Women endure “unspeakable” violence in our society.
Unspeakable violence creates just that: women who are unable to speak.
Because of this indoctrinated silence surrounding violence against women, victims are forced to swallow unspeakable shame and humiliation too.
How do we break the silence around gender-based violence? Andrea Menard, a singer/songwriter and actress from the Métis Nation of Canada, works to empower both the Indigenous and the Feminine voice by advocating for the well-being of Indigenous women and all women. As a five-time Gemini-nominated actress and one of the stars of the Netflix series Blackstone, almost every character Andrea has played on television has either been punched, slapped, shoved, shot at, or stabbed. Not a great track record for an activist who works to see an end to violence against women.
In this TEDx talk, Andrea Menard breaks her own silence and shares how women and men can be silent no more.

“I have been keeping another man’s sins. Paying the price for my silence.
Afraid to speak out; Just a voice in the wind. But still I must rise in defiance.”
Song lyrics from Silent No More by Andrea Menard and Robert Walsh, 2018

Contact Andrea Menard: admin at andreamenard.com, http://andreamenard.com This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at https://www.ted.com/tedx