Save Our Children from Gun Violence - ENAGB - Queen's park - video Dailymotion

The Root Aka Rootbrian

I did the best I could to correct any audio issues (as noted in subtitles), including extreme microphone feedback.

Transcript

00:00:01If you have any questions or need any support, our staff are wearing the vests, black safety vests with the Enigme Local on the back.

00:00:10You can reach out to any of them.

00:00:12For those of you that don't know, we will be going north on bay, across to college, to university.

00:00:20We will be making as many songs as possible along the way.

00:00:24Our drummers are going to start and open us up in a beautiful song and get us ready to start walking.

00:00:31And people and marshals can start getting into line and be greatly appreciated.

00:00:38The young ladies that have the Javay Roy sign will be standing at the front of our rally, followed by our dancers, and then so on and so forth.

00:00:51Our marshals will be there to guide you all in the past, and we are looking forward to having the demonstration at Coons Park where we have a special treat for everybody.

00:01:02We have a great agenda, and we're ready to begin.

00:01:06Slide.

00:03:40He was watching his granddaughter pass away.

00:03:43And in that time, he used that four days of praying,

00:03:46praying, please, Gishem Nido, please, Gishem Nido,

00:03:48give me something to save my granddaughter.

00:03:51And finally, on that four days,

00:03:54the priest would see what they dressed in.

00:03:57So the dress all about the second day is to come into the street and heal people.

00:04:02He actually truly believed that this dress does heal people.

00:04:06We've seen ceremonies where people come in and they do not walk,

00:04:09and they come out walking because of the power of this dress,

00:04:13because of the power of our people.

00:04:15This is knowledge that they have told us is wrong.

00:04:18They say that indigenous knowledge isn't knowledge,

00:04:21and we are here to say it is.

00:04:27We'll do a lot of conversation with you then.

00:04:31We'll come up with you then.

00:04:32But we're going to give you that time to come up and up

00:04:35and take your back over to the left side.

00:04:37And as you see me, then your comb and your comb move.

00:04:41Each and every single one of those comb that is put on those dreads is a prayer.

00:04:46It's a prayer that they put into that dress.

00:04:49And I'm going to give you that time to give you that time.

00:04:55Woo!

00:04:56We are going to pray for not only Duvay,

00:05:06we're going to pray for every mother that lifts their child to violence

00:05:09within the city of Toronto, across Canada.

00:05:12We know that Samuel Byrd was found murdered.

00:05:16He left his mom low to keep his daughter in crime.

00:05:19Why did it take four months for them to find him?

00:05:22That's shame on Canada.

00:05:24Shame!

00:05:25This is the society he lives in.

00:05:27Shame!

00:05:28Shame!

00:05:29This is the country so many are proud to be from.

00:05:33Are we really proud?

00:05:35No.

00:05:36Shame on Canada.

00:05:37Shame on Canada.

00:05:39Shame on Canada.

00:05:41Shea!

00:05:43Shea!

00:05:45What?

00:05:47Okay.

00:05:49We can recognize

00:05:53on a provincial level

00:05:55supporting a champion

00:05:57for this matter.

00:06:03First of all, I want to thank

00:06:05all of you for being here.

00:06:07For the last 15 years

00:06:09I've organized

00:06:11a gun violence group.

00:06:13In 2010 I was elected

00:06:15as a school board trustee

00:06:17and within a few weeks of being elected

00:06:19I was invited to a funeral

00:06:21to young men.

00:06:33Anyway, what I've

00:06:35discovered is that

00:06:37gun violence, the rate of gun violence

00:06:39is a result of

00:06:41government policy.

00:06:43We have 500 incidents

00:06:45of gun violence in this city

00:06:47every year.

00:06:49In Helsinki they have 11.

00:06:51We need to change

00:06:53the policies. We need to address

00:06:55the root causes of gun violence

00:06:57and that begins with poverty.

00:06:59The city is doing some work

00:07:01on this.

00:07:03They've got some work.

00:07:05They're working on addressing poverty

00:07:07and low income communities in the city.

00:07:09They're working on helping people

00:07:11who have been victims of gun violence

00:07:13and are helping communities

00:07:15deal with the trauma.

00:07:17But there needs to be a lot more done.

00:07:19and the provincial level needs to step up.

00:07:21I'm the member of provincial

00:07:23parliament for Spadina Fort York.

00:07:25I'll tell you a few things that I want

00:07:27the provincial government to do

00:07:29and I hope you will join me in asking

00:07:31for these as well.

00:07:33We need to restore the victims

00:07:35the victims of violent crime survivors funds.

00:07:39They used to get up to $25,000.

00:07:43So if your family member had been injured

00:07:45or killed in an act of violence

00:07:47you could get some money from the government

00:07:49to help you to get back on your feet

00:07:51to get through transition through that period.

00:07:53The other thing we need

00:07:55is we need to make sure

00:07:57there's enough staff in the courts

00:07:59to try people when they're charged

00:08:01particularly with violent crimes.

00:08:03Right now

00:08:05there are 30,000 cases

00:08:07of violent crimes

00:08:09or crimes that go before the courts every year.

00:08:113,000 are dismissed

00:08:13because of delays

00:08:15because there aren't enough staff

00:08:17in our courts.

00:08:19The police, you know

00:08:21and some of these people

00:08:23are victims of violence.

00:08:25Some of these people are women

00:08:27who have been victims of sexual assault

00:08:29and they watch their perpetrator

00:08:31walk away free

00:08:33because there's not enough staff in the courts.

00:08:35Shame! Shame!

00:08:37We can bring an end to gun violence.

00:08:39A good friend of mine,

00:08:41Louis March, passed away

00:08:43a couple of years ago

00:08:45and he always said

00:08:47we already have zero gun violence

00:08:49in some parts of the city.

00:08:51We can bring it to all parts of the city.

00:08:53We can bring an end to gun violence

00:08:55across this province

00:08:57and we need the government

00:08:59all three levels of government

00:09:01the federal, the provincial, the city

00:09:03to get on board with addressing it.

00:09:05So I want to thank you all.

00:09:07What happened with Javai

00:09:09is an absolute and utter tragedy

00:09:11and we need to learn this lesson

00:09:13so that the government

00:09:15doesn't have to keep learning this lesson

00:09:17over and over and again

00:09:19because the government, you know

00:09:21they'll take some action

00:09:23two years from now

00:09:25or two years from now

00:09:26when it's not in the news

00:09:27they'll back off on that action.

00:09:29We need the government to address poverty.

00:09:31We need the government to make sure

00:09:33there's enough staff in the courts.

00:09:35We need the government to make sure

00:09:37there are opportunities for young people

00:09:39so that nobody's joining a gang

00:09:41as their best option.

00:09:43That there's recreation opportunities,

00:09:45there's employment opportunities,

00:09:47there's education opportunities.

00:09:49a different pathway for their future

00:09:51and no more, there will be,

00:09:53when we do that, there will be no more gun violence.

00:09:55Thank you all for being here.

00:09:57Thank you for allowing me to speak.

00:09:59Thank you!

00:10:01I want to thank First Cover

00:10:03for being here.

00:10:05Your Honour of God's First Cover.

00:10:11I wasn't quite...

00:10:13I just walked up.

00:10:15I wasn't quite...

00:10:17I want to thank you in the

00:10:19Michigan-Ease-ing.

00:10:21A non-noi-segment.

00:10:22The Bishko-B тому

00:10:23It's a votive youth program.

00:10:24It's a place for healing our youth

00:10:25and where do we come from?

00:10:27Let's make some noise,

00:10:28let's take these fellows

00:10:29the five steps

00:10:30in our spirit college.

00:10:31Yes!

00:10:41We're here to honour

00:10:42all these young people here.

00:10:43They're here to honour

00:10:45Japani!

00:10:47Get to GLOB 7th place.

00:10:51Get to GLOB 3!

00:10:53GLOB 3!

00:10:55That is GLOB 3!

00:10:56Virtual films are legendary.

00:11:15We're going to have some really good great stages

00:11:43If we could begin making our way there, we would love to have you all.

00:11:50Love to make them listen.

00:11:53One more round, one more round.

00:11:58We will continue.

00:12:00We will continue.

00:12:02We will continue.

00:12:05We will continue.

00:12:07We will continue.

00:12:14We will continue.

00:12:16We will continue.

00:12:22We will continue.

00:12:29We will continue.

00:12:32We will continue.

00:12:37Today, it means so much to see our community standing together.

00:12:52We are the Anegbe Indigenous Youth Agency, also known as Eskenejik Nandweatskene, a place

00:12:59for healing our youth, and Abichka Binjabaying, where did we come from.

00:13:04Our mission is to prepare our youth to make ethical choices that foster pride, confidence,

00:13:11and leadership, guided by the sacred teachings of the medicine wheel.

00:13:16At Anegbe, we are brought to say we are run by youth, for youth.

00:13:21Everything we do is grounded in the belief that our young people deserve safety, opportunity,

00:13:27and the chance to heal from the impact of intergenerational trauma.

00:13:31Today, we gather not only to raise our voices, but to lift each other up in unity and strength

00:13:39and in love for our community.

00:13:42We want to remind everybody that there are physical petitions circulating throughout the

00:13:47crowd.

00:13:48Some of our staff will have it on a clipboard or just on a piece of paper.

00:13:53You can sign it.

00:13:54You can find them with our Anegbe staff, as I just said.

00:13:59They're wearing a black safety vest with the Anegbe logo on the back.

00:14:05Please take a moment to sign and show your support for the new world.

00:14:10We also want to remind everyone that this is a peaceful process.

00:14:13We are here in the spirit of healing, unity, and love.

00:14:19Anyone not following the seven grandfather teachings, love, respect, courage, honesty,

00:14:26wisdom, humility, and truth, will be asked to leave.

00:14:29This event was created to bring awareness and healing, not to repeat the same cycles of

00:14:36harm we are standing against.

00:14:38Chi-miigwech to everyone who showed up, to every youth, elder, family member, and ally standing

00:14:45here with us.

00:14:46Together, we are the movement.

00:14:49Now let's start this off in the right way.

00:14:51Let's make some noise!

00:14:52Let's take a moment to honor and acknowledge those who are opening us up in a good way.

00:15:14Please help me welcome Tshanka Chagir.

00:15:22Thunder Jack, Jayden Wemingwan, and William Robb, who will be sharing traditional songs

00:15:31to start our gathering in a sacred and powerful way.

00:15:45Let's have our warriors for blessing us with your voices, your song, and your spirit.

00:15:49Your drumming reminds us of the heartbeat of Mother Earth, and the strength that flows

00:15:53through our feet.

00:15:56So let's hear your work, guys.

00:15:58Let's make some noise.

00:16:03So we're going to have Calvin, who will come up and provide everyone with a dance and a

00:16:10teaching.

00:16:11Let's see what we can bring this dance.

00:16:12My name is Calvin, I come from Garden River First Nation, Ontario, Canada, but I live within

00:16:39the Georgina Island area.

00:16:42I'm 18 years old.

00:16:44I am in a placement of becoming a First Nations licensed funeral and bomber and director.

00:16:50So that's a little bit of what I do.

00:16:53Today I bring my dance.

00:16:54I only not dance for myself, but today I'm going to dance for Holly and her kids.

00:17:00I dance to bring that strength and to bring that love for them.

00:17:04In the ways of our dancing, a long, long time ago, one of the teachings I was taught, the

00:17:11style you see me dance is almost considered a war dance, a woolen dance.

00:17:15This is the style of dance of our Anishinaabe people.

00:17:19Our Anishinaabe duke, our Anishinaabe quailwook, our Anishinaabe niniwook, and it's almost

00:17:25the style of dressing that you would see every day if we were back before the 1900s.

00:17:31This would be my everyday wear.

00:17:32You see a lot of woolen plurals on my outfit to represent the area that I come from.

00:17:38You see a lot of warrior style stuff on my outfit because it shows that I am ready for

00:17:44battle any time.

00:17:46It doesn't mean that I want to throw my hands, but I can walk down the street and that shows

00:17:50strength for the people.

