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Vanessa Brosseau

Inuk truth speaker visits Algonquin Public School

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Vanessa Brosseau, aka Resilient Inuk, stopped by Algonquin Public School on Monday amidst her Canada-wide tour to raise awareness for Missing and Murdered Indigenous Peoples (MMIP), intergenerational healing and urban Inuk identity.

Brosseau shared passages from her children’s book Because We Care, which teaches children about MMIP as well as the importance staying safe and looking out for one another.

“The kids are amazing,” she said. “It’s why I do it. Their energy, their love for one another. They’re the ones who are going to be the change makers. They’re very, very smart. We really just need to start opening our hearts to these children so that these things don’t happen to them. [Because we Care] is a book I wrote for eighth grade and under to learn about missing Indigenous people in a kind way.”

Brosseau’s sister Pamela Jayne Holopainen has been missing for over 22 years.

Brosseau is on day six of her Rolling Resistance national tour. She travels in a motorhome (pictured) with her husband Derek (right). Algonquin Public native language teacher Corinne Bannon (left) invited the Brosseau’s to Thunder Bay (Jacob Henriksen-Willis / May 11 2026)

“I’m trying to create awareness not just for missing and murdered Indigenous people, but safety for all people,” she said. “It’s something I’m passionate about because of my sister. I’m grateful to be here in Thunder Bay, because it has such a high population of Indigenous people and missing and murdered people as well.”

In the afternoon, Brosseau hosted a workshop to teach Algonquin’s eighth graders how to make sealskin red dress pins.

“My family comes from Sanikiluaq, Nunavut, so I work with seal skin. A lot of times these children have never seen seal skin before. So at the same time we’re learning about MMIP, we’re able to learn about seals, seal skin and Inuit history, how we still use seals today,” she said.

This is the second year Brosseau has embarked on her Rolling Resilience national tour. Last year she went from Sanikiluaq to Prince Rupert, BC and back in 41 days. This year she plans to make more stops on at least a 60-day trip.

“We’re on day six today. We came from North Bay, and our next stop is Winnipeg,” she said.

Learn more about Brosseau’s work and her Canadian tour at her website resilientinukcreations.ca. You can also donate to her journey through her GoFundMe.

red dress run 1

Over 100 participants hit Boulevard Lake for 5K Red Dress Run

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The second annual Red Dress Run was a success, according to founder Alana Morrison.

Morrison started the event last year on Red Dress Day to raise awareness and funds for missing and murdered Indigenous women in Thunder Bay.

“I’m a crier, so I’ve been in and out of tears all day,” Morrison said. “The donations that have come in, the support, the drumming, the food, the water. Everything has been donated and it just came together so perfectly.”

Thunder Bay Police Chief Darcy Fleury (left), Deputy Chief of Operations Ryan Hughes (middle), and Deputy Chief of Administration Jeremy Pearson (right) attended the run. (Jacob Henriksen-Willis/May 5 2026)

Members of the Thunder Bay Police Service and Nishnawbe Aski Police Service (NAPS) took part in the run. The route begins at the Jumpstart Inclusive Playground and loops around the entire lake, with participants able to walk or run.

Morrison has worked for NAPS for the last 20 years.

“This came to be as a vision. I wanted to honour the missing and murdered in Thunder Bay, and I usually run, so I just combined everything. I am not only honoured to hold an event like this, but just so touched by the compassion from the community,” Morrison said.

Alana Morrison (left) and her daughter Tawnee Thompson (right) are founders and lead organizers of the event. (Jacob Henriksen-Willis/May 5 2026)

Morrison estimated over 100 participants showed up for the run, despite sub-zero morning temperatures and even flurries of snow.

“The City of Thunder Bay has been so supportive. As an Indigenous woman myself here in Canada, I have experienced racism. I have experienced some unpleasantries while being in the country. But it doesn’t stop me from trying to stand up for my sisters that have gone missing or been murdered,” she said.

4 year old Miles brought out his red sweater to show his support as well. (Jacob Henriksen-Willis/May 5 2026)

Alana’s daughter Tawnee Thompson is a lead organizer of the event. She said her mother realized there are many injustices towards Indigenous women, girls and two-spirit people during her time with the force.

“We have Deborah Anishinabe in mind, actually,” Thompson said. “she’s quite recent in the news, and she lost her life very tragically. We were looking to make a donation to her family.”

Deborah Anishinabe was declared missing on December 5, 2024. On December 18, the missing persons case ended, and the Thunder Bay Police Service charged a 24-year-old man with indignity to a human body. Police in Thunder Bay never officially confirmed the cases were connected, but the Nishnawbe Aski Nation linked the death and charge.

Alana Morrison says she plans on continuing the Red Dress Run next year on Red Dress Day. Visit the event’s Facebook page for more information.

Red Dress May 2025

ONWA calls for stronger government action to address violence against Indigenous women

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The Ontario Native Women’s Association (ONWA) is calling on all levels of government to invest in violence prevention and community‑led healing initiatives in Indigenous communities.

The organization says there’s a noticeable imbalance, pointing out that Indigenous women make up about 5% of Canada’s population but experience nearly 30% of the violence nationwide. They add that some women are 6 times more likely to be murdered because of their Indigenous identity.

ONWA says that gap is being ignored by current approaches. The association argues existing strategies fail to address the root causes of violence, often excluding Indigenous women from leadership roles and underfunding programs meant to protect them from targeted violence, assault, and exploitation.

The group is urging governments to step up with steady funding while ensuring Indigenous women are fully included in decision‑making and economic opportunities.

red lit candle

Annual Tree of Hope lighting ceremony happening Sunday

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Community members and elders will be partnering with the Thunder Bay Police Service (TBPS) to host the Tree of Hope Lighting Ceremony on Sunday.

The ceremony is meant to honour and remember Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women, Girls, and Two-Spirited people, with each light on the Tree of Hope representing a life lost.

The event was first held in 2019. It aims to bring First Nations and police together, attempting to repair broken trust.

Sunday’s ceremony will begin at 6 p.m. at the TBPS headquarters at 1200 Balmoral Street.