**GRACIE JIU JITSU SELF-DEFENSE SEMINAR NEWS RELEASE**

Students from the Kiskinohamatowin Alternative Secondary School Education program had the opportunity to participate in a “Women Empowered” self-defense seminar at Gracie Jiu-Jitsu this Tuesday, October 2nd in honour of the Day of Remembrance for Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women (October 4th). 

Before the event, students learned about the topic in the classroom through various media such as music videos, TEDTalks, short documentaries and spoken word poetry. Students then created their own red t-shirts with empowering messages to align with the Red Dress Project, a campaign that focuses on remembering and raising awareness of the staggering number of Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women across Canada.

According to research by the Native Women’s Association of Canada on missing and murdered Indigenous girls and women, approximately 10% of all female homicides in Canada between 2000 and 2008 were Indigenous girls and women, despite the fact that Indigenous females made up only around 3% of the female population in Canada. Also, a Statistics Canada General Social Survey (GSS) in 2004 reported that Indigenous women 15 years and older are more than 3 times more likely to experience violence than their non-Aboriginal counterparts.

At the self-defense seminar, Tessa Mousseau and Kris Ratte of Gracie Jiu-Jitsu shared additional information and statistics with students before demonstrating and taking them through a series of essential techniques that could be used if approached or confronted by a would-be attacker. They also spoke about the self-confidence and self-esteem that can be gained through learning to protect one’s self.

Gracie Jiu Jitsu holds “Women Empowered” classes twice a week on Monday and Tuesday evenings.

To learn more about Gracie Jiu Jitsu here in Timmins, visit their website here.