The artwork

Process of the creation of the artwork by the activity She has a name


She has a name was conducted by several institutions in Canada. Much than 200 people embroidered the name of a murdered, missing or forgotten woman or girl. A list containing some of the 1200 cases documented by the RCMP was available to participants, but they had the freedom to embroider a name of their choosing to honour the woman of their choice.

She has a name is one of the activities of the cultural mediation kit. You can consult the activity here

The embroideries were crafted in a sharing circle. Participants had the opportunity to adapt the activity as they saw it. The atmosphere encompassed moments of contemplation, calm and compassion. Many participants decide to embroider the name of a loved one.
 

We would like to extend our appreciation to our collaborators, who supported the cause:


  • Trois-Rivières Friendship Center
  • Sept-Îles Friendship Center
  • Roberval Friendship Center
  • Journée des Premiers Peuples organisation at Chicoutimi
  • Joliette Frienship Center
  • Montréal Friendship Center
  • Val-d'Or Friendship Center
  • Centre d'entraide et d'amitié autochtone de Senneterre
  • The Maison de la culture Innue d'Ekuanitshit
  • The Maison communautaire Missinak
  • Community of Mashteuiatsh
  • Matimekush-Lac-John
  • ...

Delivery of the collective artwork


The ceremony was held at the Ashukan Cultural Space on March 22, 2019. There were about 20 people, including Michèle Audette, Commissioner of the National Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls (MMIWG), to receive the work on the behalf of all the Commissioners.

Several influential women were there, including Mrs. Vivianne Michel, representative of Native Women, Mrs. Sylvie D'Amours, Minister responsible for Aboriginal Affairs, Mrs. Marie-Josée Parent, representative of the City of Montreal, and Mrs. Nadine St-Louis, director of Sacred Fire Productions and Ashukan Cultural Space. Also, it is important to mention the presence of three senior women from different communities, as well as Melanie, from the community of Kahnawake, whose sister was murdered. The artwork has been unfolded by Cody S.Simon and Laurie Poirier, project managers of the initiative.

The art work features more than 200 people-designed embroideries that have been assembled to create a shawl, made up of the colors of the First Nations. This artwork was done by Mrs. Alice Paishk, Odjibwe from Lac Seul, Ontario.

It is with emotion and pride that Mrs. Michèle Audette received the collective artwork. The resulting shawl will remain in Quebec to educate people about the history that missing and murdered Aboriginal women and girls have to bear on their backs.


 
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