Today, in the spirit of Truth and Reconciliation, Base Gagetown is participating in the Indigenous-led Grassroots movement, Moose Hide Campaign 2022. The Campaign is made up of men, boys and all Canadians who want to stand up to end violence against women and children. 

“As soldiers, aircrew and sailors we protect Canada and it citizens, the Moose Hide Campaign is a time to take action against violence against women and children in our communities and stand together as one in order to abolish the pain and suffering that affects so many Canadians.” – LCol Cory Gillis, Defence Aboriginal Advisory Group Champion at Base Gagetown.

Various members of the Defence Team will fast today. Fasting is key practice within the Moose Hide Campaign movement to demonstrate a personal commitment to honoring and protecting the woman and children in our lives. It is also a way to support each other in our collective responsibility as men to ensure all women and children are free from violence in our homes, communities and our nations.

For the Moose Hide Campaign, the practice of fasting is also a hunger strike. We go on this “hunger strike” as a public nonviolent protest against the societal norms that have allowed injustice for Indigenous women and children and a call to action for all men to end all forms of violence within our society. While this fast is proposed for men, we encourage women to join in this challenge by bearing witness and supporting in whatever way they feel called.

The Moose Hide Campaign is an opportunity to come together as a military family to support our local Indigenous and non-Indigenous woman, children and gender continuum who are affected by violence. 

By participating in Moose Hide campaign we make the commitment to start the conversation and acknowledge the necessity to take individual action as a community to work together, to stop violence and to create a safe environment for everyone.

Violence thrives in the shadows and we must encourage each other to collectively end violence and support the ones in our communities that need help and protection.