Sisters in Spirit march today
Event in support of missing and murdered aboriginal women
Randi Beers
Northern News Services
Published Friday, October 3, 2014
SOMBA K'E/YELLOWKNIFE
The Native Women's Association of the NWT is hosting a number of events Friday afternoon and evening in honour of Canada's missing and murdered aboriginal women.
Nola Nallugiak, executive director of the Native Women's Association, left, poses with an art project created by Marie Speakman, right, on Wednesday. - Randi Beers/NNSL photo |
Starting at 3 p.m., a group will meet at K'alemi Dene School in Ndilo and march up Franklin Avenue, toward the Tree of Peace Friendship Centre on 51 Street where a candlelight vigil will commence at 4 p.m.
The Salvation Army will be providing rides to Ndilo for those without transportation. Rides will leave the Native Women's Society starting at 2:30 p.m.
Marie Speakman, organizer for the march, told Yellowknifer it's especially important to her that people come together in support of women who have gone missing or have been murdered.
"I know this issue makes people uncomfortable and feel like they are walking on eggshells," she said.
"But by participating and supporting this cause, we are showing missing and murdered women we are their voice and we are behind them to bring forth change."
Speakman encourages everybody to come out for the march, "even if for just 15 minutes."
The association will serve stew and bannock and two guest speakers will tell their personal stories at the Tree of Peace on Friday evening. Crystal Fraser, a University of Alberta PhD student, and Geri Sharpe, a Yellowknife resident, are scheduled to speak.
Nola Nallugiak, executive director for the Native Women's Association, added her own reasons for why she believes the community needs to come together for missing and murdered aboriginal women.
"It's important because to prevent this type of situations in families and communities, this sort of thing needs to be done," she said.
"Everyone at all levels need to take responsibility and deal with issues like this."
Speakman said the Native Women's Association will also use the march, vigil and dinner to ramp up excitement about Walking with our Sisters, an exhibit set to come to the Prince of Wales Northern Heritage Centre in January 2015.
The exhibit will feature 1,600 unfinished moccasins, each resembling a woman's life that has been cut short.
