landscapeVirtual beading circles on Feb. 9 and 16 will bring awareness to Missing and Murdered Women, Girls, and 2-Spirit people.

Beading circle event to raise awareness of MMIWG2S

In February, the Paul Martin Law Library’s Truth and Reconciliation Reading Circle is supporting the Shkawbewisag Student Law Society in its efforts to bring awareness to Missing and Murdered Women, Girls, and 2-Spirit People (MMIWG2S) by hosting a virtual beading circle over two nights, with local artist Shane Lyon.

On Feb. 9 and 16, Lyon will coach participants on how to bead their own Red Dress Pins. The pins are an adapted representation of artist Jaime Black’s ongoing art series, The REDress Project, which highlights the epidemic of violence against Indigenous women. Each dress symbolizes an Indigenous woman who has been murdered or is missing, representing just a portion of thousands of people.

The beading sessions will take place virtually over the Blackboard Collaborate platform from 6 to 8 p.m. DIY beading kits will be provided in advance, but registration is limited to 15 participants. Registration closes on Feb. 2 and University of Windsor students, staff, and faculty are eligible to participate.

In conjunction with the Truth and Reconciliation Reading Circle, the Paul Martin Law Library is collecting donations of non-perishable food items for the Campus Community Food Bank, and new mittens, gloves, hats, and scarves for the Downtown Mission’s Coldest Night of the Year which takes place on Feb. 26. Donations may be dropped off at the Law Library, located in the Leddy West building, Monday through Friday, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.