'Spreading light and love': Sisters in Spirit march honours MMIWG
Songs of solidarity filled the hallways of MacEwan University Tuesday for the National Day of Awareness for Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls.
A Sisters in Spirit march was held at MacEwan University in honour of missing women, girls and two-spirit people – and the families and communities that grieve them.
The walk, one of many events happening across Canada, covered five buildings on the MacEwan campus, led by Knowledge Keeper Shuel-let-qua Q:olosoet, who also goes by Cynthia Jim. It ended at the kihêw waciston, the Indigenous centre at MacEwan with a teaching by Shuel-let-qua Q:olosoet.
"Many of us have a sister, a cousin, a mother, an auntie or a grandmother who has gone missing," said Shuel-let-qua Q:olosoet. "So this is our way of showing that support, being the voice for those that do not have a voice any longer."
"Many of those that we lost never found their way home, so this was a way of calling their spirits back home."
Shuel-let-qua Q:olosoet said living in a patriarchal society has been systematically violent for all women, and colonialism disrupted the matriarchies of many Indigenous societies. To empower all women, the last song sung at the march was a woman's warrior song, which Shuel-let-qua Q:olosoet said is sung to empower all women.
"We have a whole roster of generational trauma that we are countering. And this is one way of doing it, by spreading light and love and countering that in as many ways as we can through our culture, song, dance and sister and brotherhood."
Lauren and Isabella Alexis know the pain of searching for a loved one, and the cousins marched together holding a flyer of 28-year-old Angela Alexis.
"My sister is missing right now, it's a good way to honour her," Isabella said. "I pray for her every day you know."
Angela has been missing since Aug. 19. She was last seen on Alexis Nakota Sioux Nation, west of Edmonton.
Isabella said her family is doing everything they can to find Angela to bring her home to her two children and to a family who has already lost one child, and there is a reward being offered for information on her location.
"It's my second sibling that's gone missing, and it's really heartbreaking," said Isabella, whose older brother has been missing since 2013.
"We need her to come home safely."
Statistics Canada found that the average homicide rate involving Indigenous victims was six times higher than those involving a non-Indigenous victim.
Lauen says behind the numbers are people, and she wants to see more action taken.
"We want to see more done," said Lauren. "Instead of just treating us like a statistic.
"Because we're human beings and like everybody's life matters."
Another Sisters in Spirit march was held at the Northern Alberta Institute of Technology Tuesday night.
With files from CTV News Edmonton's Alison MacKinnon
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
B.C. tenants evicted for landlord's use after refusing large rent increase to take over neighbouring suite
Ashley Dickey and her mother rented part of the same Coquitlam duplex in three different decades under three different landlords.
Mountain guide dies after falling into a crevasse in Banff National Park
A man who fell into a crevasse while leading a backcountry ski group deep in the Canadian Rockies has died.
Expert warns of food consumption habits amid rising prices
A new survey by Dalhousie University's Agri-Food Analytics Lab asked Canadians about their food consumption habits amid rising prices.
MPP Sarah Jama asked to leave Ontario legislature for wearing keffiyeh
MPP Sarah Jama was asked to leave the Legislative Assembly of Ontario by House Speaker Ted Arnott on Thursday for wearing a keffiyeh, a garment which has been banned at Queen’s Park.
Charlie Woods, son of Tiger, shoots 81 in U.S. Open qualifier
Charlie Woods failed to advance in a U.S. Open local qualifying event Thursday, shooting a 9-over 81 at Legacy Golf & Tennis Club.
Ex-tabloid publisher testifies he scooped up possibly damaging tales to shield his old friend Trump
As Donald Trump was running for president in 2016, his old friend at the National Enquirer was scooping up potentially damaging stories about the candidate and paying out tens of thousands of dollars to keep them from the public eye.
Here's why provinces aren't following Saskatchewan's lead on the carbon tax home heating fight
After Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said the federal government would still send Canada Carbon Rebate cheques to Saskatchewan residents, despite Saskatchewan Premier Scott Moe's decision to stop collecting the carbon tax on natural gas or home heating, questions were raised about whether other provinces would follow suit. CTV News reached out across the country and here's what we found out.
Montreal actress calls Weinstein ruling 'discouraging' but not surprising
A Montreal actress, who has previously detailed incidents she had with disgraced Hollywood producer Harvey Weinstein, says a New York Court of Appeals decision overturning his 2020 rape conviction is 'discouraging' but not surprising.
Caleb Williams, Jayden Daniels and Drake Maye make it four NFL drafts with quarterbacks going 1-3
Caleb Williams is heading to the Windy City, aiming to become the franchise quarterback Chicago has sought for decades.