MEMORIALIZING MMIWG
Gwenda Yuzicappi, right, says the sculpture honouring missing and murdered indigenous women and girls at Saskatoon police headquarters is ‘breathtaking’. Her daughter, Amber, went missing in 2005 and her remains were found in 2008.
Her first sight of the statue now standing in front of the Saskatoon Police Service headquarters to honour missing and murdered indigenous women was “breathtaking,” says Gwenda Yuzicappi of Standing Buffalo Dakota First Nation.
The sculpture of a woman dancing on a cloud, her shawl transforming into an eagle’s wings, depicts her daughter, Amber Redman, who went missing in 2005.
“As a mother, I would never, ever have foreseen this to happen,” Yuzicappi said Friday after the statue was unveiled. “From a mother’s perspective, to watch her daughter dance is very honouring.”
Yuzicappi often watched her daughter dance at powwows. Renowned artist Lionel Peyachew heard the story and wanted to depict Redman in art. His sculpture is named Wicanhpi Duta Win, or “Red Star Woman” — Redman’s Dakota name.
“It was breathtaking, it was beautiful ... to see her dancing again,” Yuzicappi said through tears.
“I felt so much just from seeing the statue.”
About 300 people gathered under a blazing sun on Friday to see
them in that environment, it not only increases their quality of life, but also the quality of life for their caregivers.” As age demographics shift across the country — the 2016 census counted more 65-year-olds than 15-year-olds — the need for services is increasing, she noted Gary Mendoza, also a co-leader of the program, said providing a safe environment for people dealing with dementia is paramount. The unit is a “secure area in a secure neighbourhood,” he said.
Taylor said one of the most important the statue finally revealed to the public.
Police Chief Clive Weighill, Federation of Sovereign Indigenous Nations Chief Bobby Cameron, and Saskatoon Tribal Council Chief Felix Thomas spoke to the solemn audience to pass along the message that missing and murdered indigenous women and their families are not forgotten.
“It’s our hope that this monument to missing and murdered indigenous women and girls will serve as a beacon to all residents of Saskatoon, that we must never forget those who have been a victim of violent crime,” Weighill said.
When the white curtain was finally pulled back to reveal the gleaming statue, the crowd responded with gasps and cheers.
Merilyn Napope, whose daughter Shelley was murdered at the age of 16, was among them.
The man who killed her daughter ended up in prison, but too often that’s not the case, Napope said.
“I would like to respect the other families that don’t have closure. Me, I had closure. I got to bury my daughter and I got to see the guy put away. But I would love to see justice for all the families.” steps for family members supporting someone with dementia is to ask questions and get educated. The program also works to break the stigma around the condition, she said, noting the Alzheimer’s Society of Canada’s website has a plethora of information.
“The earlier people receive a formal diagnosis of dementia, the earlier you can start being connected with the right supports and the right programs,” Taylor said