A pin with a cause: The story behind Moose Hide Campaign Day

If you live in B.C., you may have noticed small squares of animal hide pinned to people's jackets, backpacks and ball caps.

Over the years, millions of conversation-starting moose hide pins have been distributed free of charge to raise awareness about gender-based violence. 

The Moose Hide Campaign, which was co-founded by Paul Lacerte and his daughter, Raven Lacerte, has an emphasis on men and their role in ending the violence.

Thursday marks Moose Hide Campaign Day, which will see communities across the country host events, including a plenary in Victoria, B.C. that will be livestreamed.

The idea for the campaign came to the father-daughter duo when they were on a moose hunt in their traditional territory along northern B.C.'s Highway of Tears, a stretch of Highway 16 where many Indigenous women and girls have gone missing or been murdered.

"Maybe we could use the moose hide and cut it up into a bunch of little squares and ask people to wear it as an everyday commitment, as an everyday reminder that we don't want violence in our lives," Raven told CBC's Mainstreet NS. 

"Maybe this little medicine moment can be an offering to Canadians."

LISTEN | Campaign co-founder discusses goals to end gender-based violence:

Mainstreet NS10:01Co-founder of the Moose Hide Campaign stops by to talk about goals to end gender based violence

The Moose Hide Campaign is BC based Indigenous-led grassroots movement to engage men and boys in ending gender based violence. To speak more about the campaign and the ways it aims to create cultural shifts, guest host Alex Guye spoke with the co founder and executive director, Raven Lacerte. She is a member of Lake Babine First Nation in North-Central BC.

The campaign began 14 years ago when Raven was just 16 years old and has spread across the country.

Michael Kaufman is the co-founder of the White Ribbon Campaign, which encourages men to speak out against violence against women and children. He will be a keynote speaker at the Moose Hide Campaign Day plenary, discussing the importance of fathers in society as it relates to gender-based violence.

Kaufman says that "boys and men have got to be partners in ending men's violence against women and children," adding that the campaign is a great example of how non-Indigenous people can learn from Indigenous traditions in Canada. 

The plenary will also hear from Elaine Alec, a Syilx and Secwepemc author and entrepreneur who will share her framework for creating safe spaces.

Alec says the Moose Hide Campaign opens the door to uncomfortable conversations about accountability. 

"Yes, there are men who have harmed, who are manipulative and who lie in any community, but there are also so many men out there who want to do better, who want to heal and who want to be the warriors that they were always meant to be," Alec said. 

"A big part of the work that we need to do is support the healing of men."