To register for this fantastic free event visit: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/writers-read-to-free-dawn-walker-drop-all-the-charges-february-15-8-pm-tickets-522159782967

On February 15 at 8 pm EST, join us for a beautiful online evening of amazing writers reading in support of award-winning Okanese First Nation writer and activist Dawn Walker, who faces decades in prison if convicted of a massive pile-on of charges thrown against her for trying to save herself and her child. Dawn needs to be freed and charges dropped.

Her situation reflects a systematic failure to support her when she was most in need. Dawn has not failed anyone; the system has failed her as it does so often with Indigenous women, women of colour and LGBTQIA2S+.

"I left Saskatoon because I feared for my safety and that of my son...[I was] failed by the Saskatchewan Justice system, the family law system and child protection," Dawn wrote last summer. "The police services did nothing to assist me. I reported my concerns to the child protection authorities and again nothing was done. I am fighting systems that continuously fail to protect me as an Indigenous woman and protect non-Indigenous men.”

And yet today Dawn Walker is subjected to strict house arrest with degrading, dehumanizing electronic monitoring, facing major criminal charges, for the alleged crime of trying to survive, to protect her child, as any loving and caring parent would do

If you agree that we need to stop criminalizing survivors like Dawn, and that a serious overhaul is needed for a family law system that all too often brushes aside – even disappears – the very clear evidence of male violence against women and kids, please join us for this evening to learn more about how you can support Dawn.

In the meantime, please sign and share this petition: https://www.change.org/p/free-wrongfully-jailed-indigenous-writer-domestic-violence-survivor-dawn-dumont-walker

If you would like to contribute to Dawn's legal defence, please donate to the Go Fund Me created by Idle No More found here: https://gofund.me/0a503c39

"Dawn is one of the most talented comedic writers I've read. Although I don't know her personally, I'm praying hard for her and her child. My heart goes out to her. I've witnessed so much violence against Indigenous women and it is so rare to get justice or even help. Big hugs, Dawn." – Eden Robinson, Monkey Beach, Son of a Trickster, Trickster Drift, Return of the Trickster

"It's important for the writing community to be in solidarity with Dawn. We know that our 'legal' system treats survivors of violence and Indigenous communities with violence. Dawn must not be persecuted for attempting to protect herself and her child. " – Farzana Doctor, You Still Look The Same, Seven, Stealing Nasreen

"When one knows someone is being abused, not just by someone she was close to until they showed their truth and is also being abused by the system that was supposed to protect her, we must raise our fists and voices as one to stand beside her, not behind her." – Duncan Mercredi, Poet Laureate of Winnipeg

Organized by Women Who Choose to Live, http://womenwhochoosetolive.blogspot.com/ tasc@web.ca