Hundreds stood in silence as they remembered the women in their communities who have, over the years, either disappeared or been killed. After a few minutes, shouts and cries filled the room as each expressed the joy that these woman brought to their lives.
The conference room at Penticton香蕉视频直播檚 Lakeside Resort and Conference Centre saw, for the first time, a gathering of members from the Okanagan Nation and beyond to discuss how Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls (MMIWG) have affected their communities.
In addition to discussing how this has affected them, they also honoured those who have been lost, and tackled what they can do to begin supporting each other.
By the end of the conference Friday night, all seven member communities within the Okanagan Nation will have worked together to develop their own strategy for steps that their nation, communities and individuals can take to start supporting each other.
LOOK BACK:
Currently in the North Okanagan, roughly eight Indigenous women have gone missing or were found to be have been killed over the years, including three that have been reported missing in the past five years alone. There are still a number of women missing specifically in the area between Enderby and Vernon.
These women are among the roughly 4,000 missing and murdered Indigenous women across Canada.
香蕉视频直播淲e need to have awareness, because it香蕉视频直播檚 a systemic issue based off of systemic racism that Indigenous women are the lowest respected (individuals) of society,香蕉视频直播� said Jennifer Lewis, wellness manager at Okanagan Nation Alliance.
香蕉视频直播淲e want to find spaces to support each other to ensure no one is alone, everyone knows that our women are valued, and important, no matter their lifestyle, and that we will be there to support them,香蕉视频直播� she said.
Keynote speaker Elaine Alec examined The Path Forward Sessions, an initiative to support the creation of a safe space for Indigenous women and girls. Approximately 300 community members from every corner of B.C. banded together to develop a list of strategies and initiatives related to causes of systemic violence against women and girls.
香蕉视频直播淭hey left feeling empowered, and they left feeling like they could actually do something now, and they felt like there was a path forward,香蕉视频直播� she said to the crowd.
香蕉视频直播淭his report does not belong to anybody,香蕉视频直播� she said. 香蕉视频直播淭hat was an agreement we all made香蕉视频直播� knowledge is meant to be shared. We need to come together and support each other if we want to create a safe space for our women and girls.香蕉视频直播�
To view the full report, visit .
On Jan. 5, 2015, Roxanne Louie disappeared in Penticton. The next day, RCMP contacted Roxanne香蕉视频直播檚 friends and family which led to a lengthy investigation that was undertaken by Roxanne香蕉视频直播檚 family and RCMP.
A family member shared with the audience the story of Louie香蕉视频直播檚 disappearance.
The purpose of sharing her story, they explained, was to raise awareness and promote accountability. They shared a summary of the events that occurred during the investigation and examined various levels of response from the media, justice system and ministry.
Not only did they talk about their experience with her loss, but also systemic barriers that made the search for her a challenge.
Specifically, family members highlighted the advocacy taken on behalf of Louie by her family, the Osoyoos Indian Band and the larger nation to help find answers.
As relatives spoke about their search, coverage by the media, and the trial itself, there was a sense of anger, frustration and sadness in the room. Even now, there are questions left unanswered, and some share a feeling of injustice.
One family member shared their feelings that some individuals within the justice system are operating from deeply-rooted colonial biases.
LOOK BACK:
Over lunch, Louie香蕉视频直播檚 father, Roger Hall, shared something about her that not many knew.
香蕉视频直播淭he thing about my daughter that a lot of people don香蕉视频直播檛 know, is how much of a loving person she was,香蕉视频直播� said Hall.
香蕉视频直播淗ow bubbly, and just a fun person to be around and to be with-香蕉视频直播� he said, stopped short by a man pushing a cart loudly past him down the hall.
He paused, looking in the direction the man went.
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香蕉视频直播淲hen you came here to this land, when your forefathers came to this land, we didn香蕉视频直播檛 meet them with our bow and arrows香蕉视频直播� we met them with warmth. We were hospitable, we fed them, we nurtured them.
香蕉视频直播淲e call the non-native people our little brothers,香蕉视频直播� he continued. 香蕉视频直播淪o that香蕉视频直播檚 how we want to be perceived, as a brother.香蕉视频直播�
Gladys Radek has, for years, supported those searching for missing Indigenous women in B.C. She has also walked across Canada multiple times since 2008 to raise awareness for the cause.
Her involvement with MMIWG started when her niece Tamara Chipman disappeared from the in northern B.C. in 2005.
She was another keynote speaker at the gathering in Penticton and shared not only stories from her work with Indigenous communities in the Vancouver area, but also her plans to continue advocating for missing and murdered Indigenous women and girls.
This summer, she and many others will be walking again, this time from Prince Rupert to Osoyoos.
She explained that when these walks first started, around ten people showed their support. She was encouraged by the room full of individuals on Thursday, who came to show interest in the cause.
She also spoke to how the population of Indigenous peoples in Canada has dropped significantly over the years.
香蕉视频直播淥ur DNA is unique, let香蕉视频直播檚 hang onto it,香蕉视频直播� she said, adding that the only way to do this is by ending violence.
Hall said he hopes he香蕉视频直播檚 still around to see things improve.
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Hall added that he loves all the work people are doing to help create solutions, whether that香蕉视频直播檚 through their own healing, or just to come together as, 香蕉视频直播渢he four colours of people.香蕉视频直播�
香蕉视频直播淟et香蕉视频直播檚 keep going,香蕉视频直播� he said.
#MMIWG
(More photos below)
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