MMIWG art exhibit aims to educate people about impact on families, communities

Amy Paulsays her sister's disappearance in December has beendevastating for their entire community.

Erin Brooks was last seen Dec. 27in the Wolastoqey community of Sitansisk, St. Mary's First Nation, near Fredericton wearing blue jeans, a black jacket and black boots.

"You watch the news and you feel for the families but you think like that can't happen here,"said Paul.

"But it does and it happens every day, but you don't realize it until it happens so close to home or in your family."

Paul said their mother tries their best to hold it all together but calls her up to just cry sometimes.Paul said she's focused all of her energy on trying to locate her sister, but once she's found she'll process her emotions.

"You don't realize the toll that it takes on the family but I think that it needs to be brought to light," she said.

Paul saidshe hopes an upcoming art exhibit in hercommunity can do just that for missing and murdered Indigenous women and girls (MMIWG).

The exhibit's curator, Mason Paul,another Sitansisk community member, says"I really wanted to educate people on this."

Mason Paul is a professional photographer and has threephoto series inthe exhibit that runs Friday and Saturday. The first is called Rooted and will feature Indigenous women in regalia to show their strength in culture. Another will feature women in red handprints a prominentMMIWG symbol. The third will be the largest and will feature Indigenous women on the land.

Mason Paul saidhis prints willbe sold at a silent auction with50 per cent of the proceeds going to the GignooTransition House,alocal organization to help vulnerable Indigenous women.Sixty-four per cent of Indigenous women in Atlantic Canada reported experiencingphysical or sexual assaultsince the age of 15, according to aStatistics Canada report from April.

Mi'kmaw artist Brandy Googoowill display a beaded heart artwork in the exhibit. She saidshe spent 120 hours working on the piecebecause she wantedto raise awareness of the violence women face.

"I've seen a lot; I've lived through a lot and I've helped my friends and family through a lot of experiences," said Googoo.

Googoo saidher father was a Sixities Scoop survivor and theygrew up off reserve. Being a brown-skinned family led them to face racism and physical violence, she said,and the artworkis a reflection of that pain.

The heart in the piece represents Indigenous women as the heartbeat of their nations, the purple eyerepresents domestic violence and the red handprint symbolizes the continued silencing of Indigenous women.

"We can take our traumas and turn our traumas into beautiful artwork," said Googoo.

Fredericton Police said in an emailed statement that they continue to investigate the disappearance of Erin Brooks.

"We have issued several requests for public assistance and continue to follow up on all tips received from the public," the statement said.

Anyone with information can contact Fredericton Police at460-2300 orCrime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477. There isa $65,000 reward for information leading to the discovery of Erin Brooks'slocation.