Sisters in Spirit honours missing and murdered Indigenous women
Hundreds of people took part in a Calgary vigil on Thursday, calling for increased awareness of missing and murdered Indigenous women.
The group marched down Stephen Avenue before stopping at Olympic Plaza at noon, one of 200 similar vigils occurring across Canada and internationally organized by the Sisters in Spirit movement.
“We gather to bring awareness for increased safety, justice, recognition of our Human Rights and to support the public call for the announced national inquiry,” the Calgary group said in a news release.
“Our goal and wish is to initiate open dialogue with our governments, to take action and reduce the alarming rates of violence against Indigenous women.”
More than 1,200 Indigenous women have been murdered or are missing across the country, meaning “we are over represented and at greater risk than the national average of homicide and violence,” the group said.
Alberta Premier Rachel Notley said her government takes these issues to heart.
“We’ve invested in women’s shelters so that no one will be turned away, and in sexual assault centres and violence-prevention programs so that survivors have greater access to counselling, police and court supports,” Notley said.
“We also passed the Residential Tenancies Amendment Act so that survivors of domestic violence can legally break a residential lease,” she said, adding that survivors of sexual violence now have better access to the legal system because a time limit has been removed to bring forward civil claims.
“The Sisters in Spirit vigils bear witness to this national tragedy and offer solace to families and communities that have suffered the devastating loss of so many loved ones,” Notley said.
The Calgary vigil was attended by families of missing and murdered Indigenous women, community leaders and representatives of city hall, the Calgary Police Service, Awo Taan Healing Lodge elders and members of the public.