Vigil held for Faye Grandjambe
Dozens gather in downtown alley where her body was found exactly two years ago
John McFadden
Northern News Services
Friday, September 30, 2016
SOMBA K'E/YELLOWKNIFE
Raw emotions were laid bare on a rainy, windy Tuesday night in downtown Yellowknife as people gathered at a vigil where a 30-year-old woman died two years prior.
Cynthia Grandjambe holds a bouquet of roses at a memorial for her sister Faye Grandjambe which was held Tuesday night behind the Gold Range Tavern. Mourners gathered on a windy damp evening at the exact spot where Grandjambe's body was found two years ago. She died of alcohol poisoning - John McFadden/NNSL photo |
About two dozen people filled an alleyway behind the Gold Range Tavern at a memorial for Faye Grandjambe where her body was found two years ago to the day. Her cause of death was officially listed as alcohol poisoning by the chief coroner of the NWT.
Those in attendance for the vigil included Grandjambe's family and friends as well as Nanukput MLA Herbert Nakimayak and Superintendent Michael LeSage, acting commander of the RCMP in the NWT.
The vigil included prayers and ceremonial drumming as mourners carried roses and talked about Faye's life - a life that was cut all too short.
There were people from all walks of life at the ceremony including indigenous and non-indigenous people, young and old, males as well as females. Several of Yellowknife's downtown homeless population were also there.
Grandjambe was originally from Fort Good Hope in the Sahtu before she moved to Yellowknife. The mother of a young son, Grandjambe was 30 when her body was found.
Grandjambe's older sister Cynthia Grandjambe organized the vigil. She said she was impressed both with the turnout considering the wet weather and the ceremony itself.
"It made me feel relived to know that her spirit has finally been put to peace. It made me feel good to have my family and her friends there," Grandjambe said. "I felt her presence there. It was just a totally different experience."
Grandjambe said that even though her sister was not murdered, the whole issue of missing and murdered indigenous females hits home because alcoholism and drug addiction are such a big part of that story.
"It's still part of the issue why all these women were murdered and have gone missing - addictions," Grandjambe said. "More awareness has to be created around addictions. It hurts like hell. But I thank God for support. That's what's getting me through this. It gives me and my family comfort to know that people care."
Grandjambe also called for the existing Stanton Territorial Hospital to be turned into a rehab centre once the new hospital is operational. She added that the whole issue of addiction in the NWT has to be out in the open rather than swept under the rug.
Also attending the vigil was Yellowknife resident and former Sahtu MLA candidate Yvonne Doolittle.
"Faye was my relative. I am always so keenly sensitive to issues in the North that affect women and families. We come together to help support each other," Doolittle said. "Cynthia identified this - that back home it's easy to gather and go to a place to honour and remember. We don't do that enough in Yellowknife."
Doolittle also called it important that the site where Grandjambe's body was found was blessed at the vigil. She pointed out that Canadian bishops, who are currently meeting in Cornwall, Ont., stopped their meeting to pray for her sister and other missing and murdered indigenous women and girls in Canada.
In an e-mail, Marie York-Condon, civilian RCMP spokesperson, stated LeSage was joined by another investigator from the Mounties' major crimes unit.
"The attendance by (RCMP) was to support the family and friends of Ms. Grandjambe.," York-Condon stated. "Members of RCMP have been involved in the investigation into the sudden death of Ms Grandjambe, and have a vested interest in continuing to support honouring her memory. "
Dettah resident Jim Lynn also spoke at the vigil and prayed for Grandjambe and other victims of crime and addiction. The remains of his son, Mark Lynn, were found near Dettah earlier this month after he had been reported missing in August. Prayers were also said at the vigil for Mark Lynn had his family. RCMP said his death was not suspicious.
