How a Small Gathering Grew into a Powerful Community Movement
In St. John’s, Newfoundland, a simple act of gathering in 2023 has grown into a meaningful annual tradition: walking together at Bowring Park to honour the Moose Hide Campaign and stand against gender-based violence. What began as a modest call to action — led by community members committed to creating space for awareness, ceremony, and conversation — has gradually evolved into a larger movement rooted in heart, humility, and the shared belief that real change begins within families and communities.
From its earliest days, the gathering was grounded in the recognition of the urgent need to address the violence disproportionately experienced by Indigenous women and girls. Participants walked in ceremony and reflection, acknowledging the painful realities that persist across the country and the need for continued action on the Truth and Reconciliation Commission Calls to Action. Elder Marjorie Muise’s willingness to share her story and her hopes for future generations helped shape the spirit of the event, offering teachings that emphasized healing, responsibility, and the importance of standing together.
As more people joined in subsequent years, the gathering maintained a strong sense of intention and community. Families began bringing their children, recognizing that conversations about safety, accountability, respect, and consent must begin early. Youth walked alongside Elders, newcomers, long-time residents, and co-workers, reinforcing the idea that ending gender-based violence is not the work of a few — it is the responsibility of all of us. Each step taken at Bowring Park reflects this intergenerational commitment to building safer homes, workplaces, and communities.
A particularly meaningful moment in the walk’s growth came with the involvement of the St. John’s Mi’kmaw Women’s Circle, whose leadership brought cultural grounding and deepened the ceremonial significance of the day. Their prayer and Mi’kmaw smudging ceremony helped connect participants to the land, to one another, and to the purpose of gathering: honouring those who have experienced violence, supporting survivors, and fostering a future rooted in safety and respect. The presence of the Eagle Women further enriched the experience, offering strength, beauty, and reminders of the resilience carried within Indigenous communities.
What makes the Bowring Park gathering remarkable is not the number of attendees, but the steady, grassroots momentum it has generated. Movements do not need to start big — they grow through consistency, authenticity, and the courage of individuals willing to show up year after year. The leadership of local organizers, including Stephanie Howlett and Jacqueline Lee, has helped nurture this momentum by inviting the community into meaningful dialogue and creating space for collective reflection and learning. Their commitment has helped establish the walk as a trusted, inclusive event that welcomes everyone — families, youth, Elders, community groups, and even pets — to participate in ceremony and conversation.
Today, the annual walk stands as a reminder that meaningful change is often built quietly, through simple acts repeated over time. Each pin shared, each story heard, and each conversation sparked is part of a larger movement toward safety, healing, and accountability. St. John’s demonstrates that meaningful change is built one step, one conversation, one year at a time.
You don’t need a large event to begin.
Start with a few people.
Start with what you have.
Start with heart.
