Moose Hide Campaign Day returns to Fort St. John

FORT ST. JOHN, B.C. — An Indigenous initiative aimed at ending domestic violence against women and children will be observed in Fort St. John with a gathering this week.

Moose Hide Campaign Day will take place in the city for a third consecutive year at Festival Plaza in Centennial Park on Thursday, May 14th.

A grassroots following, it was begun by father-and-daughter Paul and Raven Lacerte in 2011, during a hunting trip along the ‘Highway of Tears’ – a stretch of Highway 16 between Prince George and Prince Rupert.

From humble beginnings, in 2026 there will be nationwide community events and gatherings – including an American-led event in Colorado Springs.

Domestic violence is more prominent in Indigenous communities than in non-Indigenous communities. 

Statistics Canada data from 2021 suggests 61 per cent of Indigenous women experience a form of ‘intimate partner violence’ throughout their lives, compared to just 44 per cent of non-Indigenous women.

The number was also higher when describing a form of abuse – psychological, physical or sexual – within the 12 months preceding the study (17 per cent versus 12 percent for non-Indigenous women).

According to the campaign’s website, each wearer of moose hide pins distributed during the event makes a vow to “honour, respect and protect women and children in your life and speak out against gender-based and domestic violence.”

In Fort St. John, festivities during Thursday afternoon’s events are being jointly coordinated by Nenan Dane Zaa Deh Zona Family Services and the Fort St. John Friendship Centre.

Angela Milligan, the friendship centre’s health and wellness coordinator, said the event will feature a community walk, a barbecue, an appearance by School District 60 pow wow dancers and guest speakers, including returnees Connie Greyeyes and David Rattray.

The event will be opened by the Doig River First Nation drummers.

“I hope it opens the eyes of people of how much domestic violence happens in our communities,” Milligan told Energeticcity.ca. “That people see [and] maybe learn from the experience.”

“We are [also] hoping to have some speakers or a letter from a person, a community member, that has lost a parent to this.”

The free event is open to the public and will take place from 3 p.m. until 6 p.m. on Thursday, May 14th at Festival Plaza at 9523 100th Street in Fort St. John.

Visit the Moose Hide Campaign Day website to learn more about the initiative.