Red Deerians dressed in red marched to the beating of drums through the city's downtown to honour Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women, Girls and Two-Spirit people.
The Red Deer Native Friendship Society held its annual Sisters in Spirit candlelight vigil on the evening of Friday, Oct. 4. The event began with a march from the Native Friendship Society's building, to City Hall Park and then to the Red Deer Museum and Art Gallery.
"Sisters in Spirit Day is annually observed on Oct. 4 and is the national day of action against gender-based violence towards Indigenous women, girls and Two-Spirit-plus people," Bee Henry, who facilitates the gender-based violence prevention project at the Red Deer Native Friendship Society.
"We're helping raise awareness and visibility for this ongoing Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women, Girls and Two-Spirit-plus people crisis. Right now we're really focusing on the final inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls, which was published in 2019."
Henry noted there are eight calls to action every Canadian can act upon.
"I strongly encourage everyone with the time and internet access to read the final inquiry. It's a very important document to read — that is one of the calls of action every Canadian citizen can do," said Henry.
"It's been five years since the final report came out and only two of the 231 calls to justice have been completed. Fifteen per cent of the calls to justice haven't even been started. Sometimes it can feel really disheartening, but I really want to encourage community members and let them know there's something we can do — we can come together and focus on the calls to action for us. It's an opportunity for us to lead by example and show all levels of government that we take reconciliation and healing very seriously."
To read the final inquiry, visit www.mmiwg-ffada.ca.
The Sisters in Spirit vigil is always an emotional event, Henry added.
"We want to spread kindness, love and compassion to our Red Deer community members, our allies and especially our Indigenous women, girls and Two-Spirit-plus people," she said.
"It feels powerful to come together as a community to not only honour the ones we've lost, but also support the families of those affected. It's powerful to move together as a collective in love, solidarity and friendship. It also helps build the momentum and conversation piece so that more people can bring their friends and bring their family."
