Moose Hide Day to be recognized for second time in Strathmore

By John Watson Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

The Calgary Catholic Immigration Society (CCIS) is partnering with the Strathmore Municipal Library and FCSS to recognize Moose Hide Day, May 15, with the local community. 

Tiffany Carlson, Rocky View Wheatland local immigration partnership coordinator, explained Moose Hide began as a grassroots movement recognizing missing and murdered, and violence towards Indigenous people. Though most of the country recognizes the event on May 14, the local event will be held the following day at the Strathmore Municipal Library between 6 p.m. to 8 p.m.

Hide represents a focused opportunity for men to stand up against violence towards women and children and is open to all cultures and backgrounds. 

“We need allies, and we want other men and boys in the community to be healthy and stand up against violence,” said Carlson. “The Moose Hide campaign has been going on for years now and it is spreading. They actually have a website and on May 15, they showcase every town’s and province’s Moose Hide events. That is really interesting that you can see how large this is and the impact it is having across Canada.”

Last year was the inaugural Moose Hide event to take place in Strathmore, which issued a challenge to 10 men of various backgrounds within the community to stand up and be faces against violence towards women and children. 

This year, Carlson explained the team putting the event together is seeking an additional five men to add to the roster of faces against violence. 

“We are going to have two of the past healthy men facilitating a drumming workshop and they are both Blackfoot. Then, we have Trevor Ward, who is the citizen’s representative for Otipemisiwak Metis Government. He is going to be talking about what a healthy Metis man is,” said Carlson. “We also have engaged some local men in the community what we are hoping will attend, and because this violence can happen in all cultures and backgrounds, we want all men and boys in the community to come and stand up against violence.”

Last year’s male representatives were reported to be from Blackfoot, Irish, English, Nigerian and South African backgrounds, among the representatives. 

 ”Violence towards Indigenous people has been going on for a very long time, but violence towards all cultures is also important and still going on. So that’s why we need to stand up and stop violence altogether,” said Carlson. “When it comes to Indigenous – being First Nations, Metis, and Inuit, we still have the highest rate of harm, domestic violence, death by partner, missing … so we need to bring awareness that this is important, and people should care about it whether you’re Indigenous or not.”

More information is available online through the Moose Hide website.