Iqaluit (Dec 15/03) - High school students Tina Campbell and Eliane Kanayuk-Gabriel stood together to speak about their friend Jennifer Naglingniq during the candlelight vigil for women on Saturday in Iqaluit.

They could not hold back their tears.

As they began to recall the moment last year when they learned their friend had been brutally murdered in her own home, the students could barely continue their speeches about the pain of violence against women, and why it must stop.

The National Day of Remembrance and Action on Violence Against Women drew about 150 people to the legislature at 4 p.m., Dec. 6. Holding slender white candles and long stemmed red roses, the sombre crowd bowed their heads and listened intently to the speakers and the music.

Maureen Doherty, executive director of the Status of Women council, was especially impressed by the students who let their emotions come to the surface during their speeches.

"I was really moved by their honesty," said Doherty.

There were tears from speakers, including Jean Kigutikakjuk with the Qikiqtani Inuit Association (QIA), who said "I am affected when I see bruises. I am affected when a loved one is hurt by someone."

Doherty said recent statistics show the rate of violence against aboriginal women (including Inuit) is eight times higher than for non-aboriginals.

"And most of them are women 25 and younger," she said.

Doherty also presented information gleaned from a document entitled "Assessing Violence Against Women: A Statistical Profile" released in December 2002. It states shelter use in Nunavut is the highest in Canada.

But songs of hope during the event lightened the mood, including Amazing Grace -- performed by the Iqaluit Community Choir and later sung by everyone -- The Woman's Song, and The Warrior Song, sung by Aaju Peter, Rannva Simonsen and friends.

Rhoda Ungalaq lit the qulliq as the crowd watched quietly.

Speakers included Kanayuk Salamonie, QIA Women's director, and Mary Lou Sutton, who stressed going to the polls during election time to elect leaders who will support better legislation for the protection of women.

Donations to the Jennifer Naglingniq Memorial Fund were accepted at the door.

The new fund supports a yearly award which is given to an active, community-minded student.