00:17:52A long time ago, when our young men were having a hard time, when we were trying to go through

00:18:00civilization, trying to grow in through community, our young men would be put into warrior societies

00:18:06to help change the mindset of gun violence, to help change the mindset of stop being mean

00:18:12to one each other, bring that kindness to one to each other.

00:18:16And it would be placed into warrior societies to help change that reflection of fighting

00:18:22our own people to step up and be brave and to show braveness in another way.

00:18:27And right now, today, I'm going to show the people that you can be brave without a gun.

00:18:32You can dance.

00:18:33Show your style.

00:18:34Show your ways of moving.

00:18:35That's bravery.

00:18:36Bravery is not always with a gun in your hand.

00:18:39So, I'm going to dance to a nice, uh, snappy woodland team, and, uh, okay, okay, I'm going

00:18:50to dance to a snappy woodland team, but the drummer's back here, thanks them very much,

00:18:55and, uh, again, uh, yeah, this dance is for all of you, and for Holly and her kids.

00:19:02Very good.

00:19:02Woo!

00:19:03Woo!

00:19:04Woo!

00:19:05Woo!

00:19:06Woo!

00:19:07Woo!

00:19:08Woo!

00:19:19Woo!

00:19:20This happened a big day.

00:19:23We're standing here, and we have politicians that are talking about housing.

00:19:26They're talking about stopping gun violence, but we also started on this until five weeks

00:19:32ago against Bill C-5.

00:19:34So, they're talking about the future of our children here today, but what are they doing

00:19:38doing with the future land base because our children are the ones that are going to inherit

00:19:42the land. They are the rightful, greedy holders. They are the land-headed holders. And our

00:19:46children are disappearing just like our women. So really understanding that there is a connection

00:19:51to the loss of land, the colonial violence that's unhearted on our bodies. We've taken

00:19:55that now in our old communities. Our young people are losing their lives. So we bring

00:20:00them back into our lodges. We bring them into our ceremonies. And that's what's going to

00:20:04do. And we welcome all of you from the four directions to come and sit with us in our

00:20:10lodges to learn from us. We will share our teachings with you. It doesn't mean we are giving them

00:20:14to you to take as your own. We're asking you to come and sit with us as the Red Nation people

00:20:19and understand our roles and responsibilities for the next seven generations are not just

00:20:24for our Red Nation. They're for all of your great, great, great, great grandchildren, faces

00:20:29that you will never see. The faces when we say walk softly on Mother Earth. We're walking

00:20:33on the faces that have yet to come. And we're praying for all of your generations, all those

00:20:40great, great, great grandchildren that you never see. We're praying for our Red Nation,

00:20:43our Black Nation, our Yellow Nation, and our White Nation, that we can all come together

00:20:46in a good way and protect our communities. I am not a protester. I'm a protector. And we

00:20:53have to change the narrative. We have to change the narrative. I am not protesting. The

00:20:57ones that are protesting are the ones that are kind of trying to come in here and take

00:21:00the resources from the land. And that includes our children. So I am a protector. Change

00:21:05the narrative. That's why we're here.

00:21:07Miigwech.

00:21:08Who needs the healing and who needs to feel the spirit of our ancestors and George Javid and

00:21:19his family. If we can welcome John and Fran to come in and say a few words and give us that

00:21:28that good member of the family's like.

00:21:32So, I'm on the forum.

00:21:34I come from Miss Sarge of the Credit.

00:21:35Six Nations Reservation.

00:21:37I'm an old keeper in the community.

00:21:39I'm a pipe carrier.

00:21:40I started today off very early

00:21:43at the ceremony down in Brantford

00:21:44with the pipes and everything there.

00:21:46It began the day in a good way for us today.

00:21:49And I've been asked to come up

00:21:51so we can open this in a good way.

00:21:53And I have the presence

00:21:55of our beautiful grandmother with us

00:21:58to bring that male and female entity

00:22:00into the circle.

00:22:02Because we need both to start leading

00:22:04in a good way, in that minimal muscle end

00:22:06so that we can all come back together

00:22:08like we did back in the old days

00:22:10where it took our community to raise our children.

00:22:13And that's what this is here.

00:22:14It's a community coming together

00:22:15to protect our children,

00:22:17to protect who we are,

00:22:19to protect our languages,

00:22:20to protect our songs,

00:22:21to protect our lodges,

00:22:22so that we can continue doing this.

00:22:24I grew up on the reserve

00:22:25where we couldn't do this kind of stuff

00:22:27in public.

00:22:28So being able to come out

00:22:30and do this is an honour.

00:22:33I've seen Briar grow up

00:22:35as a youth.

00:22:37I've worked in the community

00:22:38in Toronto for many years,

00:22:39working with the youth,

00:22:40many of the youth

00:22:41at the industry for a year,

00:22:42I've worked with.

00:22:43So it's an honour

00:22:44to come and do this.

00:22:45I've known Holly for many, many years.

00:22:47I've known her family.

00:22:49So I worked with one of her uncles

00:22:51for many years.

00:22:51So now I'm trying to say the prayer.

00:22:58My name is Franny Sugar.

00:23:02I'm Lakota Cree from Treaty 4.

00:23:05And I'd just like to offer a prayer.

00:23:09I pray thanks for this beautiful day.

00:23:13And I offer my prayer today, Grandfather.

00:23:17And I ask for sacred hoops

00:23:18for Holly and her family,

00:23:22Grandfather Creator.

00:23:23Carry them in a good way

00:23:24towards healing,

00:23:26Tumkashala.

00:23:27And take that pain

00:23:28and make it less,

00:23:30Tumkashala.

00:23:31Replace it with something good.

00:23:34Grandfather Creator,

00:23:35I want to acknowledge

00:23:39the four directions today.

00:23:41And I want to pray thanks

00:23:43for everything sacred

00:23:45between earth and sky.

00:23:46Tumkashala.

00:23:47Grandfather Creator,

00:23:56I ask that you take our prayers, one,

00:24:11to a higher place

00:24:13so our Oonchis and Gagas

00:24:15can work with our prayer

00:24:16as one,

00:24:18Grandfather Creator.

00:24:20And just bless us

00:24:22with good health and happiness,

00:24:24Grandfather Creator.

00:24:25And let us walk towards justice

00:24:28and for Javay Tumkashala.

00:24:31We pray for him on his journey,

00:24:34Grandfather Creator.

00:24:35And we pray that he doesn't look back

00:24:37and take anyone with him,

00:24:39Tumkashala.

00:24:40So we're here to celebrate his life,

00:24:43Grandfather,

00:24:44and to help him on his journey,

00:24:47Tumkashala,

00:24:48to cross over to the other side

00:24:51in the best way possible,

00:24:53Grandfather Creator.

00:24:55And if we do something wrong,

00:24:56Grandfather,

00:24:57that we pay for our own sins,

00:25:00Tumkashala.

00:25:02So I offer my prayer

00:25:03in that way today.

00:25:04And say,

00:25:06Mitak Riyas

00:25:07and all my relations.

00:25:09Wukila.

00:25:12I'm also going to talk a little bit,

00:25:14talk a little bit about that tobacco

00:25:17that we use in our ceremonies.

00:25:19As we come into ceremonies,

00:25:21that tobacco is the first medicine

00:25:22that was given to the Anishinaabe people.

00:25:25It was given to us in our treaties

00:25:26with the animals,

00:25:28all their spirits

00:25:29that we've ever heard.

00:25:31It was given to us to be thankful.

00:25:33So when we take that tobacco,

00:25:34there's going to be tobacco

00:25:35that's going to be passed around.

00:25:37We take that tobacco in our left hand

00:25:39because it's closest to our heart.

00:25:41And our heart speaks the truth for us

00:25:42as people.

00:25:44There's mind of ours

00:25:45and the tricks that lives with us

00:25:47that plays a lot of games with us.

00:25:51He tells us that we can do certain things

00:25:53and it will go certain ways

00:25:55without listening to our heart.

00:25:57I know right now our hearts are very heavy

00:25:59for Jermaine.

00:26:01So when we listen to our heart

00:26:02and we take that tobacco

00:26:04and we place it out,

00:26:06there's going to be some tobacco

00:26:07and you're going to take that.

00:26:08You're going to say your prayers.

00:26:10Me, I don't call it a prayer.

00:26:12I call it asking for guidance.

00:26:14I call it asking for

00:26:15what we need.

00:26:18When we ask,

00:26:19we don't ask for more than everything we can take.

00:26:21We don't ask for

00:26:22as a pipe carrier,

00:26:24as an argument,

00:26:24we don't ask for a lot of numbers

00:26:26and stuff like that

00:26:26because it's not going to come.

00:26:28And we have to believe

00:26:29in what we're praying for.

00:26:31We have to believe in these ceremonies.

00:26:33Come back to where

00:26:34when it comes to these ceremonies,

00:26:37we believe what we're asking for.

00:26:39And we're all believing

00:26:40that we're asking for that healing

00:26:41for the Anishinaabe people,

00:26:43the Anishinaabe community,

00:26:45the Ongohoni people.

00:26:46And that word Anishinaabe,

00:26:48it encompasses every person

00:26:49that walks along Turtle Island

00:26:50that is red.

00:26:51It doesn't matter how much red blood

00:26:53you have in you,

00:26:54you're still an Anishinaabe.

00:26:55So when that tobacco comes around,

00:26:58just be thoughtful

00:26:59about what you're asking for

00:27:00and what you're giving out to

00:27:02to Senegisa,

00:27:04get to monitor.

00:27:05and asking us

00:27:06and that creator

00:27:07for that guidance.

00:27:08So I say chi miigwetch miyawa

00:27:09for everybody being here

00:27:11to support the families,

00:27:12to support the community.

00:27:14Because it takes their community

00:27:15to raise our children.

00:27:16So we've got to come back to that.

00:27:18So chi miigwetch miyawa.

00:27:27Guys, I feel like

00:27:28we're a bit too quiet right now.

00:27:33So up next,

00:27:34we're honored to welcome

00:27:36Briar Rose Perrier,

00:27:38the Toronto Director

00:27:39of the NAGMI

00:27:40Indigenous Youth Agency

00:27:42organization

00:27:43that is proudly run

00:27:44by youth

00:27:46for youth.

00:27:48Briar began her journey

00:27:51into advocacy

00:27:52at a young age,

00:27:53becoming the youngest donor

00:27:55at the YWCA

00:27:57Elm Street Project

00:27:58and the act

00:27:59that sparked her

00:28:00lifelong dedication

00:28:02to social justice

00:28:03and community change.

00:28:05Since then,

00:28:06Briar,

00:28:06she has become

00:28:07one of Toronto's

00:28:08youngest

00:28:09and most passionate

00:28:10advocates

00:28:11for ending homelessness,

00:28:13raising awareness

00:28:13on human trafficking,

00:28:15and advancing

00:28:16Indigenous youth

00:28:17and youth empowerment.

00:28:20Through her role

00:28:21at INEGDI,

00:28:22she works alongside

00:28:23a youth-led team

00:28:24to deliver cultural programming,

00:28:26housing supports,

00:28:27land-based learning,

00:28:28and leadership opportunities,

00:28:30ensuring that

00:28:31Indigenous youth

00:28:32have access

00:28:33to spaces,

00:28:34identity,

00:28:35and the support

00:28:36that they deserve.

00:28:37Let's get some noise

00:28:37for Briar Rose.

00:28:44Mindy.

00:28:46So,

00:28:48I just wanted

00:28:49to acknowledge everybody

00:28:50again for their time

00:28:52and commitment

00:28:52to young people.

00:28:53It really does mean a lot

00:28:54not only to INEGDI,

00:28:56to all of our future generations.

00:28:58And when we hear

00:28:58those older people speak

00:29:00about the connection

00:29:01to land

00:29:02and what's currently

00:29:04going on

00:29:05in regards to violence

00:29:06within our city,

00:29:07it's something

00:29:07that's been perpetuated

00:29:08for 500 years.

00:29:10And how can we expect change

00:29:11when Canada

00:29:12cannot be held accountable?

