The Moose Hide Campaign is an Indigenous-led grassroots movement that started along Canada’s infamous Highway of Tears. This highway runs through the territory of the Carrier peoples where father and daughter Paul and Raven Lacerte were engaged in their annual hunting trip. Having been impacted by the tragedy of missing and murdered Indigenous women and girls, they decided to tan and cut up the moose hide and start a campaign to bring awareness to the issue. The Moose Hide Campaign is now in thousands of communities, schools, and organizations across Canada and has distributed nearly 4 million squares of moose hide.
During the lead-up to Campaign Day 2022, front-line Service Canada staff in the Prince Albert office were actively engaging in campaign efforts by sharing pins and information at the welcome zone and within the community.
Citizen Services Specialist Rachelle Deault, is based out of the Prince Albert Service Canada office. She has been actively promoting the Moose Hide Campaign in the community as she delivers information about Government of Canada benefits, programs, and services to the public throughout Central and Northern Saskatchewan.
Rachelle Deault, Citizen Services Specialist, Service Canada Centre Prince Albert, Saskatchewan.
Rachelle has had the opportunity to share this important information with an array of individuals, communities, and institutions at various events, gatherings, community outreach sessions, and service clinics. For Rachelle, “wearing the pin demonstrates… that they are not alone! It initiates conversation and symbolizes a unified approach to end this violence.” Drawing from personal experience, Rachelle has “had the opportunity to meet women living with violence in the home.” Through these experiences and her co-ordination work with the Walking with our Sisters Exhibit held at the Batoche National Historic Site in August 2020, she has made a personal commitment to “ensure that everyone is aware that this is still going on and needs to stop. We all need to have the courage to stand up and say no more.”
Moose hide is a symbol of taking a stand against violence and undoing the effects of Residential Schools. The moose hide pin is a real way to take a stand and have a healing impact. Impact research shows that each pin sparks at least 5 conversations about gender-based violence. With 3 million plus squares distributed to date, it is estimated that over 15 million conversations have been initiated, shining a light on this devastating social illness impacting all Canadians.
Public servants across Government are actively participating in acts of reconciliation, by creating safe spaces, spreading awareness, and sparking conversations about gender-based violence. Service Canada Staff are demonstrating their commitment to being part of the conversation!
Moose Hide Campaign Day will be held both virtually and in person this year. Join people across Canada on May 11, 2023, in person or virtually as they gather in solidarity to start the conversation and stand together to end violence against women, children, and all those along the gender continuum.