The Golden Women’s Resource Centre (GWRC), The Golden Metis Association (GMA) and the Golden BC Museum (GBCM) have adopted a collection of 14 porcelain paper clay torsos titled, “Embodiment”- created by local artists, Marty Ryan and Jane Doel in 2009 to raise awareness of murdered and missing women and protest the issue of violence against women.
The GBCM adopted “Embodiment” into its archives on December 8, but the issue that inspired the creation of the work is not yet history. Members of the organizations say they will use the collection during special community events to continue raising awareness about violence against women.
Linley McLean, Executive Director of the GWRC says, “creating ways to draw attention to the issue is so important.” The GWRC hosts events honouring women who have lost lives to violence such as the December 6th memorial and offers services to women and their children fleeing violence or in need of resources.
Ryan and Doel are both former art teachers and counsellors in the local school system. Ryan explains, the motivation for the collaborative creation with Doel, a local ceramic artist, was to make a unified statement in an original “parade of protest” against violence against women, including women from Golden, B.C., and the “Highway of Tears” in B.C. Ryan and Doel dedicated “Embodiment” to Misty Dawn Boudreau, a 13-year-old girl who went missing and was murdered in Golden, B.C. in 1991; and Jennifer Cusworth, who was murdered at age 19 in 1993. Ryan said creating the work was important to her because of her “connection to the school system and students who didn’t live.”
In 2016 the Federal Government acknowledged the issue of murdered and missing women as a “National Crisis” and launched a “National Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls” as part of its response to the Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s Call to Action. At the time of the creation of “Embodiment” 18 murders and disappearances between 1969 to 2006 were being investigated by the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP). These investigations were specifically related to missing and murdered women found along a 724 km stretch of road along the Yellowhead Highway 16 in B.C., known as “The Highway of Tears.” According to an article published on www.missingpersons.ca, in February, 2023, Carolyn Bennett, now federal minister of Crown-Indigenous Relations Canada, claimed the “national number of murdered and missing indigenous women and girls in Canada is about 1,200 and at the time B.C. has the highest unsolved cases in all of Canada. Though this number is considered quite higher (over 4,000) among indigenous women’s groups.
“It’s horrible as a mother. There are mothers out there whose daughters have never been found. Imagine not knowing where your daughter is?” says Davene Dunn, and Elder and member of the GMA. Dunn says she worries about women who “lose hope.”
The GMA offers culturally related services for Indigenous people. It provides a place for cultural practise, community connection and enabling healthy lifestyles. The GMA raises awareness of the issue of murdered and missing Indigenous women during May 5th National Day of Awareness for Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women. Dunn explains the issue is one of the GMA’s “highest concerns.”
Brittany Neuman, Director of the GBCM says the museum will utilize the porcelain clay torsos to create interactive workshops during the summer months.
Ryan says she is grateful for the GWRC, GMA, and the GDM to work together to utilize the torso flags from “Embodiment” at various events to continue raising awareness and responding to help women and children in need of safe places and cultural events that serve the community.
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