00:29:14Without further ado,

00:29:17For those of you

00:29:21who don't know me,

00:29:22my English name

00:29:23is Briar Rose Perrier.

00:29:25The community I come from

00:29:26is Longlap First Nation,

00:29:28but I was born and raised

00:29:29here in the city of Toronto.

00:29:32Today, I too

00:29:33raise a child here.

00:29:36But for me,

00:29:37it's something that's

00:29:38terrifying to think of.

00:29:40Our young people

00:29:41are suffering,

00:29:42parents are struggling

00:29:43with being forced

00:29:44to work long hours,

00:29:46and children are left

00:29:47to be raised

00:29:47by a system

00:29:48that never worked

00:29:49in the first place.

00:29:51Where is the quality

00:29:52of life anymore?

00:29:54I know for many,

00:29:55we live in a constant

00:29:57state of survival,

00:29:58struggling to make ends meet,

00:30:00where rent costs

00:30:00are still rising,

00:30:01and the rates

00:30:02of inflation

00:30:02are on a steady incline,

00:30:04with pennies given

00:30:05to silence us

00:30:06in terms of

00:30:06liberal wages.

00:30:09Where are those

00:30:09who are supposed

00:30:10to protect us?

00:30:11Where are our leaders

00:30:13of this country?

00:30:15For some,

00:30:16Toronto is seen

00:30:16as a place

00:30:17of new opportunity,

00:30:18a place to build

00:30:19the future,

00:30:20to chase dreams,

00:30:21to lay down roots

00:30:22for the next generation,

00:30:23but these days,

00:30:24I find myself

00:30:25questioning

00:30:25why anybody

00:30:26would want to be here.

00:30:29We've been sold

00:30:30a false reality.

00:30:32Beneath the skyline

00:30:33and bright lights,

00:30:34Toronto faces

00:30:35deep poverty,

00:30:36homelessness,

00:30:37unemployment,

00:30:38and addiction.

00:30:39A city that

00:30:40should nurture life

00:30:41is instead of

00:30:42swallowing

00:30:42our people whole.

00:30:44Today we gather

00:30:45to save our children,

00:30:47who are being neglected

00:30:48by unjust systems

00:30:50that were never built

00:30:51to have them thrive.

00:30:54At Anagi,

00:30:55we are youth-led

00:30:56where many employed

00:30:57are youth

00:30:57and allies

00:30:58are valued

00:31:01for their lived experiences.

00:31:03We create spaces

00:31:04of safety,

00:31:05culture,

00:31:06and belonging.

00:31:08One of the last times

00:31:09I saw Javre

00:31:10was at our lodge.

00:31:12He wasn't feeling

00:31:13his best that day.

00:31:15He was sore,

00:31:16but happy to be

00:31:17out of class

00:31:17by his mother

00:31:19and brother's side.

00:31:21He came prepared,

00:31:22dragging along

00:31:23a big blanket

00:31:24so he could lie down

00:31:25and rest

00:31:25when he needed to.

00:31:27Even through his

00:31:27discomfort,

00:31:29he was able to make

00:31:30Minnie smile that day.

00:31:34Oh my gosh.

00:31:37I don't know

00:31:37if it works like that.

00:31:38Better?

00:31:39No?

00:31:39Better.

00:31:40Does it work better

00:31:41like that?

00:31:42I think I look crazy

00:31:43though.

00:31:44At one point,

00:31:46he started imitating

00:31:47his mom,

00:31:48mimicking her voice

00:31:50perfectly and being silly.

00:31:52I guess it was

00:31:52one of those mornings

00:31:53and she was frustrated

00:31:55that she was running late,

00:31:57right?

00:31:58And I know that

00:31:59all too well

00:32:00as a mom myself.

00:32:01Our table,

00:32:03filled with laughter

00:32:04after seeing

00:32:04his impression,

00:32:05his mom smiled

00:32:06as he carried

00:32:07that same

00:32:08purple spark

00:32:09that made him

00:32:09loved by so many.

00:32:12Unfortunately,

00:32:13I also carry the memory

00:32:14of witnessing

00:32:14a mother's grief

00:32:15and not for the first time,

00:32:17may I add.

00:32:18Far too many mothers

00:32:19have buried their children.

00:32:21The cry is made

00:32:22when a woman loses her baby

00:32:24will forever be engraved

00:32:25with lasting stars

00:32:27over our communities.

00:32:29That kind of loss

00:32:30never leaves you.

00:32:31It changes the very estimates

00:32:32of who we are.

00:32:34It's the sound of silence

00:32:36after laughter

00:32:36that will never return.

00:32:38It's knowing that their voice

00:32:39will never again

00:32:40fill a room.

00:32:41That there will never meet

00:32:43major milestones

00:32:44like getting married

00:32:45or having children

00:32:46of their own one day.

00:32:48This is why

00:32:49we created the position.

00:32:51Justice for Gervais,

00:32:53safety for all Canadians.

00:32:54We're calling on

00:32:55every level of government

00:32:57to ensure his best

00:32:58is not in vain.

00:32:59The violence we see now

00:33:00is not new.

00:33:01It's a continuation

00:33:02of generations

00:33:03of colonial harm.

00:33:05If we want true justice

00:33:06and safety for all Canadians,

00:33:08we must begin by

00:33:09acknowledging and correcting

00:33:11over 500 years of pain

00:33:13endured by the First Peoples

00:33:14of this land.

00:33:16How can we expect

00:33:17our young people

00:33:18to take responsibility

00:33:19for their actions

00:33:20when our own government

00:33:21refuses to be held

00:33:22accountable to the treaties

00:33:24and promises

00:33:25that were made

00:33:26long before this country

00:33:27was called Canada?

00:33:29Today, our youth

00:33:30are carrying the weight

00:33:31of systems that have

00:33:32failed them for generations.

00:33:34In 2024,

00:33:35Toronto recorded

00:33:36461 shootings,

00:33:38resulting in 43 deaths.

00:33:41on 120 injuries.

00:33:42As of this year,

00:33:4413 teenagers

00:33:45have already been charged

00:33:46in connection

00:33:46with murders

00:33:47across the city.

00:33:48Shame.

00:33:50These are not just statistics.

00:33:52They are stories

00:33:53of young lives lost,

00:33:55families grieving,

00:33:56and communities trapped

00:33:57in cycles of violence

00:33:58that stem from poverty,

00:33:59trauma, and neglect.

00:34:01These are not numbers.

00:34:03They are names,

00:34:04families,

00:34:05stories,

00:34:06and children.

00:34:06Save our children.

00:34:08Politicians,

00:34:10can you be more

00:34:11disconnected

00:34:12from our communities?

00:34:13Prime Minister,

00:34:15where's our young people's

00:34:16$60 million?

00:34:17How is that?

00:34:18While our city

00:34:19is in a state of emergency,

00:34:21our children

00:34:22are dying in the streets,

00:34:23and our families

00:34:24are crying for safety,

00:34:25our government

00:34:26can somehow find

00:34:27$60 million

00:34:28to send abroad

00:34:29for guns and gangs,

00:34:30but can't find

00:34:31the same urgency

00:34:32to protect

00:34:33marginalized youth

00:34:34right here at home.

00:34:35Shame.

00:34:38This isn't about

00:34:39turning our backs

00:34:40on others.

00:34:41It's about demanding

00:34:42the same compassion,

00:34:43investment,

00:34:44and justice

00:34:44for our own children.

00:34:46We are in crisis.

00:34:48Our youth are in crisis.

00:34:50This time,

00:34:50Canada's

00:34:51are allowed to hike it.

00:34:57A white child

00:34:58of loss

00:34:58is a proof

00:34:59of Canada's

00:35:00failure to act.

00:35:01Shame.

00:35:02Shame.

00:35:02Do you think so?

00:35:05Maybe.

00:35:07Shame.

00:35:08Did that work?

00:35:11Yes.

00:35:12Okay.

00:35:13Yay.

00:35:15Yay.

00:35:16Okay.

00:35:17So,

00:35:18every child's

00:35:19loss is proof

00:35:20for Canada's

00:35:20failure to act.

00:35:22Shame.

00:35:22Shame on this system

00:35:24that continues

00:35:25to bury our children

00:35:26while funding

00:35:27everything

00:35:27but their futures.

00:35:29If we truly

00:35:30want safer streets,

00:35:31we must invest

00:35:32in healing

00:35:33and prevention,

00:35:34not just punishment.

00:35:36We must build

00:35:36systems that protect

00:35:37youth,

00:35:38honour their potential,

00:35:39and create spaces

00:35:40where they are supported.

00:35:42Our petition

00:35:43calls on the

00:35:44government of Canada

00:35:45and members of

00:35:46Parliament

00:35:46to act decisively

00:35:47so that no other

00:35:48family,

00:35:49Indigenous or non,

00:35:50will have to

00:35:51live this nightmare.

00:35:53We demand

00:35:54the end of

00:35:54so-called

00:35:55tax and relief laws

00:35:56that allow

00:35:57violent offenders

00:35:58to walk free

00:35:58while families

00:35:59continue to suffer.

00:36:00We are calling

00:36:02on stricter

00:36:03bail conditions

00:36:04to ensure

00:36:04that individuals

00:36:05charged with

00:36:05homicides,

00:36:06banned fodder,

00:36:07sexual assault,

00:36:08exploitation,

00:36:09or weapons-related

00:36:10offences

00:36:11are not automatically

00:36:12released back

00:36:13into our community.

00:36:14Our message

00:36:15is simple.

00:36:16Public safety

00:36:17must come

00:36:17before political

00:36:18excuses.

00:36:20Every time

00:36:20a violent

00:36:21offender

00:36:21is released,

00:36:22it puts more

00:36:23lives at risk,

00:36:24and every lost

00:36:25life is a reminder

00:36:26that justice delayed

00:36:27is justice denied.

00:36:30We must reform

00:36:31the Youth Criminal

00:36:32Justice Act.

00:36:33We need accountability,

00:36:34not loophole.

00:36:36Repeat of violent

00:36:37offenders

00:36:38who are youth

00:36:39must face

00:36:39stricter monitoring,

00:36:40and in serious cases

00:36:41where public safety

00:36:42is at risk,

00:36:43their identities

00:36:44must be known.

00:36:46In addition

00:36:46to this change,

00:36:47we must include

00:36:48those who choose

00:36:49to turn a blind eye.

00:36:51When a youth

00:36:51partakes in violence,

00:36:53it's important

00:36:53to look at

00:36:54what environment

00:36:55allowed this

00:36:56to happen.

00:36:57Parents who

00:36:58ignore weapons,

00:36:59drugs, or abuse

00:37:00in their homes

00:37:00must face criminal

00:37:01and civil consequences.

00:37:04Parenting means

00:37:05responsibilities

00:37:06to guide

00:37:07and to protect.

00:37:09If your child

00:37:10breaks your neighbor's

00:37:11window,

00:37:11you are responsible.

00:37:13Therefore,

00:37:14if your child

00:37:14violently hurts

00:37:15someone,

00:37:16you too

00:37:16are responsible.

00:37:18If you abandon

00:37:19your parental duty,

00:37:21you too

00:37:21are accountable.

00:37:22you are neglectful.

00:37:25You need to

00:37:25tell us what it is.

00:37:28Children being

00:37:29involved in violence

00:37:30are becoming younger.

00:37:32We need to ask

00:37:32ourselves,

00:37:33how can we punish

00:37:34a child whose brain

00:37:35is infillly developed?

00:37:36We hear you.

00:37:37Yep,

00:37:38that should be.

00:37:39He's like,

00:37:39kid.

00:37:40That's right.

00:37:41Say it loud.

00:37:42How can we punish

00:37:43a child whose brain

00:37:45is infillly developed?

00:37:46How are we holding

00:37:47children responsible

00:37:48for choices that

00:37:49were shaped by trauma,

00:37:50neglect,

00:37:51and manipulation?

00:37:52Many of our young

00:37:54people are being

00:37:54targeted and groomed,

00:37:56left vulnerable,

00:37:57unprotected,

00:37:58meeting predators

00:37:59online or in

00:38:00their own neighborhoods.

