Thursday walk to honour missing Indigenous women and girls

The Songhees Nation will host a walk on Thursday in recognition of the National Day of Awareness for Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls.

“The intention is to honour the sacredness of women in Indigenous communities while encouraging our men to reaffirm their traditional role as protectors,” the First Nation said in a statement.

“We will come together to bring awareness to our traditional values, to heal, to celebrate and to hold each other up.”

The Our Womxn Are Sacred walk starts at 10 a.m. at the corner of Hallowell and Admirals roads, by the Admirals Walk Shopping Centre, and will end at Maple Bank Road.

The event is being held in partnership with the Songhees First Nation, Victoria Native Friendship Centre, South Island Indigenous Authority, Indigenous Perspectives Society, Hulitan Family & Community Services Society and Island Métis Family & Community Services Society.

Those participating are invited to wear red or their regalia and to bring their drums. Special guests will speak during the gathering.