Montrealers gathered in downtown on Feb. 14 in support of the 33rd annual memorial for Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women, Girls, Two-Spirit and Trans people.

The annual march, held every Valentine's day, commemorates those who have been missing and murdered, drawing attention to the national issue that persists and has yet to be addressed. 

Indigenous women account for 16 per cent of all murdered women in Canada between 1980 and 2012, despite only account for 4 per cent of the female population in the country. Between 2001 and 2015, the homicide rate for Indigenous women were nearly six times higher than the homicide rate for non-Indigenous women.

In June 2015, the Truth and Reconciliation Commission released 94 Calls to Action. The Government of Canada launched the National Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls (MMIWG) in 2016 in response to call to action 41. This inquiry looked into and reported on the fundamental causes and systemic issues that have led to such large levels of violence against Indigenous women and girls. Despite the inquiry, many activists say not enough is being done to support families who have missing or murdered loved ones and to prevent more deaths and loss. 

The march was organized by the Iskweu Project, a project launched by the Native Women's Shelter of Montreal, which provides support to Indigenous families that have loved ones that have gone missing or have been murdered.

Activists and supporters called for an end to colonial violence towards Indigenous Women, Girls, Two-Spirit and Trans people. Activists are also calling on municipal, provincial and federal governments to honour the 231 recommendations and calls to action published by the final report published in 2019 by the National Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous women and girls.