Yellowknifers will gather March 1 at noon for a march in memory of two Indigenous youth: 15-year-old Tina Fontaine of Sagkeeng First Nation, found dead in Winnipeg’s Red River, and Colten Boushie, whose shooting death brought calls for justice reform.
A jury returned a not-guilty verdict Thursday to Fontaine’s alleged killer Raymond Cormier, 56, ending the three-week trial.
Notice of the march was posted on Twitter on Friday by CBC North host Lawrence Nayally.
“There was a lack of care and compassion rendered to Tina Fontaine during her short life on this earth. At almost every turn she was subjected to the systemic discrimination against Indigenous people that permeates our social care systems,” stated Robert Bertrand, national chief of the Congress of Aboriginal of Peoples (CAP), in a news release today.
“The rightful programs and services provisions, in addition to a necessary safety net in place for every child, is a fundamental right for all Indigenous peoples, whether on or off reserve.”
“Tina’s precious life came to an end far away from her home community on the city streets,” said Kim Beaudin, CAP national vice-chief.
“Why can’t I stop crying? Because Tina Fontaine was not only our daughter or relative stolen, defiled, murdered, bound, weighed down with rocks and tossed into a muddy river, she represents all MMIWG across Canada,” said NDP MLA Nahanni Fontaine (no relation) in a tweet Thursday. “And if she, as an exemplar victim, can’t get justice, who can?”
Rally details to follow.