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Demonstrators rally in Yellowknife to bring awareness to Indigenous issues

After having acquired the necessary funds to get them to Yellowknife, Shar Williams and The Sober Crew held a rally at the Yellowknife Artists Co-operative’s (YAC) geodesic dome on Sunday, April 3. Organizers say the goal of the rally — dubbed, The Time is Now — is to bring awareness to significant issues among Indigenous peoples while also promoting unity and understanding.
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Tanya Snow was also a part of ‘The Time Is Now’ Rally, using her talents as a throat singer to help spread the various messages. Ethan Butterfield/NNSL photo

After having acquired the necessary funds to get them to Yellowknife, Shar Williams and The Sober Crew held a rally at the Yellowknife Artists Co-operative’s (YAC) geodesic dome on Sunday, April 3. Organizers say the goal of the rally — dubbed, The Time is Now — is to bring awareness to significant issues among Indigenous peoples while also promoting unity and understanding.

RELATED REPORTING: Donations from Yellowknifers allow Indigenous rally to proceed

Among the issues discussed by Shar Williams, the organizer for ‘The Time Is Now’ rally, as well as The Sober Crew who came out to chat and perform for the crowd of over a dozen spectators, were ‘Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women’, systematic issues, and Indigenous rights.

“We are not disposable,” Williams said. “We are still missing and murdered, and preyed upon, and brutalized.

“I lost my brother 18 years ago,” she continued, referring to her own story of where she came from. “When he was murdered, it was just swept under the rug. There was never a charge brought to anybody. Nothing was ever done, and everybody in that town forgot about him… it happens all over this country.”

Shar Williams holds the focus of those who came out to the Yellowknife Artists’ Cooperative Dome. Ethan Butterfield/NNSL photo
Shar Williams holds the focus of those who came out to the Yellowknife Artists’ Cooperative Dome. Ethan Butterfield/NNSL photo

“The only way we are going to start making some change is if we all unite,” Williams said. “We have to start learning more about each other, each other’s cultures, and that’s where the ignorance will end.”

RELATED REPORTING: ‘The Time Is Now’ rally to highlight Indigenous issues and art on April 1 in Yellowknife

As for The Sober Crew, made up of Clarissa Stevens, Daniella Blyan, Auggie Hunter, Robert Tatti, and Robbie Daniels, all had a chance to offer their own personal experiences and hardships while continuing to reinforce the importance of Indigenous culture.

“We are definite activists when it comes to Indigenous rights,” Auggie Hunter said. “Also, promoting culture in the cities, we want the youth , especially the youth, to know that their culture’s there.”

Auggie Hunter, left, and Robert Tatti perform in the geodesic dome. Ethan Butterfield/NNSL photo
Auggie Hunter, left, and Robert Tatti perform in the geodesic dome. Ethan Butterfield/NNSL photo

“It was really hard for me,” she continued. “I had to go through a lot of things that built me to be who I am today, but if I didn’t go through all those things, it wouldn’t have brought me to a group of people that mean a lot to me.”

“When I decided to sober up, I just knew that getting back to my culture was something that was going to help me do that.”

For Robert Tatti, another member of the Sober Crew, his decision to seek culture as a result of his battle with addiction.

“I couldn’t be around people,” said Robert Tatti. “I went to go clean up in Calgary and that was probably the best decision I’ve made.”

“All I knew was the addictions life,” he continued. “I was destroying other lives too, ‘cause I was active in addiction helping them be addiction.”

“They say ‘this is all that I know’, but everybody’s open to learn new things.”

Robert Tatti speaking to a crowd of spectators regarding challenges in his life. Ethan Butterfield/NNSL photo
Robert Tatti speaking to a crowd of spectators regarding challenges in his life. Ethan Butterfield/NNSL photo

Following The Sober Crew’s personal stories, drumming sessions, of which Tanya Snow offered her talents as an Inuk throat-singer, were also a part of the rally.

Furthermore, Michael Fatt made an appearance talked on his own hardships and struggles, of which he says he has 50 plus years of experience in.

“It was like the straw on the camel’s back,” said Fatt during his speech. “It just broke me down to tears and, finally, I asked for help.”

“I went out, I got treatment, I got sober,” he continued. “I did a lot of work on myself, I strengthened myself by going out and helping other people.”

Michael Fatt offered some words during the peaceful rally, joining through his 50-plus years of life experience as a means of telling those in attendance the difficulties that Indigenous peoples endure. Ethan Butterfield/NNSL photo
Michael Fatt offered some words during the peaceful rally, joining through his 50-plus years of life experience as a means of telling those in attendance the difficulties that Indigenous peoples endure. Ethan Butterfield/NNSL photo

After the peace rally concluded, Williams provided comments to Yellowknifer regarding how excited she was for the opportunity to share the message of awareness with those who could make their way out to the dome.

“This is amazing,” she said. “Every time we come to a different community it’s always so overwhelming for us, it’s so amazing, and we take so much home with us too.”

“It’s awesome. This was awesome.”

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Daniella Blyan offered her story, like the other members of the Sober Crew, for those in attendance to help raise awareness of Indigenous issues. Ethan Butterfield/NNSL photo
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Drumming sessions regarding different issues, including missing and murder Indigenous women and Indigenous rights, occurred inside the dome. Ethan Butterfield/NNSL photo
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Clarissa Stevens, left, Daniella Blyan, Auggie Hunter, Robert Tatti, and Robbie Daniels are all a part of the Sober Crew from Calgary. Ethan Butterfield/NNSL photo
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A wide shot of the inside of the dome where the rally took place, where there were over a dozen spectators at different times. Ethan Butterfield/NNSL photo
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On top of sharing her personal story, Shar Williams, the organizer for ‘The Time Is Now’ rally, was glad to come out and continue to raise awareness on significant issues. Ethan Butterfield/NNSL photo
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Robert Tatti was one of many speakers that offered their personal stories to help raise awareness of ongoing issues against Indigenous peoples. Ethan Butterfield/NNSL photo
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Clarissa Stevens, left, Daniella Blyan, Shar Williams, Robert Tatti, Auggie Hunter, Tanya Snow, and Robbie Daniels, all came out to the Yellowknife Artists’ Co-operative’s geodesic dome on April 3, 2022. Issues raised involved ‘Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women’, residential school survivors, and Indigenous rights. Ethan Butterfield/NNSL photo