Dryden Native Friendship Centre Staff, photo provided.
A day to honour Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls.
Monday February 14th marks marks the 31st Annual Memorial March.
“The Dryden Native Friendship Centre will be hosting a memorial march to honour Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls,” Indigenous Mentor Tiffany Thompson tells us. “It’s going to be starting at 12 noon at the Centre, we’ll be going into the downtown are and return to DNFC.”
Refreshments will be available after the walk, as well as the opportunity for professional photos, a red hand print photo contest and other draws.
The first march was held in 1992 in response to the murder of a woman on the streets in Vancouver.
“There was a lot of hopelessness and anger and so by hosting this event on Valentine’s Day, the hope of compassion, community, and caring for all women came about,” explains Thompson. “To this day, the memorial continues to honour the lives of MMIWG and all women and gender diverse peoples lives.”
Every year, about 300 Indigenous women go missing in Canada with 1 in 4 18 years of age and younger.
Indigenous women and girls are also 12 times more likely to go missing or be murdered compared to other women in Canada.
Thompson stresses more education is needed.
“I feel like many times people are not aware that MMIWG affects our area too when in reality it very much does, so I would love to see more people to be aware of this very important issue and listen in an open and non-judgmental way. Additionally, we would love to see the end of violence towards all women, both Indigenous and non-Indigenous.”
Thompson hopes to see a big turnout to make an impactful statement locally.
