The Law of Silence

8 November 2008, Rosalyne Mathias, 60, crushed by the emotions, she takes a moment to hug the tree that grew at the exact spot where she aborted, 43 years ago, after having made a circle of cedar leafs around the tree. After many sexual agression between age 15 and 17, she got pregnant. Too afraid to talk to her parents, she went alone in the wood to abort. 43 years later, she return on the site to have a ceremeony and hope to find peace.

628 Km north-west of Montreal, in Canada, lies an algonquin village of 250 inhabitants, Winneway. The Anishnabe as they call them self are a native community battling against serious social problems. Among them, sexual violence stay behind doors. The foundation of many self-destructive habits, very few victims talks even when there is at least 26% case of sexual abuse in native communities, according to Statistics Canada. But the Aboriginal Psychosocial Interventions Reserch Group says a rate from 50 to 80% is more realistic.

Cultural and value loss, poverty, unemployment, breaking in tradition, lost of traditional language, use of drugs and alcohol, are among social issues that are the foundation of violence in native community.

But a few women, like Eva Moushoom and Rosalyn Mathias, are beginning to talk, in their healing process, but also to break the cycle and protect younger generation. But are we ready to listen?

Because breaking the law of silence is not an easy task. I met Eva for the last time in May 2009 on the side of the street in the village. Her black hair cascading under an american “Marines” cap. She told me that she was in legal procedure to support her 17 year old daughter … that had been aggressed too. The words just fell out of her mouth as she tried to control her anger.

“Somebody from the community intervened in court trying to stop the procedure, she told me. He does not have the right to do that and he will not stop me. This is why I am proud to have shared my story with you. It is necessary to speak.”

After a few minutes, she moved on. I looked at her walking away, her back slightly hunched. I thought to myself; I will have to return to listen to her.

Eva was found dead on the same street side, on August 10th, 2009…. The Quebec Provincial police has not done any investigation and the Coroners Office assured me that there had not been an autopsy….

Officially, she was just another native woman to have died from drugs and alcohol abuse.

Minawag kika wamin Eva (see you later Eva)

The photo essay – The pdf story (soon available in english)