Moose Hide Campaign takes aim at domestic violence in B.C.

The province has launched a new campaign to help combat violence against women and children.

Feb. 16 has been officially proclaimed Moose Hide Campaign day in B.C. To mark the occasion, groups of men, women and children gathered in Victoria for a day of workshops, healing circles and discussions aimed at including men in solutions to ending violence in the home.

"Every day is the right day to raise awareness about violence and make a commitment to be part of the solution," Minister of Aboriginal Relations and Reconciliation John Rustad said in a press release.

"Moose Hide Day is always an important day that focuses our attention and by proclaiming this day, our province is underlining the importance of this grassroots, B.C.-born campaign."

Wear your moose hide pin with pride

This year, participation extends to members of the public service and the B.C. legislature where men have been challenged to participate in any way they can, either by full or partial fast, or by wearing Moose Hide pins to show their support. 

While the campaign focuses on men's responsibility to help end violence, women are also encouraged to bear witness to the fasting.

"Individuals need to stand up and speak out," Attorney General and Minister of Justice Suzanne Anton said in a press release.

"The Moose Hide Campaign is a great example of people coming together to take action so that future generations can grow and flourish in a violence-free B.C."

For the last six years, executive director of the campaign Paul Lacerte and his society have organized the event the include a march to the Legislature steps.

He says it has been a humbling experience to see the response from participants.

"To have today proclaimed as Moose Hide Campaign Day by the provincial government is another signal that together we are mighty, and together we can make a difference."

The hunt sparked an idea

Lacerte's daughter Raven was the inspiration for the campaign following a hunting expedition in 2011 near Highway 16, the so-called Highway of Tears. Raven skinned a moose to feed the family over the winter. The hunt's proximity to the highway sparked the idea of moose hide as a symbol to stop violence.

Since then, the campaign has distributed more than 500,000 moose-hide pins and gained support from the Assembly of First Nations, the B.C. RCMP and several First Nations communities across the province.