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Sisters in Spirit Vigil

photos by: Pete Rockwell

Vigil Held for Murdered and Missing Women

by B Channel News Staff

Advocacy groups and supporters in 80 cities came together on October 4, 2009 to hold Sisters in Spirit vigils, urging action be taken by all levels of government to address the growing number of missing and murdered aboriginal women in Canada.

“I really wanted to celebrate and honour the lives of the missing women and also the women around us, and just appreciate every day,” said event Organizer, Meghan Shannon, 4th year UVic student.

The Native Women’s Association of Canada has documented 520 aboriginal women and girls who have been murdered or who have gone missing, mostly in the last three decades; however they caution that there are likely many more. Numbers have ranged from 500-3000 missing and murdered aboriginal women across Canada.

“All these women that have been murdered and are missing, Where is the justice in this land, where is the rights and freedoms of all people in this land? The government should be held responsible; they are just as responsible as those people that killed those women, for not doing anything about it,” said speaker and drummer Bob Nigh.

Amnesty International Canada has released a number of reports calling for immediate action and criticizing the government for its complacency with this crisis, calling the lack of response a “shocking failure”. The United Nations experts on woman’s rights have also called for a Canadian action plan to stop violence against Indigenous women.

“Very little effort has been made to solve these cases of murder and these disappearances and they’re our children, they’re our mothers, they’re our aunties, they’re our grandmothers, they’re our nieces, they’re our family. Nothing has been done. We have no closure, we are still grieving what has happened, and nobody seems to hear our cry for justice,” said Bishop John Hannen.

In Victoria, the vigil took place at the Legislature, near a hundred people dressed in black gathered to remember the lives of the lost women across the country. There was also recognition that our own community is not detached from this issue and women here are facing the same fear and the same lack of response by the authorities.

“Right here in Victoria, we are not immune to our own missing women that quite often their names get over looked, with what happens in the downtown eastside, or what happens on the highway of tears. So today I stand here and I remember my own family members that have gone missing,” said Rose Henry.

People who are concerned are urged to remember and celebrate the lives of the missing and murdered women, however, people are urged to take action and speak out; whether by contacting their elected representatives, talking to their community or writing the media.

“And also by getting mad, because this issue has gone on for ten, fifteen years in Canada. Up and down the coast people we’re trying to get the attention of the police, the public, and the press and there was a kind of deafening silence with respect to the stories of these missing women. I think we need to get mad and let politicians know that we are noticing,” said event organizer, Professor Maxine Matilpi, University of Victoria.

Support from the community in Victoria is strong, including support from the University of Victoria Student Society, students, community activists, faith organizations and others.

“I think because it involves every woman and it involves every person and somehow we are all interconnected and we are all affected by this, I think that everyone is willing to get involved and show their support. It’s been amazing,” said Meghan Shannon.

During the rally, people were encouraged to meet their allies around them, to share why they came and remember each other as well.

“I am here on this beautiful day to bring remembrance to those women who have been lost and to bring more awareness to it because I don’t think enough awareness has been brought and we need more people to come together like this cause, otherwise nothing is going to happen,” said attendee Angela Loren.

Advocacy groups across Canada, and international organizations like Amnesty International, have clearly pointed to the fundamental problems that relate to this crisis. The issue being that violence and fear stem from many of the socio-economic situations that women, and especially aboriginal women, are facing in Canada. Poverty, inequality, access to education, lack of nutrition and impoverished living conditions are areas that the government need to take action on, for well being of their citizens.

The 18th annual Women’s Memorial March takes place on February 14, 2010, three days into the 2010 Olympics that are happening in that city. Organizers of the march are concerned about the reception that Olympic security forces might give to the march, however the City of Vancouver has issued a press release confirming support for the march and assuring that it will occur on the same date, time and route as in past years.

“The closing of women’s centres, the poverty that leads these women to the streets, education; it’s all so connected. It’s not just one kind of woman, it’s a very systemic and broad issue,” said Maxine Matilpi.

Advocacy groups are committed to continuing to raise this issue in their communities and to their governments. The government’s response, in general, has been slow and silent. Despite an outcry from all levels, little action has been taken, and the threat still persists for women across the nation.

“I know in my conscience there is something that each one of us can do today and that is to say hello to the people next door to you. Remember the faces, that this is somebody’s mother, daughter, or auntie. Just remember them, because they are people too. You don’t know from one minute to the next if this will be the last time you see them,” said Rose Henry.

Sisters in Spirit Vigil

Vigil Held for Murdered and Missing Women

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