Musical homage to MMIW to be filmed in Wikwemikong, Manitoulin Island

Morning North6:27Crystal Shawanda raising awareness about missing and murdered indigenous wonmen

Country star Crystal Shawanda is coming home to Manitoulin Island to raise awareness of missing and murdered aboriginal women. She'll be there to shoot a video for the song "Pray, Sister, Pray". She spoke about the project with the CBC's Kate Rutherford.

Nashville'sCrystal Shawanda is back on her home turf ofWikwemikongUncededIndian Reserve onManitoulinIslandthis week to film amusic videothat bearsa weighty social commentary.

Shawanda is hoping to draw on the work ofvisual artists who have already explored and focussed on the issue of missing and murdered indigenous women (MMIW).

There are the shocking red dresses by artist Jaime Black, symbolizing about 1,200 MMIWin Canadaover 30years.

Also, many have seenthepainstakingly beaded moccasin vamps that show solidarity among women by "walking with our sisters" by artist Christi Belcourt.

'I had no idea this was your history'

Shawanda saidher song was inspired by news items she kept seeing about another missing girl.

She used those real-life stories totellthe fictional story of a girl who was abducted.

"Hey sister did you hear, Billy Rose ain't never been found. Went missing on the fourth of June, family hasn't heard a sound," she writesin the lyrics to PraySisterPray.

"You know, some people say, 'what does praying do?Well, praying gives you hope and, you know, sometimes that's all thatkeeps you hanging on.You know, for the mother who lost her daughter, for the brother who lost his sister you know, or for the child who lost their mother."

But beside healing,the goal of the song isalso education. There are many who aren't aware of the staggering number of missing and murdered indigenous women in Canada, especially south of the border, said Shawanda.

"The more people see [the video], the more people will say, 'oh, I had no idea this was going on'." she said.

"That's what happens to me a lot when I'm touring in America and I talk about aboriginal issues. So many times, I've heard people say, 'I had no idea this happened, or I had no idea this is your history.' So for me, I feel that's my constant mission, to raise awareness."

Manitoulin: 'A nice backdrop'

Shawandachose her home community of Wikwemikong for the video shootfor a few reasons. One is her friendship with Joe Osawabine who is theartistic director of the theatre company,Debajehmujig.

This is his first music video, he said, but he has a well-defined idea of how it will come together. Thefinal scene of the video will be shot in the ruins of the Holy Cross Mission residence.

"We've invited as many women of any age, shape and size, to come join us at the ruins... to be part of a scene where all of the sisters are praying for each other." he said.

"I'd like to see a lot of the women wearing these red dresses, as that's become sort of a symbol of the missing and murdered women in the country."

He also wants to work in some of the beaded moccasin tops from artist Christi Belcourt's exhibit.

As for the late season dump of snow that has blanketed the region, it might work in his favour, he said.

"It might make for a nice backdrop if it's not all melted by then." he said.

"The red dresses would certainly stand out, [as itwould be uncomfortable], but you would endure that for a few minutes to leave a lasting legacy."