Photo by Whitehorse Star
Yukon Party Leader Currie Dixon
Dixon reflects on National Day of Action
Yukon Party Leader Currie Dixon released a statement Monday to mark the National Day of Action.
Yukon Party Leader Currie Dixon released a statement Monday to mark the National Day of Action.
“On this National Day of Action for Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls, Yukoners are taking action and saying, ‘no more’,” he said.
“Many will take part in the Sisters in Spirit Walk and Vigil in downtown Whitehorse. Others will also hang a red dress at their place of work or residence as a symbol for those lives needlessly taken away.
“Rotary Park hosts one of the most visible red dress displays in the city, along with the powerful new statue that was unveiled last month,” Dixon added.
“To me, this is a stark reminder of the past, but also gives hope that we can all do our part to prevent any more violence against Indigenous women and girls.”
Dixon said Monday also highlighted the need to follow the calls for justice as outlined in the Final Report of the National Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls.
“Yukon has been a leader in developing a strategy in response to the National Inquiry,” he said.
“The strategy contains a vision of promoting healthy, safe, and violence-free communities where Indigenous women, girls and Two-spirit+ Yukoners are respected, inherently valued, and treated equitably with dignity and justice,” said the Yukon Party leader.
“Everyone should be entitled to live their lives free of violence. I encourage Yukoners to reflect, and contemplate how we can end violence against Indigenous Women and Girls.”
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Comments (6)
Up 6 Down 5
Snowman on Oct 7, 2021 at 9:34 pm
@To Beaker
I think it's good that Dixon gave the Old Boys their shadow cabinet positions back. It shows that all of the outrage from progressives, women's groups, First Nations, reporters, etc., was all kind of fake. If they were actually concerned, they would be up in arms again but it was obviously just a fad to be angry against 'boys for just being boys' since they have all gone completely silent.
Up 14 Down 7
To 'Beaker' on Oct 6, 2021 at 10:20 pm
Ischencko and Hassard elected by FN in their communities? Maybe--but those same FN leaders in the communities were calling for heads to roll after their awful comments. And I agree, it was in poor taste for the PM to be doing what he did on that day. However, the PM wasn't the only one--what did you do on that day? Reflection or personal stuff? Perhaps some guidelines need to be set up for all of us that the 'National Day of Action' is akin to something like Remembrance Day, and should be treated as such.
As for Currie Dixon acting holier than thou in this situation, no dice. What has the Yukon Party done to encourage, support, mend and remediate relationships with First Nations businesses, governments, and so on? They had plenty of time to show their empathy and respect for FN people when they were in power--too bad they did neither and are now the opposition. And standing by derogatory comments your party members are dumb enough to send in texts to the people they are bashing..
Up 15 Down 6
Yukoner49 on Oct 6, 2021 at 9:16 pm
What a joke. If Dixon was actually concerned about women and girls, he would have ditched Hazard and Istchenko after they were all part of a Yukon Party 'Old Boys Club' text group where they grossly disparaged women. Instead he did the complete opposite and brought them back into his shadow cabinet. Their 'punishment' was to not have a role for about 10 days or so in the spring. Oh and he quietly made the announcement the day the federal election happened so that it would not get any media attention. What a slimy thing to do.
Up 14 Down 16
Beaker on Oct 6, 2021 at 11:26 am
@yet he supports blah blah. You think because they made some off comments that they don’t respect First Nations…how absurd. Both are from small FN towns and both have been elected. I think you are misguided and little bias on your opinion peace. Perhaps you could share the same opinion of our excuse for a P M taking a vacation during the inaugural FN statutory day to reflect.
Up 20 Down 17
Yet he supports misogyny in his party on Oct 6, 2021 at 12:16 am
If you're going to say you actually care about the National Day of Action, about protecting Indigenous women, start with your party first. When you have Yukon Party members talking trash about women, using profane putdowns and being outed in public with their disgusting comments, don't think you can stand up and pretend you care. You don't, or you would have fired Hassard and Ischencho and said 'NOT ACCEPTABLE.' Better is to not pretend you care at all--I'd rather be a silent Sally than a hypocrite and liar, pretending I actually care when clearly I'm politically grandstanding.
Up 16 Down 1
Sheepchaser on Oct 5, 2021 at 11:26 pm
“now we can end violence against Indigenous Women and Girls”
By reforming the judicial system to remove violent offenders from our communities until they are actually rehabilitated. Strengthening victim rights, protection and resources. Creating a Victim’s Bill of Rights to balance the court’s misguided focus on the supremacy of the rights of the accused. Educating young men on topics of equality, dignity and social norms they may not have received at home. Taking to task inherently misogynist institutions like religions organizations, corporations and government entities that perpetuate disenfranchisement based on bias. Ensuring access to equitable education opportunities through the school ages. Developing community safety networks outside of the formal judicial process with the primary focus of no-questions-asked safe spaces.
It’s been roughly fifteen years since first getting involved with Victim Services. Nothing has really changed in that time. Press releases have come and gone thousands of times from all manner of politicians. It’s a twisted pantomime when you compare it to the reality faced by the people living through it.