b'MMIWGDRAG THE RED to change this policy. This ultimately ledto put pressure on the police to drag the In 2008, Bernadette Smith was studyingher down a path to politics. You cantRed, but we were told its a needle in a to be a teacher when her 21-year-old sisterbe what you cant see, she says. Beinghaystack and we have no evidence that went missing. There was very little coordin- on the outside, you can see what changetheres anything in there to search, Smith ated action happening across Canada tocould happen from lobbying, but really,explains. And so [the] community came support people in her familys situation.I thought about what change couldtogether and said lets do it; we need to We really felt like we were in this night- happen from being on the inside and atdo it. mare where we didnt know what to do,those tables. how to do it, where to turn, where to getInitially, around 25 people came out, Smith was elected as a member of thevolunteering their own skills and resources support, Smith remembers. We just kindLegislative Assembly (MLA) in 2017 andincluding maps, boats, fundraising experi-of mobilized ourselves.now serves as the Minister of Housing,ence and more. Smith stresses, Our focus Smiths family pulled together peopleAddictions and Homelessness forhas always been to support community, to from the women and gender studiesManitoba. Her department is committed tobe grassroots-led and to be responsive to departments at local universities to createbuilding, fixing and maintaining housing.the needs of families. Run by donations We want to make sure that women thatand volunteers, a different community a coalition of families of missing andneed housing can get access to housingorganization takes on the leadership role murdered women in Manitoba. We really safe, affordable housingand then alsoevery year. This year, its Willow Tree started to look at how we can create some- our governments providing support soAction Therapists, who work with youth. thing to help support other families so thatwhen people do get housed, they get theWe try to include [youth] as much as they werent in the same situation that ourwraparound supports that they need,possible because its building up our family found ourselves, she says. Smith says. leaders of tomorrow and helping them to When Smith realized that her familySmith co-founded Drag the Red in 2014create that leadership role and capacity in couldnt access victim services becausewith the goal of helping to solve MMIWGthem, Smith says. no one had been charged with a crime,cases by searching the Red River forSmith encourages anyone interested in she successfully lobbied the governmentremains or other evidence. We had triedgetting involved with Drag the Redeven if its just for a day or twoto reach out though their Facebook page. Its not just on our policing, its not just on our governments, but its on everybody, she concludes. Its on people, its on our society. We all have to come together, and its everyones responsibility.CLAN MOTHERSThe Clan Mothers Healing Village and Knowledge Centre is committed to restoring community health using matrilineal values and traditional models of healing. Their work began in the urban centre of Winnipeg in 1989, known then as Plant Your Roots Grow With Us Were hiring. Apply now.bouchier.ca/growwithusCivil Contracting & Facility Services 22Spring/Summer 2024Sue Hauke Design Inc.:63 Hamptons Hts. NW Calgary, AB T3A 5W1, Ph. 403 208 8307, suehaukedesign@icloud.comPubl date:April 25, 2024Client: Bouchier; Attn: Amanda MacIntoshDescr: Plant Your Roots - Grow With UsSize: 7 wide x 3 high(no bleed)Publication: Media Edge MagazineColour: Full colour (CMYK)File supplied:HR pdf'