00:38:02People are not

00:38:03born violent.

00:38:04They are being

00:38:05caught,

00:38:06used,

00:38:06and discarded

00:38:07by adults

00:38:07who profit

00:38:08from their pain.

00:38:09We cannot only

00:38:10criminalize our

00:38:11children while

00:38:12ignoring environments

00:38:13that fail them.

00:38:14Canada needs

00:38:15to look at the

00:38:16grooming and

00:38:16glorification of

00:38:17violence and call

00:38:18it for what it

00:38:19truly is,

00:38:20the exploitation

00:38:21of our young

00:38:22men.

00:38:23Shame on those

00:38:23who recruit

00:38:24our youth,

00:38:25who hand them

00:38:26guns,

00:38:26who profit

00:38:27from payoffs.

00:38:28When you lure

00:38:28a child into

00:38:29violence,

00:38:30you are stealing

00:38:31their future.

00:38:33Shame.

00:38:35If you are

00:38:36recruiting,

00:38:37arming,

00:38:37or exploiting

00:38:38our youth,

00:38:39you are not

00:38:39just part of

00:38:40the problem,

00:38:41you are the

00:38:42problem.

00:38:43You must be

00:38:44held accountable.

00:38:45The matter of

00:38:46fact is that

00:38:46we cannot arrest

00:38:47our way out

00:38:48of this crisis.

00:38:49We need to

00:38:50prepare to

00:38:51provide real

00:38:51solutions for

00:38:52Canadians.

00:38:54When are we,

00:38:54as the people,

00:38:55going to have

00:38:56a say in

00:38:57where our

00:38:57country spends

00:38:58its money?

00:39:00What is the

00:39:01point of democracy

00:39:01when we are

00:39:02forced to choose

00:39:03between the

00:39:03lesser evil

00:39:04instead of

00:39:05genuine solutions

00:39:06that protect and

00:39:06heal our

00:39:07communities?

00:39:08Canada needs

00:39:09investments in

00:39:10housing,

00:39:10education,

00:39:11and mental

00:39:11health supports,

00:39:12addictions,

00:39:13treatment,

00:39:14and Indigenous-led

00:39:14programs that

00:39:15service all

00:39:16Canadians.

00:39:17Safety comes

00:39:18from healing.

00:39:19And now,

00:39:20I leave you

00:39:20with the most

00:39:21important truth

00:39:22of all.

00:39:23Every act of

00:39:23violence against

00:39:24Indigenous people

00:39:25is an act of

00:39:26hate.

00:39:27For generations,

00:39:28this country has

00:39:29been built upon

00:39:30the hatred and

00:39:31displacement of

00:39:31Indigenous people,

00:39:34First Nations,

00:39:34Métis, and

00:39:35Inuit.

00:39:36Let's be honest,

00:39:38Canada is

00:39:39founded on

00:39:39genocide.

00:39:41Our very

00:39:42existence stands

00:39:43as a reminder

00:39:44that this land

00:39:45was never

00:39:45surrendered.

00:39:46We are the

00:39:48original

00:39:48caretakers,

00:39:49and the truth

00:39:50threatens those

00:39:50who seek to

00:39:51control and

00:39:52profit from

00:39:53what was never

00:39:53theirs and

00:39:54what isn't

00:39:55theirs.

00:39:56Because of

00:39:57that, we have

00:39:57been treated as

00:39:58obstacles, not

00:39:59people.

00:40:01It wasn't that

00:40:01long ago that

00:40:02it was legal to

00:40:03kill an Indian.

00:40:04It was considered

00:40:05sport.

00:40:06We were hunted,

00:40:07starved,

00:40:09sterilized,

00:40:10and stripped of

00:40:10our children and

00:40:11our culture,

00:40:12all under false

00:40:14promise of

00:40:15civilization.

00:40:16Shame on

00:40:16Canada.

00:40:19Canadians are

00:40:20quick to condemn

00:40:21the injustices of

00:40:22other countries but

00:40:23refuse to look in

00:40:23the mirror.

00:40:24Every taxpayer in

00:40:26this country is

00:40:26actively paying into

00:40:28the government that

00:40:29continues to

00:40:30perpetuate genocide

00:40:31through poverty,

00:40:33incarceration, stolen

00:40:34children, and

00:40:35silence.

00:40:36We are the only

00:40:37race of people in

00:40:38the world who have

00:40:38an entire set of

00:40:39laws that govern

00:40:40our existence.

00:40:41In the eyes of

00:40:42Canada, we are

00:40:43not seen as

00:40:44human beings.

00:40:45We are viewed as

00:40:46wards of the

00:40:46state.

00:40:48That apartheid

00:40:49system still exists

00:40:51today.

00:40:52It's called the

00:40:52Indian Act.

00:40:54This country

00:40:55controls our

00:40:55lands, our

00:40:56resources, our

00:40:57rights, and even

00:40:58our identities.

00:40:59It is this

00:41:00foundation of a

00:41:01system that's

00:41:02built to dehumanize,

00:41:03restrict, and

00:41:04erase indigenous

00:41:05people.

00:41:06If this country

00:41:06can use the

00:41:07power of law to

00:41:08protect wildlife,

00:41:09then it can use

00:41:10the same powers

00:41:11to protect

00:41:11indigenous lives.

00:41:13This is why we

00:41:14demand that every

00:41:15act of violence

00:41:16against indigenous

00:41:17people be treated

00:41:18and prosecuted as

00:41:19a hate crime.

00:41:20Because when

00:41:21someone fires a

00:41:21gun into a

00:41:22neighborhood without

00:41:23care for who

00:41:24gets hit, this

00:41:25is not random.

00:41:27It is a systemic

00:41:29disregard for

00:41:30indigenous life.

00:41:31That is hate,

00:41:32that is racism,

00:41:33and that is

00:41:34colonial violence

00:41:35continuing through

00:41:35modern systems.

00:41:37Today, we

00:41:37honor the life of

00:41:38DeVay Roy, and

00:41:39every child whose

00:41:40laughter was stolen

00:41:41too soon.

00:41:42We honor every

00:41:43mother who has

00:41:43buried their

00:41:44baby, every

00:41:45community left

00:41:46to grieve in

00:41:46silence, and

00:41:47every young

00:41:47person who still

00:41:48believes their

00:41:49life matters, even

00:41:50when this country

00:41:51tells them

00:41:52otherwise.

00:41:53Let's be more

00:41:54than another

00:41:55gathering.

00:41:56Let's be a

00:41:57movement, a

00:41:57movement that

00:41:58demands justice,

00:41:59accountability, and

00:42:00healing, not

00:42:01just for indigenous

00:42:02people, but for

00:42:03all Canadians.

00:42:04Because when one

00:42:05community suffers, the

00:42:07whole nation does

00:42:08change does not

00:42:10start in Parliament,

00:42:11it starts with us

00:42:12here today.

00:42:13It starts with

00:42:13speaking the truth,

00:42:15signing the

00:42:15petitions, and

00:42:16holding leaders and

00:42:17peers accountable.

00:42:19We're not asking

00:42:19for pity, you're

00:42:20demanding justice.

00:42:22We're not asking

00:42:23to be heard, we're

00:42:24demanding to be

00:42:25listened to, and

00:42:26we will not stop

00:42:27until our children

00:42:28are safe.

00:42:29Our families are

00:42:29healed, and our

00:42:30people are free.

00:42:32Our people deserve

00:42:33more than

00:42:34consistency, we

00:42:35deserve legal

00:42:36protection.

00:42:37We deserve laws

00:42:38that reflect the

00:42:39values of our

00:42:40lives.

00:42:41Until this country

00:42:42names what's

00:42:43happening for what

00:42:44it is, the

00:42:44violence will

00:42:45continue.

00:42:46Please take the

00:42:47time to sign our

00:42:47petition calling for

00:42:48stronger protections

00:42:49and justice for our

00:42:50children.

00:42:51You can also

00:42:52support the creation

00:42:53of Enagby's

00:42:54Anti-Violence

00:42:54Department, which

00:42:55will help us to

00:42:56continue providing

00:42:57prevention, education,

00:42:59healing, and

00:43:00lobbying for change

00:43:02for youth and

00:43:02families.

00:43:03Together, we can

00:43:04build safe communities

00:43:05for our future

00:43:06children.

00:43:07Ti-miigwech,

00:43:08everybody.

00:43:09I've spoken enough.

00:43:10I hope you all

00:43:10enjoy the rest of

00:43:11today.

00:43:12Miigwech.

00:43:16Everybody.

00:43:17Woo!

00:43:20Let's all come

00:43:21together and

00:43:22recognize and

00:43:23celebrate our

00:43:23Enagby Youth

00:43:24Council.

00:43:25At Enagby, youth

00:43:26voices are truly at

00:43:28the heart of

00:43:28everything we do.

00:43:29Without young

00:43:31people guiding our

00:43:32programs, shaping our

00:43:33direction, and leading

00:43:34our visions, this

00:43:35agency simply would

00:43:37not exist.

00:43:39These incredible

00:43:40young leaders are

00:43:41part of our 2024-2025

00:43:44Youth Council

00:43:45representing

00:43:46Indigenous youth

00:43:47across the

00:43:48greater Toronto

00:43:49area.

00:43:52Ensuring that

00:43:53Enagby continues

00:43:54to be a space

00:43:55built by youth

00:43:55for youth.

00:43:57As their term

00:43:58comes to an end,

00:43:59we're excited to

00:43:59announce that new

00:44:01Youth Council

00:44:01elections will be

00:44:02held on November

00:44:0314th, 2025, at our

00:44:06annual general

00:44:07meeting.

00:44:08Let's give a big

00:44:09round of applause

00:44:10for our Enagby Youth

00:44:11Council, the heart,

00:44:13the spirit, and

00:44:14future of our

00:44:14community.

00:44:16Go Enagby!

00:44:18Yay!

00:44:20And they're here

00:44:21to speak today.

00:44:22Miigwech.

00:44:23Let's give them a

00:44:23round of applause.

00:44:25Woo!

00:44:25For both Canada

00:44:27and the city of

00:44:28Toronto.

00:44:31First and foremost,

00:44:33we want to thank

00:44:34everyone here today

00:44:35for your support

00:44:37and solidarity.

00:44:39All your efforts

00:44:39do not go unnoticed.

00:44:42We are members of

00:44:44the Enagby

00:44:45Indigenous Youth

00:44:46Agency,

00:44:46a program run

00:44:50by Youth

00:44:51for Youth.

00:44:53My name is

00:44:55Cora Malley.

00:44:56I'm an

00:44:57Indigenous

00:44:58youth

00:44:59and born

00:45:00and raised

00:45:00in the city

00:45:01of Toronto.

00:45:03I am

00:45:04Anishinaabe

00:45:05and part

00:45:05of the Bear

00:45:06Clan.

00:45:08Our

00:45:08clan's

00:45:09responsibility

00:45:10is

00:45:10protection,

00:45:12to be

00:45:13guardians

00:45:13of our

00:45:14people

00:45:15and I

00:45:16take that

00:45:17role

00:45:17seriously.

00:45:19Which is

00:45:19why I'm

00:45:20standing here

00:45:21with you

00:45:21all today.

00:45:23As a

00:45:24young person

00:45:25raised in

00:45:26this city,

00:45:27I've seen

00:45:28firsthand

00:45:29how little

00:45:30effort

00:45:30Ontario

00:45:31and Canada

00:45:32have made

00:45:33to support

00:45:34the healthy

00:45:35development

00:45:35of youth

00:45:37or to

00:45:38address

00:45:38the growing

00:45:39rates of

00:45:39poverty

00:45:40across our

00:45:41communities.

00:45:42let alone

00:45:44the attempts

00:45:45to address

00:45:46the ongoing

00:45:47genocide

00:45:47of First

00:45:49Nations,

00:45:50Métis,

00:45:51and Inuit

00:45:51people.

