Jennifer Geens
Northern News Services

Yellowknife (Sep 07/05) - On the night of Sept. 14, women will take back the streets of Yellowknife.

The annual Take Back the Night march, held in cities around the world, protests violence against women by advocating the right of women to walk after dark without fear for their safety.

Arlene Hache: "The concerns we have about violence against women have increased."

It also provides an opportunity to reflect on progress made on the issue in the past year, said Arlene Hache, executive director of the Centre for Northern Families.

Any given day, the centre is sheltering between 24 and 30 women, a number which has not improved over the past year, said Hache.

"The concerns we have about violence against women have increased," said Hache.

Hache is especially concerned about making the system more responsive to women with psychiatric difficulties that make them more vulnerable on the street.

Though the marchers are mainly women and children, Hache said men are welcome to participate.

This year's march begins at the centre, at 5610 Franklin Ave. south of Matonabee, next Wednesday night. Participants will meet at 6:30 p.m. to create placards. The march begins at 7 p.m. and will wind its way through the downtown.

The march will be somewhat longer than last year.

"The route is broader to reflect the challenges facing the city," said Hache.

Stops are meant to highlight women's safety issues and will include the courthouse, the RCMP detachment, the legislative assembly, the Frame Lake trail and 50th Street bars.

The march will also pass by the Yellowknifer office, said Hache, to reflect on the role the media play in alerting the community to violence against women.

Charles Dent, minister of Education, Culture and Employment, is scheduled to address the crowd.

Expected to take about an hour, the walk will finish at Javaroma at Franklin Avenue and 52nd Street.

Take Back the Night marches began in cities and college campuses in Europe and North America in the 1970s.

The Yellowknife march usually draws between 50 and 100 people.