While May 5 was the official National Day of Awareness for Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls (MMIWG), a collaborative effort was held on Monday for remembrance in Yellowknife.
A downtown walk was organized jointly by the Yellowknife Women’s Society (YKWS), Native Women’s Association of NWT, and Dene Nation. Approximately 100 people were in attendance with the walk beginning at the legislative assembly’s MMIWG Monument and ending at the Tree of Peace, where people joined together for a stew and bannock lunch.
Renee Sanderson, executive director with the YKWS, said she reached out to Agatha Laboucan at the Native Women’s Association to make an event would take place.
“I didn’t want to have this day go without any gathering and a moment to honour those who were missing and murdered,” she said.
Sanderson added that the day was for everyone to stand together to demand accountability and to advocate for meaningful change.
Bylaw officers with the city and members of the RCMP marched alongside with the participants. Sanderson expressed her graditude for that.
“They are aware about the challenges that Indigenous people are facing, and there are still a lot of the things need to be done,” she said.
There are still supports needed from all levels of government, said Sanderson, such as the missing trauma centre and treatment program as well as housing, where people can have a place to stay after treatment.
Jennifer Franki-Smith, manager of public affairs and communication with the legislative assembly, also took part in the walk.
She said the assembly is currently working the Missing Persons Act. which is still in committee review stage, but it’s obvious that the legislation is a top priority for MLAs.