00:45:53Every

00:45:54Indigenous

00:45:55person

00:45:55lost to

00:45:56natural

00:45:56causes

00:45:57is a

00:45:58well-executed

00:45:59plan

00:46:00to

00:46:01erudicate

00:46:02the

00:46:05Indian

00:46:05problem,

00:46:06a problem

00:46:07that Canada

00:46:08has had

00:46:09for over

00:46:09500 years.

00:46:12I'm not

00:46:13only here

00:46:13today to

00:46:14speak about

00:46:15Javet,

00:46:15but I also

00:46:17speak for

00:46:17my older

00:46:18brother who

00:46:19I recently

00:46:19lost,

00:46:21Tyrell

00:46:21Malley.

00:46:22My brother's

00:46:24life was

00:46:24treated as

00:46:25disposable by

00:46:26not only

00:46:27the Canadian

00:46:28government,

00:46:29but those

00:46:30who preyed

00:46:30upon him.

00:46:32Not one

00:46:33single system

00:46:34this failed

00:46:35government

00:46:35endures

00:46:36helped him.

00:46:37Why are

00:46:40we still

00:46:40silent?

00:46:41Why do

00:46:42we see

00:46:42these terrible

00:46:43things happening

00:46:44yet we are

00:46:45helpless to

00:46:46stop them

00:46:47because of

00:46:47the system?

00:46:50Testing.

00:46:52Ani,

00:46:52everyone.

00:46:53My name

00:46:54is Amber

00:46:55Lee Eckart.

00:46:56I am 27

00:46:56years old

00:46:57and I am

00:46:58a mixed

00:46:59Mi'kmaq

00:46:59Indigenous

00:46:59youth.

00:47:00And I

00:47:01also come

00:47:01from the

00:47:02Eagle

00:47:02Clan.

00:47:02The Eagle

00:47:04Clan carries

00:47:05the responsibility

00:47:06of spiritual

00:47:07leadership,

00:47:09symbolizing

00:47:09honor,

00:47:11truth,

00:47:12courage,

00:47:13wisdom,

00:47:14and freedom.

00:47:16I grew

00:47:17up in the

00:47:18child welfare

00:47:18system where

00:47:19my entire

00:47:20upbringing was

00:47:21spent in

00:47:21foster care.

00:47:23I know

00:47:23firsthand how

00:47:25this system

00:47:25can set up

00:47:26our youth

00:47:27for failure.

00:47:29Young

00:47:29people need

00:47:30belonging,

00:47:31love,

00:47:31and an

00:47:33understanding

00:47:33of their

00:47:34identity,

00:47:35all of

00:47:35which I

00:47:36was robbed

00:47:37of through

00:47:37the system.

00:47:40Today,

00:47:41I stand

00:47:41here as a

00:47:42youth council

00:47:42member with

00:47:43an Agbi

00:47:44Indigenous

00:47:44agency,

00:47:46representing

00:47:46the voices

00:47:47of the

00:47:48youth who,

00:47:48like me,

00:47:49have experienced

00:47:50struggle but

00:47:52continue to

00:47:52rise above.

00:47:55I've

00:47:55participated in

00:47:56the Agbi

00:47:57youth program

00:47:58for the past

00:47:58four years

00:47:59where they

00:48:00have supported

00:48:01me in

00:48:01countless ways,

00:48:03from housing

00:48:03to employment

00:48:05and everything

00:48:06in between.

00:48:08Because of

00:48:08this community,

00:48:09I am able

00:48:10to stand here

00:48:11proud of my

00:48:12roots,

00:48:13alongside all

00:48:14of you,

00:48:15to demand

00:48:16justice for

00:48:16those who

00:48:17have been

00:48:17taken from

00:48:18us far

00:48:18too soon,

00:48:20for those

00:48:21whose deaths

00:48:21could have

00:48:22been prevented.

00:48:26This is a

00:48:27symptom of a

00:48:29system that

00:48:30continues to

00:48:31fail us,

00:48:33one that

00:48:33Canada refuses

00:48:34to change.

00:48:36It doesn't

00:48:37matter which

00:48:37party is in

00:48:38power, they

00:48:39continue to put

00:48:40the health and

00:48:41wellness of

00:48:41Canadians on

00:48:42the back burner

00:48:42while spending

00:48:44millions on

00:48:45things no

00:48:46Canadian asked

00:48:48for.

00:48:48Shame!

00:48:49Shame!

00:48:50Shame!

00:48:51Shame!

00:48:52Shame!

00:48:52Canada can

00:48:54portray to the

00:48:54world that we

00:48:55are an inviting

00:48:56country, willing to

00:48:58help our brothers

00:48:58and sisters across

00:48:59the world who are

00:49:00in need.

00:49:01Shame!

00:49:02Shame!

00:49:03Shame!

00:49:03We all want you

00:49:04to know the

00:49:04truth, the truth

00:49:07that Canada has

00:49:08blood on its

00:49:09hands, shame, not

00:49:14only of our

00:49:15ancestors, but of

00:49:16all the loved ones

00:49:18taken to this

00:49:19day.

00:49:21At a

00:49:21Negbi, at a

00:49:27Negbi, we know

00:49:28grief far too

00:49:29well.

00:49:29We have buried

00:49:31countless youth, and

00:49:33will continue to do

00:49:34so if Canada doesn't

00:49:35take immediate

00:49:36action.

00:49:38Shame!

00:49:39Shame!

00:49:47Today, we gather

00:49:49with broken hearts

00:49:50to create change

00:49:52and honor of

00:49:53lives taken far

00:49:54too soon.

00:49:56We must not

00:49:57forget whose

00:49:58death brought us

00:49:59all here today.

00:50:01His name was

00:50:02Javay Roy.

00:50:04We are here

00:50:05because our

00:50:06community is in

00:50:07a state of

00:50:08constant grief,

00:50:10shock, and

00:50:11pain.

00:50:13We have to

00:50:14yet, we

00:50:14have yet to

00:50:17catch a break

00:50:18from a country

00:50:19that wouldn't be

00:50:20here without

00:50:20Indigenous people.

00:50:23Our people have

00:50:24died for this

00:50:25country.

00:50:27Our people will

00:50:28continue to

00:50:29continue to

00:50:29die for this

00:50:30country without

00:50:32any regulation

00:50:33so the average

00:50:35Canadian can

00:50:36indulge in a

00:50:37life of luxury.

00:50:39Javay was a

00:50:40brother, cousin,

00:50:42nephew, friend,

00:50:45son, and

00:50:47grandchild.

00:50:49Say his name.

00:50:51Javay was a

00:50:59eight-year-old

00:51:00Afro-Anishinaabe

00:51:01boy, full of

00:51:03energy, laughter,

00:51:04and kindness.

00:51:06He loved playing

00:51:08with his friends,

00:51:09being outdoors,

00:51:11and he especially

00:51:12loved his mom

00:51:13and family.

00:51:14We had the

00:51:16privilege of

00:51:17knowing Javay

00:51:18Adanegbe.

00:51:20He was an

00:51:21active participant

00:51:22in our programs,

00:51:24proud to see

00:51:25his mom at

00:51:25work, and

00:51:27proud to attend

00:51:28ceremonies and

00:51:29gatherings.

00:51:32Javay, at his

00:51:32young age, was a

00:51:34knowledge keeper

00:51:34himself.

00:51:36He talked about

00:51:37how he couldn't

00:51:38wait until he

00:51:39turned 12,

00:51:40because that's

00:51:41when he could

00:51:42officially join our

00:51:43programming.

00:51:44My family spent

00:51:46time with his

00:51:47presence at an

00:51:48Indigenous getaway

00:51:49camp, to spend

00:51:51time with the

00:51:52community and

00:51:53family.

00:51:54We experienced

00:51:56his strength and

00:51:57charisma.

00:51:59He wanted to be

00:52:00a leader.

00:52:01He wanted to be

00:52:03a voice.

00:52:04He wanted to

00:52:05make a difference.

00:52:07That chance was

00:52:08stolen from him,

00:52:10and with it, a

00:52:11piece of all of

00:52:12us was stolen

00:52:13too.

00:52:16But we will not

00:52:17allow Javay's

00:52:18death to be in

00:52:19vain.

00:52:20He will continue

00:52:21to be a leader

00:52:22through us.

00:52:24Say his name.

00:52:26Javay!

00:52:26We are all here

00:52:33because this tragedy

00:52:34should have never

00:52:36happened.

00:52:37None of the loss

00:52:38we have endured

00:52:38should have ever

00:52:40happened.

00:52:42Every child deserves

00:52:44to be safe in their

00:52:46homes, asleep in bed

00:52:48beside the one person

00:52:50they feel safest with,

00:52:51our moms.

00:52:54We are here because

00:52:57the system meant to

00:52:58protect us has

00:52:59failed like it has

00:53:01been for the past

00:53:02500 years.

00:53:06Shame!

00:53:10There is far too many

00:53:11violent offenders,

00:53:13young, youth, and

00:53:15adult, released back

00:53:17into our communities

00:53:18under catch-and-release

00:53:20laws.

00:53:21And too often,

00:53:22when Indigenous

00:53:23people are harmed,

00:53:25those crimes are

00:53:25either minimized or

00:53:28explained away.

00:53:31Today, we say,

00:53:34enough is enough!

00:53:36Enough is enough!

00:53:38Today, we say,

00:53:41no more catch-and-release!

00:53:42We say every child

00:53:49and person's life

00:53:51must be valued.

00:53:53We say his name.

00:53:55Javay!

00:53:56Javay!

00:54:00We're calling for

00:54:01a new law.

00:54:03Javay's law.

00:54:05A law that ensures

00:54:06that any act of

00:54:08violence against

00:54:08Indigenous peoples,

00:54:10deliberate or

00:54:11accidental,

00:54:12is treated as a

00:54:13hate crime.

00:54:14We deserve to feel

00:54:16safe on our

00:54:16inherent land!

00:54:19History has shown

00:54:20that these acts of

00:54:21violence are never

00:54:23separate from

00:54:24colonialism.

00:54:25It's part of its

00:54:26legacy.

00:54:28A legacy that

00:54:29continues to live

00:54:30within every

00:54:31Canadian household

00:54:32today.

00:54:34It's time we

00:54:35step up.

00:54:36It's time Canada

00:54:37steps up and

00:54:39changes their

00:54:40narrative to make

00:54:41First Nation,

00:54:43Métis,

00:54:44Inuit people

00:54:45a priority.

00:54:47Say his name!

00:54:49Javay!

00:54:50Say his name!

00:54:51Javay!

00:54:52Javay!

00:54:55We know that

00:54:56justice is not

00:54:57just about

00:54:57punishment.

00:54:59Real safety

00:55:00means prevention.

00:55:02Real safety

00:55:03means dignity.

00:55:05Real safety

00:55:06means opportunity.

00:55:07we need more

00:55:10than handcuffs.

00:55:12We need

00:55:12liable wages,

00:55:15stronger social

00:55:16supports,

00:55:16safe housing,

00:55:18and food security

00:55:20so that families

00:55:22don't have to turn

00:55:23to desperate

00:55:24measures just

00:55:25to survive.

00:55:27Say his name!

00:55:29Javay!

00:55:30We need police

00:55:35who serve,

00:55:37not condemn.

00:55:39Officers who

00:55:40show up to our

00:55:41positive rallies

00:55:42and events.

00:55:44Join us in

00:55:45ceremony,

00:55:46in sport,

00:55:47and in community.

00:55:49Not only when

00:55:51it's time to

00:55:52criminalize poverty,

00:55:53we must protect

00:55:56our youth from

00:55:57the grooming

00:55:57and glorification

00:55:58of violence.

00:56:03Too many are

00:56:05being pulled

00:56:05into street life

00:56:06by older peers

00:56:07and media

00:56:09that celebrate

00:56:09destruction

00:56:10instead of life.

00:56:13We must hold

00:56:14accountable

00:56:15those who profit

00:56:17from this loss

00:56:18of community.

00:56:19And we must

00:56:21protect our youth

00:56:22from being

00:56:23targeted and used.

00:56:24to the young

00:56:26people listening.

00:56:29It is not cool

00:56:30to pick up a gun.

