Land Acknowledgement
CREVAWC commissioned artwork done by Mike Cywink - the powerful eagle protects their young and provides stability and safety. See more in Mike’s interview below.
The Centre for Research and Education on Violence Against Women and Children (CREVAWC) is located on colonized lands. The Anishinaabek, Haudenosaunee, Lūnaapéewak and Chonnonton peoples are the original and ongoing inhabitants. Those lands are connected with the London Township and Sombra Treaties of 1796 and the Dish with One Spoon Covenant Wampum.
We make this statement to counter “doctrine of discovery”, recognize Indigenous lands and sovereignty and resist the invisibilization of Indigenous Peoples.
As a Centre committed to the development and application of knowledge for the prevention of gender-based violence, we recognize that Indigenous women, girls, LGBTQIA+ and Two-Spirit people are subject to disproportionately high rates of violence. Colonization, the injustices of residential schools, the sixties scoop, birth alerts, and historic and ongoing forms of structural violence and anti-Indigenous racism are part of this violence. Colonial systems, such as heterosexuality, binary genders, and patriarchy are continually reinforced at all levels of life, and in all aspects of life. These, among other systems of oppression, including racism, ableism, classism, ageism and other forms of structural violence are built into the structure of Canada and act to privilege some, while disadvantaging and discriminating against Indigenous Peoples.
Biography
Nimkii Giizhis nindizhinikaaz. Ajijak nindoodem. Whitefish River First Nation nindoonjibaa. My spirit name is Thunder Day, I am crane clan and I am originally from Whitefish River First Nation. My English name is Mike Cywink and I currently live in Ingersoll ON, just outside of London ON. I am a woodland style artist who focuses on digital art as well as murals and paintings.
Read More About Mike Cywink
Aside from his full-time art career, Mike is also a part-time student, works part-time in partnership with the TVDSB and is very active in various sports. He is also a big brother, an uncle, and he is trying his best to be a role model/mentor for his community. His art career has really taken massive steps forward over the past couple of years. There have been long hours, late nights, and lots of hard work in building his name and his craft. Mike has numerous murals throughout the London area, having commissioned pieces at the London Welcoming Centre, Victoria Hospital, the St Thomas Police detachment, Laurier University, Western University, Fanshawe College and has completed numerous projects with the London Arts Council.
He is extremely humble when it comes to his art. But at the same time, he’s proud of the work he has accomplished. He is dedicated to trying his best to Indigenize non-Indigenous spaces throughout the London area to help break down walls and make things a better, safer place for Indigenous peoples.
“This life we live is not about us. It’s about the next generation coming through. We should always think about the young ones, in our actions, in our words and in our way of being. Representation matters.” -Michael Cywink.
Advocates and leaders from Indigenous communities have been clear that a necessary step to addressing and redressing harms is transformational change, which includes meeting rights to Indigenous self-determination as outlined in the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples. Further critical recommendations for change are made in the Reclaiming Power and Place: The Final Report of the National Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls and 2SLGBTQQIA+ Sub-Working Group MMIWG2SLGBTQQIA+ National Action Plan Final report. We join in calls for action on these and other recommendations made by Indigenous Peoples to respond to the needs of Indigenous children and families. We commit to continuing to work collaboratively with communities to challenge colonialism, racism, and further forms of oppression that remain pervasive in Canada and that result in disproportionate impacts of gender-based violence on oppressed communities.One of CREVAWC’s values is to acknowledge our privilege individually and collectively and one of CREVAWC’s principles is to strive to demonstrate our commitment to decolonization and anti-oppressive practices in our work. Some of our recent work to address gender-based violence in partnership with Indigenous Peoples:
Special Event on Considerations for Meaningful Collaborations - A Conversation with Indigenous Elders
Gender-Based Violence Against Two Spirit/Indigiqueer People
Fleeing Family Violence: Challenges for Survivors Living in Rural, Remote & First Nation Communities
