Retaliation Against Indigenous Woman Following Red Dress Day Event
- John Hawke
- 1 day ago
- 3 min read
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Christian Island, Ontario — May 26, 2026
Anishinaabek Clans To Invoke our Nation (ACTION) is publicly calling for accountability and transparency from Aboriginal Counselling Services of Alberta (ACSA) following serious concerns raised by Indigenous artist, dancer, and community member Miigwan Feather Reine Nault-Campeau regarding consent, exploitation, and alleged retaliation after participating in an ACSA Red Dress Day event.
According to documentation shared with ACTION, Miigwan Feather Reine participated in the May 8, 2026 Red Dress Day event in good faith after being invited by representatives connected to ACSA. She attended as both a vendor and ceremonial dancer to honour Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women, Girls, and Two-Spirit relatives.
Miigwan states that her participation carried deep personal and spiritual significance.
“I am approaching 13 years clean and sober, and my regalia holds deep spiritual and ceremonial importance to me. I only dance for spiritual reasons and in honor of the spirits,” she wrote in her statement.
She further explained that May 8th also marked the two-year anniversary of her younger brother Junior’s suicide while her older brother remains incarcerated, making the ceremony emotionally difficult and sacred.
According to Miigwan, photographs were extensively taken throughout the event, including images of her dancing in ceremony, her ceremonial regalia, her artwork, family members, and vendor space. Days later, she alleges she was privately contacted by the event photographer and offered the opportunity to purchase photographs of herself taken during the event.
“The way she approached me made it feel as though she intended to profit personally from images of me, my sacred ceremonial dance, my regalia, and my artwork,” Miigwan stated. “This deeply upset me and felt exploitative, inappropriate, and disrespectful.”
Miigwan also alleges that workshop concepts, program ideas, and promotional materials she had privately shared while seeking organizational support for her own community initiatives were later used without her consent in connection to a separate grant application.
According to Miigwan’s statement, after raising concerns publicly and privately, she was allegedly informed by ACSA Executive Director Keleigh Larson that she would be banned from the organization and that a restraining order was being pursued against her.
“Receiving that response felt deeply distressing, intimidating, and retaliatory after attempting to advocate for myself and raise concerns about conduct that I believed was inappropriate and harmful,” Miigwan wrote.
ACTION says the situation reflects broader concerns many Indigenous peoples and MMIWG family advocates have publicly raised across Canada regarding accountability, exploitation, and the treatment of grassroots Indigenous voices within portions of the non-profit sector.
“It is deeply troubling that an Indigenous woman participating in an event centered on Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls would allegedly face threats of exclusion and legal action after raising concerns related to consent, dignity, and the use of her image,” said Johnny Hawke, Chairperson of ACTION.
“Organizations that identify themselves as Indigenous-serving and trauma-informed should respond to community concerns with humility, accountability, and dialogue — not intimidation or retaliation.”
ACTION emphasizes that consent within Indigenous ceremonial and advocacy spaces is not a minor administrative issue, but one connected to dignity, safety, trust, and respect for Indigenous peoples’ cultural and spiritual practices.
The organization is calling upon the Board of Directors of Aboriginal Counselling Services of Alberta to:
Conduct an independent and fair review of the concerns raised by Miigwan Feather Reine;
Review policies regarding photography, media use, informed consent, and participant protections;
Ensure that Indigenous community members are not subjected to retaliatory actions for raising concerns in good faith;
Clarify organizational practices regarding grant applications, promotional materials, and the use of Indigenous peoples’ images, workshops, and cultural contributions.
ACTION states that Indigenous organizations must be held to the same standards of ethical accountability, transparency, and respect they demand from governments and colonial institutions.
About ACTION:
Anishinaabek Clans To Invoke our Nation (ACTION) is a collective of Anishinaabek Knowledge Keepers, Harvesters, Land Defenders, Water Protectors, and descendants of hereditary leaderships advocating for Indigenous rights, accountability, and community protection.
MEDIA CONTACT:
Miigwan Feather Reine Nault-Campeau.
Johnny HawkeChairpersonAnishinaabek Clans To Invoke our Nation (ACTION)communications@anishinaabek.netwww.anishinaabek.com705-247-2120
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