end of August in London, ON. A steady flow of people came through to learn about the issue of MMIW and to get to know Sonya and Patricia. Again, we were lucky to have both Joyce Carpenter and Maggie Cywink’s support during the entirety of the exhibit. 

This time around, we opened a spot at the entrance area for two other missing and murdered Indigenous women, Tashina General and Helyna Lynn Rivera. The families of Tashina General and Helyna Lynn Rivera also attended the exhibition and brought some personal items so the public could get to know these women. 

On Saturday, a closing ceremony was held by members of the Atlohsa Native Family Healing Services Inc., and 3 feathers were added to an Eagle Staff for MMIWG in honour of Tashina, Patricia and Helyna. A feather for Sonya had been added a few years back already. Overall, it was a very emotional but healing and special moment for every single person there.

Thank you Atlohsa for your support!

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The Craft Bee will be holding a feather making craft session in honour of the upcoming Shades of Our Sisters exhibition.