SNJMs Join Rally for Peace and Justice

On a hot, sunny Saturday afternoon on September 9, 2017, more than 500 Winnipeggers gathered on the south side of the Manitoba Legislature building with Louis Riel founder of Manitoba standing tall behind them. Among them were several Sisters of the Holy Names, some Associates and some St. Mary’s Academy students.

The rally opened with a statement that is becoming increasingly familiar to Winnipegers: We acknowledge that we are standing on Treaty 1 land and the Homeland of the Métis nation.

The event was organized as a counter-action to racism and intolerance against immigrants in our city. An anti-immigration rally by pro-fascists had been planned for this same day but was later cancelled.

Nahanni Fontaine, Member of the Legislative Assembly, spoke to the gathering acknowledging that as Manitobans we embrace a culture of love and respect and equity. In response to divisive hate and racist movements she added: “I can tell you that Indigenous people will never ever stand for that on our territories.”

Speakers representing the Christian churches, the Jewish community, the Islamic faith and other community groups also spoke about standing up for diversity and mobilizing against hate and intolerance.