Sisters in Spirit Walk

What a tremendous turnout for the Sisters in Spirit Walk last night! I would guess there were around 100 of us gathered by the mall--women, men, children, dancers, drummers and most importantly, family and friends of murdered or missing Aboriginal women.

At 7:00, with two RCMP in red serge, we set out walking down Peace River's Main Street and then to Riverfront Park. Town staff blocked traffic at intersections so we could walk safely.

Once at the park, we solemnly filed past a fire and dropped a small tobacco pouch into the flames, pausing to offer a silent prayer or thought.

Following this and after everyone was welcomed by Elder Helen Piper and Brenda Brochu (Executive Director of the Peace River Regional Women's Shelter and a driving force behind the Sisters in Spirit Organizing Committee, which is part of the Aboriginal Inter-agency Committee), the names of 40 murdered or missing Aboriginal women from Northern Alberta and BC were read. It was shocking to hear all those names and to recognize so many last names common to our area.

After this, two female and two male dancers performed an honour dance. The male dancers, Dave Matilpi and Dennis Whitford, were resplendent in their regalia. Unfortunately, I don't know the names of the women dancers, who may have been from Driftpile.

I was honoured to bring remarks on behalf of Mayor and Council (Mayor Callioux was travelling and unable to attend).

Sylvia Johnson spoke on behalf of Zone Six of the Metis Nation of Alberta.

Heather King, Regional Manager of Prevention of Family Violence and Bullying of Northwest Children and Youth Services offered an emotional tribute to the women and their families and called for more to be done to prevent further tragedies.

The keynote speaker was Muriel Stanley Venne, President of the Institute for the Advancement of Aboriginal Women, which advocates on behalf of Aboriginal Women and conducts a variety of activities and projects, including the annual Esquao Awards that honour Aboriginal women who have made significant contributions in their communities. Muriel traced the toll that residential schools had on Aboriginal individuals and communities and talked about the racism that has contributed to the large number of missing and murdered Aboriginal women and the lack of action on their behalf.

Families then offered tributes to four women:

Rosemarie Beaver, who was murdered in 1994. A large group from Driftpile, including Grand Chief Rose Laboucan of the Lesser Slave Lake Indian Regional Council, remembered Rosemarie.

Brenda Moreside, who was stabbed in her home in 2005. Family members from High Prairie spoke about her.

Nina Courtepatte, whose mother Peacha Atkinson, accompanied by her son and daughter, came from Edmonton to help us remember Nina, whose horrific murder was in headlines this past year during the trials of the accused.

Lorilee Mae Francis, who went missing in Grande Prairie last October. Her grandmother and other family travelled from High Level to offer hope that she is safe and to plead for any news of her whereabouts.

Others were then offered the opportunity to speak and many did, including the father of Rene Gunning, who disappeared three years ago along with Krystle Knott. These young women from the Ft. St. John area were last seen at West Edmonton Mall.

As a mother, I can't imagine the worry and heartbreak of having one of my children missing or murdered. To realize just how many Aboriginal families endure this heartbreak is shocking and very disturbing.

As the wind blew but the rain held off, we all did a round dance (my first) and then went to the Anglican Church hall for bannock and coffee.

It was an emotional evening and it felt good to participate and in a small way, offer solidarity with Aboriginal communities that have endured, and continue to endure, such a toll on their women.

In my remarks, I encouraged all of us to press for solutions so that Aboriginal women will not be at such great risk. Grand Chief Laboucan called for non-Aboriginal people to write to our MPs to encourage Canada to adopt the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples. Perhaps that recognition, along with the government's forthcoming apology for the damage done by the residential school system, will be small first steps towards greater inclusion and solutions for Canada's indigenous people. At the municipal level, we all need to continue to work together so all residents feel included and valued.

It's certainly not over--just as I was writing this entry, an email came with a poster of 14-year-old Maria D’or from the Little Red River Cree Nation, last seen May 30 in Peace River. Anyone who has seen her is urged to call (780) 624-2219 or the local RCMP at (780) 624-6611.

NOTE: Maria was located this afternoon. Great news!