00:56:32It is not fashion

00:56:34to have to wear

00:56:35your loved ones

00:56:36on a t-shirt.

00:56:38It is not brave

00:56:40to hurt people.

00:56:42It is not strength

00:56:43to take a life.

00:56:45It's cowardice!

00:56:48Do you know

00:56:49what's really cool?

00:56:51Being a plumber,

00:56:53electrician,

00:56:55carpenter,

00:56:57teacher,

00:56:59knowledge keeper

00:57:00or leader,

00:57:01learning a trade,

00:57:05building a career,

00:57:07raising a family,

00:57:09giving back

00:57:10to your community.

00:57:12That's what lasts.

00:57:14That's what builds

00:57:15a future.

00:57:18Plows social media,

00:57:19music

00:57:21or other influences

00:57:23to convince

00:57:25our youth

00:57:26that destruction

00:57:27earns respect.

00:57:29Respect comes

00:57:30from creation,

00:57:32not violence.

00:57:35To my peers

00:57:36who have been

00:57:37influenced

00:57:37by the lies,

00:57:40the promises

00:57:41and dreams

00:57:42sold to you,

00:57:44let me be the first

00:57:45to say

00:57:46happiness

00:57:47doesn't come

00:57:47in the form

00:57:48of bringing pain

00:57:49to others.

00:57:51I wonder

00:57:52if they tell you

00:57:53about the pain

00:57:54that comes

00:57:55with that lifestyle.

00:57:57Did they tell you

00:57:58about the cold nights

00:57:59when you're locked

00:58:00in a two-man cell

00:58:01with four people in it?

00:58:03Did they tell you

00:58:04about missing

00:58:05your mom's voice,

00:58:07your child's laughter

00:58:08or the smell

00:58:10of your home?

00:58:12Did those

00:58:13who groomed you

00:58:14ever explain

00:58:15the nightmares,

00:58:17the guilt

00:58:18or the emptiness

00:58:19that follows

00:58:20when the noise

00:58:22fades

00:58:22and you're left

00:58:24alone with your thoughts?

00:58:26They didn't tell you

00:58:27that violence

00:58:28doesn't build you,

00:58:30it breaks you.

00:58:33It steals your potential,

00:58:35your freedom

00:58:36and your chance

00:58:37to live in peace.

00:58:43My brother Tyrell

00:58:44didn't deserve to die.

00:58:47He lived a life

00:58:48with no regrets.

00:58:50Why do I get turned down

00:58:52when I want justice

00:58:53and action

00:58:54to be taken

00:58:55on the person

00:58:56who ended his life?

00:58:59Why does my family

00:59:00need to suffer?

00:59:02Why does any

00:59:03indigenous person

00:59:04need to feel

00:59:06this pain

00:59:07of losing

00:59:07someone close

00:59:08and not being able

00:59:10to speak on it?

00:59:13When will that change?

00:59:15When will we get

00:59:17peace?

00:59:19We stand here

00:59:20strong for our loved ones.

00:59:23The community

00:59:23misses you,

00:59:24Javay.

00:59:25Say his name.

00:59:27Javay!

00:59:28Javay!

00:59:32Canada, please.

00:59:33We are urging you

00:59:36as the young people

00:59:38of this country,

00:59:39don't let his name

00:59:41become another statistic.

00:59:44Let's build a future

00:59:45where not only

00:59:46indigenous children,

00:59:47but all children

00:59:48can play,

00:59:50laugh,

00:59:51and grow without fear.

00:59:53We demand that Canada

00:59:55invests in us,

00:59:57in our children,

00:59:58in our families,

01:00:00and in our communities.

01:00:03This,

01:00:03this is for Javay.

01:00:06This is for Tyrell.

01:00:09This is for Samuel.

01:00:11This is for all children

01:00:13and all future generations

01:00:15to come.

01:00:17We will not stop fighting

01:00:20until we receive justice.

01:00:23Justice for Javay

01:00:25is justice for all.

01:00:28For our children.

01:00:30For our future.

01:00:32For our people.

01:00:34On behalf

01:00:35of the Anegbi Youth Council,

01:00:39miigwech.

01:00:42to honor Shayna Macaulay,

01:00:51the founder of

01:00:52Find Ontario Missing Voice,

01:00:54a nationally recognized movement

01:00:57that has captured hearts

01:00:58across the country

01:00:59through a powerful message

01:01:00community impact.

01:01:03Shayna's work

01:01:04has been shaped

01:01:05by lived experience

01:01:06and a deep commitment

01:01:07to justice.

01:01:09Through her leadership,

01:01:10she has built

01:01:12a trusted platform

01:01:14that advocates

01:01:14for families

01:01:15of missing boys,

01:01:16uplifts their voices,

01:01:18and brings much-needed awareness

01:01:20to the realities

01:01:21facing our communities.

01:01:24Her advocacy

01:01:25is grounded

01:01:25in truth,

01:01:26healing,

01:01:27and community connection,

01:01:28and she continues

01:01:29to use her voice

01:01:30to shine light

01:01:31on stories

01:01:31that too often

01:01:32go unhurt.

01:01:34Please join me

01:01:35in welcoming

01:01:35Shayna Macaulay,

01:01:36a powerful advocate,

01:01:38a community leader,

01:01:39and a heart behind

01:01:41Find Ontario Missing Voice.

01:01:43Niigwech.

01:01:46The welcoming

01:01:47brothers and sisters

01:01:50here today

01:01:51in Agni community,

01:01:53and I even see

01:01:54some of my

01:01:55Find Ontario Missing Voice

01:01:56community here as well.

01:01:59Thank you to Briar,

01:02:00Rose, and Agni

01:02:01for inviting me

01:02:02to speak

01:02:02and to demand justice

01:02:04here today

01:02:05with all of you.

01:02:05I know

01:02:08many of us

01:02:09here today

01:02:09are feeling

01:02:09anger,

01:02:11fear,

01:02:12and frustration.

01:02:13We've seen

01:02:14the headlines

01:02:15that break

01:02:16our hearts,

01:02:17and we want

01:02:18justice.

01:02:20But justice

01:02:21cannot come

01:02:22from punishment

01:02:23alone.

01:02:24It comes

01:02:25from prevention,

01:02:26from healing,

01:02:28from giving

01:02:29our children

01:02:30a chance

01:02:31to thrive

01:02:32before they're

01:02:33lost

01:02:33to the system.

01:02:36I stand

01:02:37here

01:02:37not to call

01:02:40for harsher

01:02:40penalties,

01:02:41but for stronger

01:02:42support,

01:02:44for mentorship,

01:02:46for mental health,

01:02:47for community

01:02:48care,

01:02:49because the solution

01:02:50to youth violence

01:02:51is not

01:02:52locking up

01:02:53our youth.

01:02:54It's unlocking

01:02:55their potential.

01:02:56I stand

01:02:59before you

01:02:59today

01:03:00with the

01:03:00weight

01:03:00of our

01:03:01missing

01:03:02children

01:03:02on my

01:03:04heart.

01:03:05But I also

01:03:06stand here

01:03:06with something

01:03:07stronger than

01:03:08sorrow.

01:03:09I stand

01:03:10with hope.

01:03:12Hope

01:03:13that if we

01:03:13keep speaking,

01:03:15keep fighting,

01:03:16keep protecting,

01:03:18we will build

01:03:18a future

01:03:19where no parent

01:03:20has to search

01:03:21for their child

01:03:22alone.

01:03:23When people

01:03:25think of

01:03:26human trafficking,

01:03:27they picture

01:03:28scenes from

01:03:29movies,

01:03:30a van pulling

01:03:31up,

01:03:32a stranger

01:03:33grabbing a

01:03:33child off

01:03:34the street.

01:03:35But here

01:03:36in Toronto,

01:03:38it looks

01:03:38different.

01:03:40It's quieter,

01:03:42it's disguised,

01:03:44it's insidious.

01:03:46Here,

01:03:47it looks like

01:03:48a nine-year-old

01:03:49boy,

01:03:50vulnerable,

01:03:50yearning for

01:03:52his father's

01:03:53love,

01:03:54being groomed

01:03:55by a man

01:03:55who promises

01:03:56to take him

01:03:57to Montreal

01:03:58in search

01:03:59for his dad.

01:04:01It looks

01:04:02like friendship

01:04:03that turns

01:04:04into manipulation.

01:04:06It looks

01:04:07like adults

01:04:08pretending

01:04:08to care,

01:04:10buying gifts,

01:04:11taking them

01:04:11out to eat,

01:04:13all while

01:04:13preying on

01:04:14the innocence

01:04:15of our

01:04:16children.

01:04:16It looks

01:04:18like trust

01:04:19weaponized.

01:04:21In this

01:04:22work,

01:04:23I have spoken

01:04:24directly with

01:04:24mayors,

01:04:26the RCMP,

01:04:27criminal

01:04:28investigations,

01:04:29human trafficking

01:04:30detectives,

01:04:31and missing

01:04:32person units

01:04:33across Toronto,

01:04:34Sarnia,

01:04:35to Thunder

01:04:36Bay.

01:04:37And now,

01:04:38I'm getting

01:04:38ready to leave

01:04:39for Saskatchewan,

01:04:41where I'm

01:04:41preparing to

01:04:42continue the

01:04:42search for

01:04:4316-year-old

01:04:44J. Zia

01:04:45Webb Long,

01:04:47Missing

01:04:48from Brampton

01:04:49since March

01:04:5027,

01:04:512025.

01:04:54Along

01:04:55this journey,

01:04:56I helped

01:04:57locate one

01:04:57boy in

01:04:58Thunder Bay,

01:04:59what we now

01:05:00call a

01:05:01Red Zone,

01:05:02an area

01:05:04where many

01:05:04of our

01:05:04boys are

01:05:05being found

01:05:06as victims

01:05:07of human

01:05:08trafficking.

01:05:09Through

01:05:11these efforts,

01:05:12I have

01:05:12uncovered

01:05:13patterns of

01:05:14exploitation

01:05:15and systemic

01:05:16neglect,

01:05:18and built

01:05:18a network

01:05:19of families,

01:05:20advocates,

01:05:21allies,

01:05:23community

01:05:23leaders,

01:05:24demanding

01:05:24accountability.

01:05:26I have been

01:05:28advocating for

01:05:29our boys

01:05:30for a year

01:05:30now,

01:05:31and let me

01:05:31tell you,

01:05:32this is a

01:05:33crisis.

01:05:35Dozens of

01:05:36boys have

01:05:37gone missing

01:05:37across Ontario

01:05:39this year

01:05:39alone.

01:05:41Across

01:05:42Ontario,

01:05:43in Aurelia,

01:05:44Niagara,

01:05:45London,

01:05:46Windsor,

01:05:47Sarnia,

01:05:48Sudbury,

01:05:49Barrie,

01:05:50all the way,

01:05:5115 hours away

01:05:52from Toronto,

01:05:53in Thunder Bay.

01:05:55What I now

01:05:56call our

01:05:57Red Zones.

01:05:59Our boys

01:06:00are being

01:06:00found,

01:06:01exploited,

01:06:02and discarded.

01:06:04Shame!

01:06:06I coined

01:06:07that term

01:06:08because these

01:06:08are not

01:06:09just danger

01:06:09areas.

01:06:10They are

01:06:11warning signs

01:06:12of a

01:06:12national

01:06:12crisis

01:06:13hiding

01:06:14in plain

01:06:15sight.

01:06:19I've been

01:06:20to Thunder

01:06:20Bay myself.

01:06:22I helped

01:06:23locate a

01:06:24boy there

01:06:24who came

01:06:25home

01:06:25disoriented,

01:06:27starving,

01:06:28and robbed

01:06:29and robbed

01:06:29of his

01:06:29innocence.

01:06:31A child

01:06:32who should

01:06:33have been

01:06:33safe in

01:06:34his own

01:06:35community,

01:06:36at his

01:06:36school,

01:06:37on his

01:06:38block.

01:06:39In these

01:06:40red zones,

01:06:42the Indigenous

01:06:42community is

01:06:44suffering profoundly

01:06:46from addiction

01:06:48to the ongoing

01:06:49tragedy of

01:06:51their missing

01:06:51and murdered

01:06:52boys and

01:06:53girls,

01:06:54women and

01:06:55men.

