At the corner of 3rd Street and 8th Avenue in downtown Calgary, a group of men and women gathered on Saturday morning. Many greeted each other with warm hugs and embraces, lighthearted quips and chatter only possible among those who consider each other old friends. But the air felt heavy and the clouds hung grey and low. Read More
At the corner of 3rd Street and 8th Avenue in downtown Calgary, a group of men and women gathered on Saturday morning. Many greeted each other with warm hugs and embraces, lighthearted quips and chatter only possible among those who consider each other old friends. But the air felt heavy and the clouds hung grey
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At the corner of 3rd Street and 8th Avenue in downtown Calgary, a group of men and women gathered on Saturday morning. Many greeted each other with warm hugs and embraces, lighthearted quips and chatter only possible among those who consider each other old friends. But the air felt heavy and the clouds hung grey and low.
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At 11 a.m., the march began. It marked the 21st annual ‘Sisters In Spirit Vigil,’ remembering Indigenous women, family, friends who have gone missing or reported murdered over the decades.
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Annual vigils
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It’s one of three vigils that takes place every year, according to Deborah Green, from Kawacatoose First Nation, Treaty 4, on Feb. 14, May 5 and Oct. 4, across Canada. On Saturday, more than 300 vigils took place across Canada and internationally.
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“These have been going on for decades,” she said. “And you’d think with that much awareness, our people would be safer by now, but they’re not. They’re not only targeted by predators, they’re targeted by systems, by police, by the justice system, by child welfare … everything.”
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On Saturday, Green and her cousin, Cheryl Wood, who is Treaty 6 Metis, came to the vigil to show their support for all missing and murdered Indigenous women and to remember her sister, who was murdered in Calgary.
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“You never know when the emotion is going to hit you,” she said.
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Men and women walked slowly through the streets, singing from the heart, holding posters, flags and drums, hand beat.
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“A lot of these songs are healing for us,” said Chantal Chagnon, a Cree and Metis singer who was also involved in organizing the vigil.
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“One of the songs called the Strong Woman song. It teaches us that as together as strong women, we can advocate for our community, nurture everyone in our community and to rise above and show that we are loved,” she said.
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The march was led by Wood, who is also one of few Indigenous female motorbike riders. She chose to ride on the Ruby Smoke Chieftain Darkhorse.
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“For myself, my motorcycle, the Indigenous ladies I typically ride with … our goal is to create a safe space and be visible so that people remember they are stronger than they think and united, we are unstoppable,” she said.
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The march reached its destination right outside City Hall, where a number of speakers, Indigenous Elders, event organizers and women who have lost relatives over the years, shared their stories.
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