STAHS Student Honours Strong Women

STAHS Honours Day for Elimination of Violence Against Women
Posted on 11/26/2021
This is the image for the news article titled STAHS Honours Day for Elimination of Violence Against WomenShawana Rae holds her drum and stands in front of a group of women that hold up a banner that says, "End Gender-based violence."

It takes courage for any woman to leave an abusive relationship, and that was the strength that Shawana Rae channeled on the steps of St. Thomas Aquinas High School yesterday, as she performed a traditional drum song in honour of International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women.

“That takes courage and that’s the theme of this, it takes courage for survivors and the community to speak out about domestic violence and violence against women. For her to do that sets such an example and shows real leadership,” said Kendall Trembath, Executive Director of Women’s Shelter Saakate House, who was on hand for the performance.

Rae performed her song outside of the school’s entrance while standing in front of a purple banner that read “End Gender-based Violence”, surrounded by her female classmates.

“I sang a song that supports women. It was standing up for women and it supports all the women out there who are feeling down. Today is a very special day and I had a perfect song for it,” she said.

Rae explained how she felt performing in front of her peers.

“It was nerve-racking but when you’re singing you calm down. I started singing and then I stopped shaking and I was actually enjoying it and I wasn’t nervous,” she said.

During the month of November Saakate House has encouraged many businesses and the City of Kenora to decorate in purple or trade their traditional white lights for purple ones in honour of International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women.

“It’s the month we come out of our little corner of the world as a shelter,” said Trembath. “We know it’s a private matter for some families, but domestic violence can’t be private. It needs to be a community issue because it takes a community to end violence against women.”

At St. Thomas Aquinas High School, students and staff were encouraged to wear purple or a ribbon skirt. They also presented an art piece to Trembath and programs manager at the shelter, Chrysti Savage, that included uplifting message of hope surrounding a purple tissue paper heart.

Click here to see the song performed by Shawana Rae.

Students give Kendall Trembth and Chrysti Savage from the Saakate Women's Shelter an art piece.
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