In honour of missing and murdered Indigenous women, girls, men and two-spirited people (MMIWG2S), a walk has been organized in the qathet region.
According to organizer Cyndi Pallen, the event will be from 5:30 to 8:30 pm on May 5, in honour and support of the families worldwide who are impacted.
The gathering for the event will be at 5:30 pm at the Powell River City Hall back parking lot, and the walk will proceed at 6 pm, arriving at Willington Beach at 7 pm. Pallen stated in a written release that there will be a drumming stop at Rocky Mountain Pizza on Marine Avenue, with another drumming stop at the Bank of Montreal. From there, the procession will proceed to the Rotary pavilion at Willingdon Beach.
At 7 pm, there will be prayers and speakers, and from 7:45 to 8 pm, a candle lighting ceremony will take place. The event will close at 8:30 pm.
“We ask everyone to wear regalia, and make signs to represent the healing and strength needed to honour and support families who are impacted by MMIWG2S in our society, and we will be speaking to raise awareness, prevention and education on stopping the violence against all women and girls in society,” stated Pallen.
The event is sponsored by qathet SAFE, Tla’amin Nation and First Credit Union.
Pallen stated that qathet SAFE has coordinated MMIWG2S with her since 2019 and will continue to raise awareness on a broader spectrum on stopping the violence against women.
“We will be using the same theme as the first MMIWG2S walk, which is spirits,” stated Pallen, who has co-organized this year’s walk with Powell River and Region Transition House Society, Tla’amin and hɛhɛwšɩn.
Pallen stated that the walk was organized following a call-out from Tsow-Tun Le Lum Society, a substance abuse and trauma treatment centre based on Vancouver Island.
“There are still a lot of people who are going missing, and for our people, First Nations people across the country, and Canada, it’s been really challenging for their spirits,” stated Pallen. “I’d like to see it stopped. This is not something that’s normal for us to be doing. We shouldn’t be here, standing up and talking about all the women who went missing and their families who are suffering.”
Pallen stated that an increasing number of residents in the qathet region are displaying red dresses to raise awareness about the issue. To many First Nations, she explained, red is the only colour spirits can see.
“When we wear red, we are hoping to call back the missing spirits of the women and children so we can lay them to rest,” she added. “We’ve seen a lot of suffering, so it’s nice to have the community’s support here.”
In recent years, attendees started at staggered times to allow for COVID-19 safety protocols. Red markers were placed to facilitate social distancing, and an RCMP officer was present to support observance of public health measures. Each participant was handed a cedar branch, which Pallen stated would provide protection for the walkers.
A previous walk began on Laurel Street, near Brooks Secondary School, with a drumming circle and a recital of the “Women’s Warrior Song” led by Pallen and Powell River Métis Nation members Tiana Nordstrom and Nadeen Sierpina.
The drumming, stated Nordstrom, represents a heartbeat.
Everyone is invited to attend this year’s event.
