Honouring missing and murdered Aboriginal women

Each year on October 4, communities across Canada come together to honour the lives of missing and murdered Aboriginal women and girls. As we do so, we remember the lives of sisters, daughters, mothers and grandmothers tragically taken from us. We also support grieving families and provide opportunities for healing.

“These vigils bring attention to a serious national issue that requires urgent attention,” says Marianne Hladun, Regional Executive Vice-President for the PSAC Prairie Region. “We need to question our MPs, MLAs and City Councilors, and hold them accountable for the recurring exploitation of Indigenous women and girls, and demand they take action to prevent these targeted attacks.”

The PSAC invites all members to attend the Sisters in Spirit vigil in their area. These vigils are meant to honour the more than 600 Aboriginal women have been murdered or gone missing. Momentum is building towards a public inquiry into the cases of these missing and murdered women. A strong turnout will go a long way in making it a reality.

“There are still missing Aboriginal women out there and we need to ensure these women and their families are not alone,” says Alisha Bigelow, PSAC’s National Aboriginal Peoples’ Circle (NAPC) Female Representative for the Prairies.

Bigelow will be attending the vigil in Winnipeg and encourages others to do the same. “It’s time we take a stand and help protect those who cannot help themselves.  We can do that by supporting events like this, organizations like Sisters in Spirit, and staying informed. Visit the Native Women’s Association of Canada (NWAC) website to download the community action resource guide.”

A listing of events for the Prairie Region has been included below. For more details, and for a complete, updated list, please visit the Native Women’s Association of Canada’s website.

“It’s of the highest importance that communities attend these events, to show their support and offer help to affected families,” says Hladun, who will attend the event on Parliament Hill in Ottawa. “It matters when a women or girl goes missing, because their loved ones are missing them.”

Alberta

• Athabasca – Athabasca Native Friendship Centre at 5pm

• Cadotte Lake – Woodland Cree First Nation at 10 pm- 11pm

• Calgary – Awo Taan Healing Lodge Society at TBD

• Edmonton – Stolen Sisters Awareness – October 6 at City Hall at 11am – 3pm

• Grande Prairie – Grande Prairie Friendship Centre at 6pm

• High Level – Beaver First Nation at 5pm 

• High Prairie – Location to TBA at 6pm

• Lac La Biche- Lac La Biche Freindship Centre at 7pm

• Lethbridge – Gait Gardens, Downtown Lethbridge at 7pm

• Peace River – Athabasca Hall and Riverfront Park at 5pm

• Red Deer – City Hall and then walk to Friendship Centre at 7pm 

• Rimbey – Historic Beatty House at 7pm

• Slave Lake – Slave Lake Native Friendship Centre at 5pm 

• Valleyview – Sturgeon Lake Cree Nation at TBD

Manitoba

• Brandon – Brandon Friendship Centre at TBD

• Brandon- Brandon University Students Union at TBD

• Fisher River Cree Nation – Leigh Cochrane Memorial Centre – Recreation Grounds at 7pm

• Pipestone – Canupawakpa Complex at 12noon

• Portage la Prairie – Portage Friendship Centre at TBD

• Split Lake – TMC Arena – highschool rally at 3-5pm 

• Thompson- Northern Grandmothers Council at TBD at TBD

• Thompson – Keewatiniowi Okimaknak at TBD

• Winnipeg- Manitoba Legislative Building (behind the building, by the fountain)  at 7:00 p.m.

• Winnipeg – Assembly of Manitoba Chiefs Office at 11am 

Saskatchewan

• La Loche – La Loche Friendship Centre Women’s Wellness Project at Friendship Centre at 6pm

• La Ronge – Kistaki Hall, Lac La Ronge First Nation at 11am – 1pm

• Onion Lake- Onion Lake Community Plex at 4pm-6pm

• Prince Albert – Prince Albert Friendship Centre at 12pm 

• Regina – First Nation University (pending) at 1pm

• Saskatoon – SK Aboriginal Women’s Circle at TBD at TBD

• Saskatoon – Iskwewuk Ewichiwitochik Women Walking Together at Oskayak High School at 6-10:30pm

• Lloydminister – Lloydminister Native Friendship Centre @ 8:00pm

• Yorkton – SK Aboriginal Women’s Circle Corporation at TBD at TBD