Part Three: What Now? Healing, Justice, and the Voices of Our Grandmothers
By Jody Harbour I have walked the path of anger. I have stood in circles of grief. I have carried
By Jody Harbour
Second of a Three-Part Series (Originally published by Metroland)
I want to say we’ve made progress. I want to say the stories have changed. But I can’t. Not when I stand beside families still begging for justice. Not when I walk the Spirit Walks and hear the same cries I heard twenty years ago. Not when I witness the same headlines: another woman missing, another girl murdered, another body left where no one should ever be left. This is the reality of Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women, Girls, and 2SLGBTQ+ people in Canada today. And it’s why Grandmothers Voice continues to fight. Because this isn’t history. This is now.
We’ve had commissions. We’ve had inquiries. We’ve had 94 Calls for Action and 231 Calls for Justice. And yet, Morgan Harris and Marcedes Myran ended up in the Prairie Green Landfill. All along their families and community knew they were there. The police knew. And Canada waited. Delayed. Hid behind reports and risk assessments. Refusing to dig.
When we say Indigenous women are treated as disposable, this is what we mean. Their bodies were literally treated like trash. And their families—strong, determined, grieving women like Cambria Harris—had to scream to be heard. Had to camp out in the cold. Had to beg Canada to find their mothers and daughters, even as the weight of trauma sat heavy on their hearts. A forensic search was not automatic. It was resisted. Fought. Delayed again and again. The web of bureaucracy was designed to tangle them up, not bring them answers.
I think of the Thunderbird when I think of these women. The Thunderbird brings storms to cleanse the earth and renew life. We need that storm. We need the cleansing power of truth and justice. But it feels like every time the Thunderbird flaps its wings, Canada builds another wall to block the wind.
Thunder Bay is another wall we cannot seem to break. It’s a city where Indigenous women vanish and no one blinks. Where police dismiss families. Where bodies are found in rivers and alleys, and no one asks why: “just another drunk Indian, drowned in the lake.” The societal and systemic racism there isn’t whispered. It’s shouted. It’s written into the policies and practices of law enforcement. I’ve sat with women who’ve told me their stories—their terror, their losses, their rage—and still, the city drags its feet. They hold inquiries into police conduct, and then nothing changes. The cycle repeats.
It’s exhausting. And infuriating. Because we were promised better. In 1991, the Royal Commission on Aboriginal Peoples laid out a path for change. It named the systemic injustices. It showed us the way forward. Canada did not follow it. In 2019, the National Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls released its final report. It called the crisis what it is: a genocide. It issued 231 Calls for Justice. They are legal imperatives, not recommendations. But here we are. Still waiting. Still watching more women go missing. Still fighting for dignity.
At Grandmothers Voice, we are tired, but we are not done. We walk with the families. We hold space for their grief and their fury. We honour the red dresses hanging in trees, each one a silenced voice. We carry our drums and sing for those who never made it home. And we remind Canada that our women are not forgotten. Not by us.
The institutions built by colonialism are still holding firm. They protect those who benefit from our pain. They resist every effort to bring about justice because real justice would require accountability. It would mean returning land, power, and respect to Indigenous women. And for too many in this country, that is still unthinkable.
But we are not asking anymore. We are demanding. The Thunderbird is calling the storm, whether Canada is ready or not.
I am angry. I am heartbroken. But I am not hopeless. I see the strength of the women leading this fight—the mothers who refuse to back down, the daughters who carry their mothers’ names in marches and vigils, the sisters who search the rivers and forests when police refuse. I see them, and I stand with them.
And I ask you: When will you stand with us? When will Canada lower its walls and let the storm in? Because this cleansing is coming. It must.
Our Grandmothers continue to wittness. And they are waiting for us to do what is right.
By Jody Harbour I have walked the path of anger. I have stood in circles of grief. I have carried
By Jody HarbourFirst of a Three-Part Series (Originally published by Metroland) When you walk with Grandmothers Voice, you are walking
Grandmother’s Voice: Creating opportunities for Indigenous community members to share their teachings, healing practices and traditional handicraft creation with the broader community.
Elevating Indigenous Knowledge and Culture across Halton Region has been the foundation of our organization. Collectively, we continue to serve as a beacon for building awareness and fostering connectedness. Rooted in our Nation’s origins, we are dedicated to enhancing capacity and illuminating the landscape of Indigenous social services and determinants of health. Join us on this transformative journey as we strive to strengthen bonds, raise awareness, and contribute to the well-being of our communities.
