To view this media release in a PDF format, please click here.
For immediate release
June 29, 2022
Treaty Five Territory, Thompson, MB – Manitoba Keewatinowi Okimakanak Inc. (MKO) is issuing the following statement to acknowledge three women who are working to raise awareness of the issue of sexual violence in First Nations.
Grand Chief Garrison Settee states:
“On behalf of MKO, I commend Brenda Frogg, Grace Masse, and Nadine Erickson who are planning to bike from MKO’s office in Thompson, Manitoba to the legislative grounds in Winnipeg. These cyclists are working to raise awareness of sexual violence in First Nations.
They will be biking from Thompson starting today, June 29, 2022, with the goal of arriving in Winnipeg on July 3, 2022.
As the women have expressed to me, it is time to confront this issue of sexual violence, which is a direct impact of intergenerational trauma caused partly by residential schools and colonization. There are concerns about the ongoing impact of sexual violence on children.
It is essential all levels of government work to ensure our children, youth, women, men, Two Spirit, and gender-diverse people do not continue to suffer from the impacts of sexual violence.
I acknowledge the need for nurses working in First Nations to have training on how to best support victims of sexual violence in a trauma-informed way.
I wish the three cyclists a safe journey from Thompson to Winnipeg and I appreciate their efforts in raising their voice to advocate for all those who have been impacted by the issue of sexual violence.”
-30-
For more information, contact:
Mark Sweeny
Cell: 204-914-8255
Email: [email protected]
