Barb Ward-Burkitt, Prince George Native Friendship Centre executive director, was honoured when founders from the Moose Hide Campaign, an Indigenous-led national grassroots movement aimed at ending gender-based violence in Canada, presented her with their five-millionth awareness-raising moose hide pin.
Ward-Burkitt received the special recognition for her efforts focused on ending the crisis of murdered and missing Indigenous women and her leadership within the Friendship Centre Network. During Tuesday’s local ceremony the pin was presented to Ward-Burkitt from father-and-daughter co-founders of the Moose Hide Campaign, Raven Lacerte and Paul Lacerte.
“I feel humbled and honoured to be the recipient of the five millionth moosehide pin, and to receive it in front of family, friends and community at the Friendship Centre made the day perfect," Ward-Burkitt said.
"As I received the five millionth moosehide pin from Raven I was thinking of all the women and girls in my community who are living with violence in their lives every day, and I was sending a message to them ‘telepathically’ to trust and reach out to that one person who will listen to their story and support them on a journey to safety and wellness. I want that kind of love and kindness for them, and to every Indigenous woman in my community.”
Raven Lacerte said she was honoured to present the pin to Ward-Burkitt.
“We are now halfway to our vision of gifting 10 million moosehide pins to Canadians who are taking action in ending violence towards women and children,” Lacerte said.
Ward-Burkitt has been involved with the Friendship Centre Network since 1972. The network is Canada’s most significant group of self-determined, Indigenous owned and operated civil society community hubs offering programs and vital services to Indigenous peoples in urban and rural settings.
The Moose Hide Campaign began for Raven and Paul after a 2011 moose hunt in their Carrier Traditional Territory along Highway 16, called the Highway of Tears as a reminder of where so many Indigenous women were murdered or went missing.
Reflecting upon this during their hunting trip with a desire to overcome a sense of helplessness, Raven and Paul were inspired to cut up tiny squares of moose hide, considered a little piece of land medicine and a gift to all Canadians who are moved to help create a country safe for all women and children and those along the gender spectrum.
Raven started the movement by gifting the moosehide pins with hand-written cards asking people to wear them as a symbol of healing and their personal commitment to end violence towards those most vulnerable in society.
This year’s Moose Hide Campaign Day takes place on May 16, with community events being held across the country.
There is also a livestream and virtual workshops originating from Victoria, B.C., which will foster dialogue on gender-based violence and reconciliation.
The Moose Hide Campaign continues towards its goal of distributing 10 million pins and having one million Canadians fast together in ceremony on Moose Hide Campaign Day. For more information on the Moose Hide Campaign and to register for Moose Hide Campaign Day visit www.moosehidecampaign.ca.