01:06:57Thunder Bay

01:06:57has one of the

01:06:58highest rates

01:06:59of violent

01:06:59deaths in the

01:07:00country,

01:07:01yet few seem

01:07:03to be willing

01:07:04to confront

01:07:04how this

01:07:05reality connects

01:07:07to the

01:07:07exploitation

01:07:08of our

01:07:09youth.

01:07:12The living

01:07:13conditions

01:07:14there are

01:07:14deplorable,

01:07:16the product

01:07:16of systemic

01:07:17neglect.

01:07:18I would call

01:07:18it a state

01:07:19of emergency.

01:07:21When people's

01:07:23homes are

01:07:23being taken

01:07:24over and

01:07:25used by the

01:07:26same predators

01:07:27who exploit

01:07:28our boys in

01:07:29the illicit

01:07:29drug trade.

01:07:32One woman

01:07:33was held

01:07:33against her

01:07:34will inside

01:07:35of her

01:07:35apartment

01:07:35for eight

01:07:36months.

01:07:38This apartment

01:07:39was turned

01:07:40into a trap

01:07:40house where

01:07:41our boys

01:07:42are held

01:07:42and worked

01:07:4324-7.

01:07:47The pain

01:07:48of Indigenous

01:07:48families in

01:07:49Thunder Bay

01:07:50mirrors the

01:07:52pain of our

01:07:52own communities.

01:07:54Their fight

01:07:55is our

01:07:56fight.

01:08:00Often our

01:08:01boys are

01:08:01targeted at

01:08:02their schools,

01:08:03at the mall,

01:08:04at convenience

01:08:05stores,

01:08:05community

01:08:06centers,

01:08:07and basketball

01:08:08courts.

01:08:09And I've

01:08:10seen the

01:08:10same story

01:08:11repeat itself

01:08:12over and

01:08:13over again.

01:08:17When our

01:08:18boys go

01:08:19missing,

01:08:19the silence

01:08:20is deafening.

01:08:21But when

01:08:22they're accused

01:08:22of crimes,

01:08:23the headlines

01:08:24are loud.

01:08:27These

01:08:27children's

01:08:28cries for help

01:08:29were ignored

01:08:30until it was

01:08:30too late.

01:08:32They needed

01:08:32guidance,

01:08:33they needed

01:08:33care,

01:08:34they needed

01:08:34protection,

01:08:35but instead

01:08:36they were

01:08:37ignored until

01:08:38the worst

01:08:38happened.

01:08:40This is why

01:08:41I say this

01:08:42is not just

01:08:43about crime,

01:08:44this is about

01:08:45crisis.

01:08:47The crisis

01:08:48that strips

01:08:49away the

01:08:49childhood,

01:08:50the innocence,

01:08:51and the future

01:08:52of our boys

01:08:53and girls.

01:08:54A crisis that

01:08:55robs our

01:08:56community of

01:08:57its future

01:08:57doctors,

01:08:58scientists,

01:08:59artists,

01:09:00and leaders.

01:09:02When I saw

01:09:03Samuel Byrd's

01:09:07mother in a

01:09:09small boat

01:09:10searching for

01:09:12her son's

01:09:13body in

01:09:15the lake

01:09:16with her

01:09:16own hands,

01:09:18my heart

01:09:19shattered.

01:09:24When I

01:09:25watched

01:09:26Holly Roy's

01:09:27tears as

01:09:29she stood

01:09:29before a

01:09:30bullet hole

01:09:31in her son's

01:09:31bedroom window,

01:09:33my heart

01:09:33broke.

01:09:36When I

01:09:37speak with

01:09:37parents who

01:09:38are denied

01:09:39the right to

01:09:40file a

01:09:40missing persons

01:09:41report,

01:09:42my heart

01:09:43fills with

01:09:44both anger

01:09:45and determination.

01:09:48But anger

01:09:49alone cannot

01:09:50carry us

01:09:51forward.

01:09:52The only

01:09:53way to

01:09:53fight this

01:09:53crisis is

01:09:55with protection,

01:09:56solidarity,

01:09:58and justice.

01:09:59Because if we

01:10:00don't do it,

01:10:02nobody will.

01:10:05I have been

01:10:06told this

01:10:07isn't human

01:10:08trafficking,

01:10:09that our

01:10:10boys are

01:10:11just runaways.

01:10:14That

01:10:14statement isn't

01:10:15just dismissive,

01:10:17it's dangerous.

01:10:20When

01:10:21Shanice Long

01:10:22tried to

01:10:23file a

01:10:24missing persons

01:10:24report for

01:10:25her son,

01:10:26Josiah

01:10:27Webb Long

01:10:27in Peel

01:10:28Region and

01:10:29was denied.

01:10:32That was

01:10:33not a

01:10:33mistake.

01:10:35That was

01:10:36bias.

01:10:38That was

01:10:39a system

01:10:40telling her

01:10:40that her

01:10:41son's life

01:10:42did not

01:10:43matter.

01:10:45And

01:10:46Josiah's

01:10:46story is

01:10:47not isolated.

01:10:49He was

01:10:49taken from

01:10:50Brampton

01:10:50to

01:10:51Pelican

01:10:52Narrows,

01:10:53Saskatchewan.

01:10:55Let that

01:10:56sink in.

01:11:02That is

01:11:03cross-provincial

01:11:04trafficking.

01:11:07That must be

01:11:08named

01:11:08and stopped.

01:11:12According to

01:11:13Canadian law,

01:11:14labor trafficking

01:11:15is the

01:11:15recruitment,

01:11:17transportation,

01:11:18and harboring

01:11:19or control

01:11:21of a person

01:11:22through force,

01:11:23fraud,

01:11:24deception,

01:11:25or coercion

01:11:26for the purpose

01:11:27of exploitation.

01:11:29Our boys

01:11:30are not

01:11:31invisible,

01:11:32they are not

01:11:33disposable,

01:11:34and they are

01:11:35not criminals.

01:11:37They are

01:11:38sons,

01:11:39dreamers,

01:11:40students,

01:11:41the heartbeat

01:11:41of their communities,

01:11:42and they deserve

01:11:43protection,

01:11:45not suspicion.

01:11:46the gun

01:11:47violence,

01:11:49the home

01:11:50invasions,

01:11:51the vehicle

01:11:52thefts,

01:11:53the jewelry

01:11:54store heists,

01:11:55the murders.

01:11:58These are

01:11:59not random

01:11:59acts.

01:12:02They are

01:12:03outcomes

01:12:04of a system

01:12:06that ignores

01:12:08and punishes

01:12:11before ever

01:12:13protecting.

01:12:13when one

01:12:15boy

01:12:16disappears,

01:12:17another

01:12:18is taken.

01:12:21The cycle

01:12:22continues

01:12:23while we

01:12:24wait for

01:12:24someone else

01:12:25to stop it.

01:12:27Too often

01:12:27our boys

01:12:28are found,

01:12:29when they're

01:12:30found,

01:12:31they're in

01:12:32the company

01:12:32of adults

01:12:33who knew

01:12:35they were

01:12:35missing,

01:12:37adults who

01:12:38are never

01:12:38questioned,

01:12:39never charged,

01:12:41never held

01:12:43accountable,

01:12:44we must

01:12:48start to

01:12:48ask why.

01:12:52This is

01:12:53human trafficking,

01:12:54and we

01:12:56must name

01:12:56it,

01:12:57fight it,

01:12:59and end

01:13:00it.

01:13:01When girls

01:13:02go missing,

01:13:04they're treated

01:13:05as victims,

01:13:06and rightfully

01:13:07so,

01:13:08but when boys

01:13:08go missing,

01:13:10they're treated

01:13:11as runaways

01:13:12and criminals.

01:13:15The double

01:13:16standard must

01:13:18end.

01:13:20I will now

01:13:22say our

01:13:22current missing

01:13:23boys' names

01:13:24in order

01:13:25by age.

01:13:28Kamal,

01:13:29six years

01:13:29old,

01:13:30from Toronto.

01:13:31Julius,

01:13:3212 years

01:13:33old,

01:13:34from Toronto.

01:13:34Roman and

01:13:37Stephen,

01:13:3812 and

01:13:3913 years

01:13:39old,

01:13:40from Hamilton.

01:13:43Raphael,

01:13:4414 years

01:13:44old,

01:13:45from Oshawa.

01:13:47Carlisle,

01:13:4815 years

01:13:49old,

01:13:49from Toronto.

01:13:52Karaya,

01:13:5315 years

01:13:54old,

01:13:55from Toronto.

01:13:56DeAndre,

01:13:5716 years

01:13:58old,

01:13:59from Toronto.

01:14:01Josiah

01:14:02Webb-Long,

01:14:03from Brampton,

01:14:05now tracked

01:14:06to Pelican

01:14:06Narrows,

01:14:0716 years

01:14:08old.

01:14:11Feel their

01:14:12absence

01:14:13and demand

01:14:14their return.

01:14:18In 2021,

01:14:20the Independent

01:14:20Civilian Review

01:14:21into Missing

01:14:22Persons

01:14:23Investigations,

01:14:24led by Justice

01:14:25Gloria Epstein,

01:14:26made 151

01:14:28recommendations

01:14:29to Toronto

01:14:29Police

01:14:30and its

01:14:32board.

01:14:33Born

01:14:34from the

01:14:34failures

01:14:35that allowed

01:14:35a serial

01:14:36killer

01:14:37to target

01:14:37men

01:14:38from the

01:14:38LGBTQ plus

01:14:39community,

01:14:41those are

01:14:41recommendations

01:14:42called for

01:14:43urgent priority

01:14:46in missing

01:14:47persons cases,

01:14:48family communication

01:14:50and compassion

01:14:51as a core duty,

01:14:53data tracking

01:14:54by race,

01:14:55age,

01:14:55location

01:14:56to expose

01:14:57bias

01:14:58bias and

01:14:59prevent

01:14:59erasure.

01:15:02Yet today,

01:15:03only a small

01:15:04fraction

01:15:05have been fully

01:15:06implemented.

01:15:08Families are still

01:15:09ignored,

01:15:10our boys

01:15:12are still

01:15:12missing,

01:15:13and the data

01:15:15is nowhere

01:15:16to be seen.

01:15:20So,

01:15:21to our leaders,

01:15:23implement

01:15:24every recommendation,

01:15:26no more delay

01:15:28and no more excuses.

01:15:32We need urgent investment

01:15:34in prevention,

01:15:35mentorship,

01:15:36mental health

01:15:37and community care.

01:15:38We need leaders

01:15:40who respond

01:15:41when our children

01:15:42go missing,

01:15:44not just when

01:15:45they make headlines.

01:15:46safe spaces

01:15:50before our children

01:15:52fall into

01:15:53dangerous ones.

01:15:55We must meet

01:15:56this crisis

01:15:57with empathy,

01:15:58not indifference,

01:15:59with urgency,

01:16:01not excuses,

01:16:03with courage,

01:16:04not complacency.

01:16:07Because every

01:16:08missing boy

01:16:09is a reflection

01:16:10of what we fail

01:16:11to see as a society,

01:16:13the potential,

01:16:14the promise

01:16:15and the pain

01:16:16we've refused

01:16:18to acknowledge.

01:16:22To the mothers

01:16:23who have lost

01:16:26their sons,

01:16:27I see you.

01:16:30To the fathers

01:16:31who are still searching,

01:16:33I walk beside you.

01:16:37To the families

01:16:38who feel voiceless,

01:16:40I speak for you.

01:16:42We cannot wait

01:16:46for another headline,

01:16:48another crime,

01:16:51another funeral.

01:16:54If we want real safety,

01:16:56we must start

01:16:57with accountability.

01:16:59And if we want

01:16:59real change,

01:17:01we must start

01:17:01with unity.

01:17:02I may sound

01:17:05frustrated right now,

01:17:06but my frustration

01:17:09comes from

01:17:10care,

01:17:11care for our youth,

01:17:13our communities,

01:17:14our future.

