Moose Hide Campaign grows to 1 million members for 7th annual event

Thousands of British Columbianswillpin small squares of moose hide on their shirt or jacket fronts Thursday as a statement ofsupport for ending violence against Indigenous women.

The pins are part of theMoose Hide Campaign, which holds its seventh annual provincial march and gathering on thegrounds of the B.C. Legislature on Thursday.

The campaign was founded by father and daughter Paul and Raven Lacerteafter a moose-hunting trip along the so-called Highway of Tears. Theywere moved to action by the deaths and disappearances of girls and women along that route.

'We came up with this idea to tan a moose hide, cut it up into little squares and ask men to wear it," Raven Lacertetold On the Island host GregorCraigie.

The Lacertesfound the unusual pins sparked questions and opened the door to conversations about the issue.

Organizations that have recently joined the movement include the Victoria Police Department and Vancity credit union. Many members of government also participate in the event.

At Thursday's gathering B.C. Premier John Horgan will present the one-millionth moose hide pin to a womanwhose relative was a victim of serial killer RobertPickton.

The event begins at the Victoria Conference Centre, followed by a march to the B.C. Legislature to participate in fasting and healing circles, and endswith a feast after sundown.

RavenLacerteexpectsthousands of menwill spend the day fasting. She said it demonstratesa collective commitment to ending violence against Indigenous women.

"We are calling people to action by refraining from eating or drinking from sun up to sun down for one day. So really committing yourself for one day to go without food or water and thinking about your intention about why you're going without food and water."

Stronginterest from students

"All of the old cultures fast when there's something important going on," Raven said.

After seven years, Paul Lacerte said, the strongest interest in the Moose Hide Campaign is now coming from middle schools and high-school students.

"Those school organizations are seeing this as an opportunity to engage adolescent and teenaged boys, and to really foster a new sense of what it is to be a man and how it is that we must be treating women and girls in our lives."

With files from CBCRadio One's On the Island with Gregor Craigie.