Moosehide Campaign holds 3rd national gathering in Ottawa

In an effort to raise awareness about violence against Indigenous women and children, people from across the country are participating in theMoosehideCampaign's day of fasting and third national gathering Thursday in Ottawa.

"We will be having the support of every member of the House of Commons and the Senate to be wearing themoosehidepatch, and many of them fasting with us," said organizer PaulLacerte.

Lacerteis from theNadlehWhut'enFirst Nation in B.C. The community is along Highway 16 between Prince George and Prince Rupert, also known as the Highway of Tears.

He co-founded theMoosehideCampaign,which aims to end violence against Indigenous women and children through raising awareness among men and boys,with his daughter RavenLacerte.

Idea came from moose harvest

The idea came to the father and daughter when they were harvesting a moose in their traditional territory alongHighway 16. They decided they would tan the hide andcut it into squares to distribute to men to engage them in the effort to end violence against women and children.

Lacertealso wanted to use fasting as a way of reaching people from all backgrounds and religions.

"We are inviting predominantly men and boys but we include women to not eat or drink for the day to demonstrate our commitment to ending violence against women and children," he said.

"It's part of our theory of change that if as men in this country, if we're going to make progress at ending violence against women especially Indigenous women then we need more ceremony in the space to help people change the way that they behave."

The event in Ottawa is expected to have remarks from Justice Minister JodyWilson-Raybouldand Crown Indigenous Relations MinisterCarolyn Bennett, and the national youth ambassador for theMoosehideCampaign, SageLacerte.

It will also havemen'sandwomen'ssharing circles anda walk to the steps of Parliament.

Moosehidepins

According toLacerte, the campaign has distributed more than 1.2 million pins made of squares ofmoosehideto more than 800 communities in Canada since 2011. The campaign says the hides for the pins come from moose hunted for food or animals killed in road accidents.

There are more than2,000moosehidecampaign projects going on across the country, including government departments andRCMPdetachments across Canada.

Lacerteis expected to announce a five-year partnership with theRCMPwhich willsee the MoosehideCampaign developtraining modules for new recruits.

Peopleparticipating in the day of fasting are expected to break their fasts at sundown Thursday.