01:17:17Let us listen

01:17:19before we lose

01:17:20another child.

01:17:21Let us rebuild trust

01:17:23before more lives

01:17:24are taken

01:17:25or lost

01:17:26to despair.

01:17:26Let us break

01:17:29this cycle.

01:17:30The pipeline

01:17:30from school

01:17:32to prison

01:17:33must end.

01:17:35And together,

01:17:36we can end it.

01:17:38Before another child

01:17:40dies,

01:17:41before another mother

01:17:42cries,

01:17:44before another family

01:17:45has to bury

01:17:46their beloved son

01:17:48or grandmother.

01:17:52We must act now.

01:17:54Not tomorrow,

01:17:56not next week,

01:17:58but now.

01:17:59Let us rise together

01:18:01in honor

01:18:02of Samuel Bird,

01:18:05in memory

01:18:06of Javay Roy,

01:18:09and in solidarity

01:18:12with every missing

01:18:13boy and girl

01:18:14whose names

01:18:15we still speak.

01:18:20Let us be the voice

01:18:21that refuses

01:18:22to be silenced.

01:18:24Let us demand

01:18:25the justice

01:18:26that refuses

01:18:27to be ignored.

01:18:29Because saving

01:18:31our children

01:18:31is not just a cause,

01:18:34it's our calling.

01:18:39So now we're

01:18:45going to call on

01:18:46the mom of Javay,

01:18:48Holly Roy.

01:18:49Let's take a moment

01:18:50to honor the courage

01:18:52of Holly Roy,

01:18:53who has joined us

01:18:54here today

01:18:54to share her voice,

01:18:56her story,

01:18:57and her call for change.

01:18:59It speaks volumes

01:19:00that she is standing

01:19:01with us today,

01:19:02only two short months

01:19:03after the heartbreaking

01:19:04loss of her precious

01:19:05baby, Javay.

01:19:07Holly's strengths

01:19:08is to remind us

01:19:09of why we are all here

01:19:10to fight for justice,

01:19:12healing,

01:19:13and the safety

01:19:14of our children.

01:19:15Please, everyone,

01:19:16let's raise our voice

01:19:17and cheer on Holly

01:19:19so she can feel

01:19:20the love, support,

01:19:21and strength

01:19:21surrounding her

01:19:22from each and every

01:19:23one of us today.

01:19:24We love you all.

01:19:26We love you.

01:19:27We love you.

01:19:30For coming out

01:19:31and showing your support.

01:19:33I really feel

01:19:35the love

01:19:35and I feel

01:19:36well-supported.

01:19:38I can't even imagine

01:19:39navigating this

01:19:40without everybody's...

01:19:42the day my son

01:19:46was taken.

01:19:48I felt overwhelmed

01:19:50with hurt

01:19:50and anger.

01:19:53However,

01:19:55in my heart

01:19:57I've come to realize

01:19:58that I can honor

01:20:00his memory

01:20:01by fighting

01:20:03for change.

01:20:04I want to use

01:20:07my pain

01:20:07to make a difference

01:20:09to ensure

01:20:10that no other family

01:20:11has to go through

01:20:16what I'm going through.

01:20:23I'm going to continue

01:20:24to fight for justice

01:20:25and advocate for change.

01:20:29I can't see

01:20:30because my eyes

01:20:31are full of water.

01:20:33This is an advocating

01:20:34for change.

01:20:36What that looks like

01:20:36is gun control changes

01:20:38and changes

01:20:46within the Youth

01:20:46Criminal Justice Act.

01:20:49We need to prioritize

01:20:50rehabilitation

01:20:51over punishment

01:20:52leading to lack

01:20:55of consequences

01:20:56for young offenders.

01:20:58The age of responsibility

01:20:59varies

01:21:00and it's often

01:21:02individuals gain

01:21:08more anatomy

01:21:10as they mature.

01:21:11For toddlers

01:21:12ages 1 to 3

01:21:14they begin to understand

01:21:16simple rules

01:21:17and boundaries.

01:21:19A school-aged kid

01:21:206 to 12

01:21:21develop a more

01:21:23announced understanding

01:21:24of right and wrong

01:21:25including understanding

01:21:27consequences

01:21:28and intentions.

01:21:31Teens 13 and up

01:21:33they refine

01:21:35their moral reasoning

01:21:36and develop

01:21:38their own values

01:21:39and societal morality.

01:21:42So within

01:21:45our Youth Criminal Justice Act

01:21:48when a youth

01:21:49commits a heinous crime

01:21:51they definitely

01:21:52should be

01:21:53held accountable.

01:21:54We're not giving them

01:21:56a slap on the wrist.

01:21:57That's right.

01:22:01That's

01:22:02that is

01:22:02that is my

01:22:03priority

01:22:04of what justice

01:22:05looks like

01:22:06and I hope

01:22:07the feds

01:22:07revisit

01:22:08revisit that.

01:22:15The root causes

01:22:17of youth crime

01:22:18such as poverty,

01:22:20trauma

01:22:20and lack

01:22:21of opportunities

01:22:22we need to

01:22:23encourage

01:22:24policy makers

01:22:25and government

01:22:27to make

01:22:29comprehensive approaches

01:22:30to youth justice

01:22:32economic

01:22:35and cultural

01:22:36factors.

01:22:39His son

01:22:40was a bright light

01:22:42in our lives.

01:22:44He was an energetic

01:22:45and fearless

01:22:46eight-year-old.

01:22:47He had an infectious

01:22:56enthusiasm

01:22:57that drew people

01:23:01to him.

01:23:05His quick wit

01:23:06and sense of humor

01:23:07belted

01:23:09at his young age.

01:23:12Everybody who knew

01:23:13him knew that.

01:23:15He was a funny guy.

01:23:17He had an old soul

01:23:19that shunned

01:23:22through

01:23:22his intentions

01:23:24with others.

01:23:27As a young

01:23:28strong-willed child

01:23:29he knew

01:23:31what he wanted

01:23:32and he wasn't

01:23:34afraid to express

01:23:35himself.

01:23:37His love

01:23:37for his community

01:23:38and his mother

01:23:39and his family

01:23:40was palpable

01:23:42and it's clear

01:23:44that he brought

01:23:44so much joy

01:23:45and love

01:23:45into our homes

01:23:46and our community

01:23:47his memory

01:23:49will continue

01:23:49to live on

01:23:50in our hearts.

01:23:52The impact

01:23:53he had on

01:23:53those around him

01:23:54will never

01:23:56be forgotten.

01:24:00Remember

01:24:00his name

01:24:01Javay

01:24:02Justice for

01:24:05Javay

01:24:05Justice for

01:24:06Javay

01:24:07Long live

01:24:08Javay

01:24:09Long live

01:24:10Javay

01:24:14Love you.

01:24:15As we

01:24:24close

01:24:25today's gathering

01:24:27we ask everyone

01:24:28to join us

01:24:29in a closing prayer

01:24:30by John Laform

01:24:31followed by a

01:24:32traveling song

01:24:33from the wonderful

01:24:34men at our

01:24:35big drum

01:24:35we lift

01:24:36we lift our voices

01:24:37and our prayers

01:24:38for healing

01:24:39protection

01:24:40and change

01:24:41and let it be known

01:24:42if the government

01:24:43still has not

01:24:44heard us

01:24:45we will not

01:24:46stop

01:24:47we will continue

01:24:48to rise

01:24:49to organize

01:24:49and to demonstrate

01:24:50until the lives

01:24:52of our children

01:24:52are valued

01:24:53and protected

01:24:54because we are

01:24:56tired of watching

01:24:57our children die

01:24:58and today

01:24:59we stand

01:25:00united to say

01:25:01no more

01:25:02chi miigwech

01:25:04to everyone

01:25:04who came out

01:25:05today

01:25:05may we walk

01:25:07together

01:25:07in strength

01:25:08love

01:25:08and solidarity

01:25:09miigwech

01:25:11Ani bojo

01:25:16I'm going to use

01:25:16the mic

01:25:16I got a big voice

01:25:17my spirit name

01:25:19actually translates

01:25:19into big thunder

01:25:20and I've been a

01:25:22noisemaker

01:25:22since I was a little

01:25:23kid so

01:25:24I've never really

01:25:25used mics

01:25:26when I'm at events

01:25:27so

01:25:27I just want to see

01:25:30you guys

01:25:31in the minimal

01:25:32muscle in

01:25:32I ask that you

01:25:33wrap your arms

01:25:33around the families

01:25:34that are struggling

01:25:35I ask that you

01:25:36take care of the

01:25:37families that are here

01:25:37the little ones

01:25:38that ain't here

01:25:39the ones that are

01:25:40still missing

01:25:40I ask you

01:25:42just to take care

01:25:43of all of us

01:25:44the ones that are here

01:25:46the ones

01:25:46these youth

01:25:47this next generation

01:25:49that we have

01:25:49they're going to be

01:25:50the ones that are

01:25:51going to be taking

01:25:51over for us

01:25:52I ask that you

01:25:52guide them

01:25:53in that good way

01:25:53take care of them

01:25:54make sure they're well

01:25:55make sure us

01:25:57as a community

01:25:57wrap their arms

01:25:59around everybody

01:25:59chi miigwech

01:26:01and with that

01:26:03tobacco you guys

01:26:04have received today

01:26:05I ask that you guys

01:26:07take that tobacco

01:26:08put your prayers out

01:26:10when we ask for prayers

01:26:11when we give our prayers

01:26:12we lay our tobacco

01:26:14out in a spot

01:26:15that we feel comfortable

01:26:16and we know

01:26:18our prayers are going

01:26:18to go

01:26:19you just ask

01:26:20myself

01:26:21I will be smoking

01:26:22apple wagon again

01:26:23tonight

01:26:23and every prayer

01:26:25that was said

01:26:25will go through that pipe

01:26:26and we send

01:26:28we send

01:26:28to Senegisto

01:26:29get your monitors out

01:26:30so

01:26:30when we look at grief

01:26:33it's a very hard thing

01:26:34it's a very troubling

01:26:36understanding

01:26:38and one of the things

01:26:39I've always been taught

01:26:40by my elders

01:26:41by the Ongohoni people

01:26:44is we can't ask why

01:26:46we know that there's

01:26:48things that we want to know

01:26:49but we want his spirit

01:26:51to travel

01:26:52we want their spirits

01:26:53to travel home

01:26:53so we've got to allow

01:26:55them spirits to travel

01:26:56so

01:26:56we ask for that guidance

01:26:59and we celebrate

01:27:00so

01:27:00Chi-miigwech

01:27:01everybody here

01:27:01for being here

01:27:03and supporting the family

01:27:04Polly's

01:27:05she's going to need us

01:27:07not now

01:27:08not just now

01:27:10but for

01:27:11a long time

01:27:12as a community

01:27:13so that means

01:27:15we have to step up

01:27:16as a community

01:27:17and take care

01:27:18of everybody

01:27:18that's grieving

01:27:19so

01:27:20Chi-miigwech

01:27:21again

01:27:24on behalf

01:27:25of the Negi

01:27:26Indigenous Youth Agency

01:27:27and on

01:27:28Hali's

01:27:29family

01:27:30thank you

01:27:31for coming out

01:27:32thank you

01:27:32for showing

01:27:33your support

01:27:33thank you

01:27:34to our marshals

01:27:35our drummers

01:27:36our dancers

01:27:37and the staff

01:27:39who made it possible

01:27:40miigwech

01:27:41miigwech

01:27:42whoo

01:27:43whoo

01:27:44whoo

01:27:45whoo

01:27:46whoo

01:27:47whoo

01:27:48whoo

01:27:49whoo

01:27:50whoo

01:27:51whoo

01:27:52whoo

01:27:53whoo

01:27:54whoo

01:27:55whoo

01:27:56whoo

01:27:57whoo

01:27:58whoo

01:27:59whoo

01:28:00whoo

01:28:01whoo

01:28:02whoo

01:28:03whoo

01:28:04whoo

01:28:05whoo

Save Our Children from Gun Violence - ENAGB - Queen's park

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