In January, the City of Edmonton hosted the Missing and Murdered Indigenous Relatives (MMIR) Gathering: The Strength in Our Stories, an event that brought community members, advocates and organizations together for important conversations.
The event is the first of its kind hosted by the City and brought speakers and panelists from the Edmonton area and across Canada to discuss the role of a municipality in MMIR work, as well as topics such as missing and murdered men and boys, queer and Two-Spirit people, economic resilience, art and more.
“As the City of Edmonton, I think it’s really important that we play that role as a gatherer, as creating this space, and encouraging the truths to be told,” said Chancy Black Water, Indigenous Relations Office Liaison with the City of Edmonton.
More than 250 attendees and volunteers took part in the event on January 9 and 10 at the Edmonton Inn and Conference Centre. The event highlighted the MMIR work happening in Edmonton and across Canada and how work in Edmonton has impacted other municipalities.
Rachel Wuttunee works for the City of Vancouver as the Senior Manager of Urban Indigenous Relations in the City Manager’s Office. She gave a presentation on Vancouver’s approach to MMIR and was a panelist discussing the role of municipalities. She said City of Vancouver Indigenous staff, Indigenous Advisories and other advocates pushed for an Indigenous Relations Office in Vancouver, using Edmonton’s office as a model.
“Vancouver didn’t have an Indigenous Relations team before, we had Indigenous people in different departments, and we advocated for an Indigenous Relations team and we cited Edmonton,” said Wuttunee.
“We got our Indigenous Relations team with support from Edmonton, so that’s one way municipalities need to know what other people are doing because that actually influences positive change.”
The City’s Indigenous Relations Office organized the two-day event and used its networks to fill two days worth of speakers and panels with important and impactful information to be shared with those in attendance. Lunchtime cultural performances brought the sounds of singing, drumming and more to fill the room during lunch. The community was at the forefront of the event with lots of tears and hugs as community members came together.
“This event put an emphasis on healing and storytelling and allowed those with missing and murdered loved ones to have a safe space to process their feelings,” said Black Water. “The Indigenous community is very relational and we were able to bring people together who might not have typically come together for two days of healing and learning about the MMIR work happening.”
Hosting a gathering such as this closely aligns with the City’s Indigenous Framework roles and commitments and the City’s MMIWG2S+ Action Plan. Through listening and sharing, the gathering encouraged Edmontonians to support the work of Indigenous Peoples and participate in a shared journey of addressing the MMIWG2S+ National Action Plan’s 231 Calls for Justice.
Wuttanee also took in a number of panel discussions and presentations at the event and said it felt like a safe space for these hard, but important conversations with people who have similar life experiences.
“Even though I just met them, I feel like they’re family. We have the same cultural beliefs, a lot of the same protocols, it really felt super safe being in this environment with the culture, entertainment, all the good food, all the aunties laughing, it’s been amazing,” she said.
The event concluded in a round dance in partnership with Creating Hope Society that was open to everyone.
“For us to end our gathering with a round dance, it’s just going to be a good way. We open this in a good way in a prayer and we’re closing it in a good way with that same ceremony and a round dance is about community and it’s about kin,” said Black Water.
Learn more about the City’s MMIR work at edmonton.ca/MMIR.
Editor’s note: the photo at the top of the post shows community members joined together for the round dance at the MMIR Gathering: The Strength in Our Stories on January 10, 2025.