On Friday, Oct. 9, the Esgenoopetitj Burnt Church Mi’kmaq Nation will hold its first ever Take Back the Night March. The evening begins at 6:30pm with an open mic followed by a candle light vigil at 7:30pm. The march will begin at 8:00 pm at the site of the former school grounds and will move along St. Ann’s Street (Church Street), to the back road (Micmac Road), around to Wabanaki Road, down Algonquin road and back down to the former school grounds.
Sixteen-year old Hilary Bonnell, from Esgenoôpetitj First Nation (Burnt Church) was last seen on September 5, walking along Highway 11 in the early morning. The search continues to find Bonnell.
The purpose of the Take Back the Night March is to promote an end to the violence against women and children. Men who wish to join in the march will be invited to do so, but are asked to allow the women and children to lead the march first, respectively as this is a march for women.
According to the Native Women’s Association of Canada, 520 Aboriginal women and girls have been murdered or have gone missing, mostly in the last 30 years.
TAKE BACK THE NIGHT MARCH CHANT
NOT THE CHURCH, NOT THE STATE
WOMEN MUST CONTROL THEIR FATE!
WHEREVER WE GO
WHATEVER WE WEAR
YES MEANS YES!
AND
NO MEANS NO!
WOMEN UNITED
WILL NEVER BE DIVIDED!
NO MORE SILENCE!
NO MORE VIOLENCE!
HEY! HEY! HO! HO!
PATRIARCHY HAS GOT TO GO!
IN THE CITY, IN THE COUNTRY
UNDERNEATH THE MOON’S BRIGHT LIGHT, IN THE CITY, IN THE COUNTRY
ALL TOGETHER, WOMEN TAKE BACK THE NIGHT!
WOMEN UNITE!
TAKE BACK THE NIGHT!
WHAT DO WE WANT? SAFETY!
WHEN DO WE WANT IT? NOW!
Tracy Glynn is on the NB Media Co-op board.