Grandmother’s Voice International Business #799454954RC0001
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Presented by Samantha Doxtater
Presented by GRANDMA RENEE
In a world seeking direction, Indigenous teachings offer clear and enduring policies for how to live in harmony with one another and the Earth. This workshop invites participants to explore the profound lessons of the Two Row Wampum Belt and other wampum belts as frameworks for mutual respect, environmental care, and collective well-being. These belts, created long before colonization, embody ancestral agreements that guide humanity on how to coexist with honor, dignity, and reciprocity.
Led by Grandmother Renee, this session emphasizes the importance of relearning and honoring the policies established by our ancestors, rather than creating new paths disconnected from this wisdom. Through the teachings of the belts, participants will uncover the principles of self-care, stewardship of the land, and respect for all beings. This is not about inventing something new—it is about rediscovering the instructions that were always there and committing to uphold them.
Key Takeaways:
Through this workshop, participants will be reminded that the wisdom of the belts is not only a guide for Indigenous communities but a path for all of humanity to walk together in respect and care for one another and the Earth.
Presented by Grandma Gail and Angela DeMontigny
Ceremony is more than tradition—it is a deliberate practice rooted in wisdom, responsibility, and foresight. This workshop explores the “science of ceremony” as a guide to living with intention and accountability for the next seven generations. Our ancestors used ceremony to prepare for the future, ensuring that their actions would benefit not only their own time but also those yet to come. Now, it is our responsibility to carry that practice forward.
Led by Grandmother Gail, this session will examine what has been lost and the actions we must take to restore, respect, and reclaim the ceremonial practices that ensure the well-being of future generations. Participants will be encouraged to reconnect with ceremony as a means of healing, reflection, and renewal, building a foundation of responsibility to guide us in restoring balance and harmony.
Key Takeaways:
Through this workshop, participants will rediscover the transformative power of ceremony as a pathway to healing, accountability, and preparation for a sustainable and harmonious future. Together, we will reaffirm our responsibility to the generations to come.
Presented by Asha Frost
Join Asha Frost, an Indigenous healer, teacher, and bestselling author, for a transformative workshop rooted in traditional teachings and the power of self-discovery. Asha’s work often centers on reconnecting with ancestral wisdom, embracing one’s authentic self, and creating pathways for healing and empowerment. Drawing from her Anishinaabe roots, she weaves stories, teachings, and practical tools to inspire participants to reclaim their power and align with their purpose.
Through her signature blend of traditional healing practices and modern insights, Asha guides participants in understanding how to honor their own journey, navigate challenges with resilience, and embrace the interconnectedness of all beings. This workshop is an invitation to explore the sacred within and around us, fostering personal growth and collective transformation.
Key Takeaways:
Whether you are seeking personal healing, professional inspiration, or a deeper connection to traditional wisdom, this session with Asha Frost promises to be a profound and enriching experience.
Presented by Allen Sutherland
The Seven Fires prophecy, as shared by seven prophets across different time periods, offers profound guidance for humanity’s path forward. According to Anishinaabe oral tradition, these teachings speak to the choices we face when the world has been polluted, and the waters turned bitter by disrespect. The prophecy teaches that humanity must choose between materialism and spirituality—one path leading to survival and the other to destruction.
In this workshop, Mishoomis Allen will guide participants through the teachings of the Seven Fires prophecy, exploring its relevance in today’s world and its call for spiritual renewal. Additionally, he will share his Canadian Indigenous Historical Timeline, providing a broader context for understanding the cultural, social, and spiritual significance of these teachings.
Key Takeaways:
This workshop offers an opportunity to reflect deeply on humanity’s collective responsibility and the transformative power of choosing a spiritual path for the survival of future generations.
Presented by Thohahoken Michael Doxtater
In this session, Thohahoken Michael Doxtater explores the ongoing impact of Canada’s colonial policies on Indigenous communities and the historical journey toward Truth and Reconciliation. He examines the systemic attempts to erase Indigenous identity, from residential schools to the suppression of cultural practices, and highlights Indigenous resilience and legal resistance. The presentation also delves into the concept of the “Canada Rafter,” a historical agreement acknowledging Canada’s adoption into the Indigenous Longhouse, raising the question: Has Canada truly upheld its responsibilities in this relationship?