Warning: This story contains graphic descriptions and images that some may find disturbing
For Carol Archie, she has lived through the reality of Red Dress Day.
Archie is the niece 香蕉视频直播� from her mom香蕉视频直播檚 side 香蕉视频直播� of a murdered Indigenous woman.
香蕉视频直播淪he was brutally raped and murdered and the individuals that were responsible for her death, two of them were provided small fines and one was able to walk away free, none of them had jail time. This is our reality. We were born and raised with the mindset that we have to be aware of the dangers, not out in the wilderness, in community,香蕉视频直播� said Archie, who spoke at Kelowna香蕉视频直播檚 Red Dress Day march Friday (May 5).
While wearing red and holding signs, the group of hundreds marched from the friendship society on Leon Avenue before eventually ending up at the Kelowna Court House to bring awareness to Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls (MMIWG) and the ongoing violent epidemic throughout North America against Indigenous women and girls.
While Red Dress Day has been commemorated for more than a decade, Friday marked the first time the Ki-Low-Na Friendship Society held an event.
Indigenous people have been targets for years and Archie still sees that today.
香蕉视频直播淚 have the ability to be able to work for an employer that understands where I香蕉视频直播檓 coming from because in this day and age, my youngest daughter was followed from my work to her school,香蕉视频直播� said Archie, who has two daughters, 19 and 16. 香蕉视频直播淚 know to make certain I get to work extra early in the morning and my day ends when her day ends so that way I know I香蕉视频直播檓 the one driving her home and I香蕉视频直播檓 the one picking her up, because we are visitors on the Sylix traditional unceded territory so we don香蕉视频直播檛 have a lot of family here.香蕉视频直播�
Ki-Low-Na Friendship Society executive director Edna Terbasket said it warmed her heart to see the support Friday.
香蕉视频直播淭he message is getting out there to many, many people,香蕉视频直播� said Terbasket. 香蕉视频直播淲e香蕉视频直播檝e lived with it for a long time as Indigenous people and when I see a lot of the folks here that are from the mainstream, I go 香蕉视频直播榃ow, we香蕉视频直播檙e getting our message out there.香蕉视频直播櫹憬妒悠抵辈
Terbasket explained red is symbolic because it香蕉视频直播檚 spiritual to Indigenous people. It also stands for the violence behind what香蕉视频直播檚 been happening, at the same time representing love.
香蕉视频直播淚 think families talk more with their children about safety and even lifestyle and taking good care of themselves,香蕉视频直播� said Terbasket. 香蕉视频直播淚t香蕉视频直播檚 not only Indigenous women and girls, it香蕉视频直播檚 all peoples. I couldn香蕉视频直播檛 imagine if I lost a sister or a niece or a granddaughter and she wasn香蕉视频直播檛 found, I couldn香蕉视频直播檛 imagine that. Is she alive? Is she okay? Has she been brutally assaulted or murdered?香蕉视频直播�
Both Terbasket and Archie have seen tremendous growth and awareness, especially since the remains of 215 Indigenous residential school children were found in Kamloops almost two years ago.
香蕉视频直播淲hat we are doing here today, we香蕉视频直播檙e becoming stronger as a people, we are being more aware of who we are as a people and how we contribute to our families, communities, and nation,香蕉视频直播� said Archie. 香蕉视频直播淗aving this awareness across Canada and North America is huge for us, and it all started with residential school. That ripple effect comes into today and we香蕉视频直播檙e answering back with our own ripple effects and it香蕉视频直播檚 becoming more powerful.香蕉视频直播�
And for more people who want to become aware, learn, and be a part of the solution, Terbasket and Archie say to ask questions and have open conversations.
香蕉视频直播淲e all have to work together, collaborate together, heal together,香蕉视频直播� said Terbasket.
READ MORE: West Kelowna RCMP asking for public香蕉视频直播檚 help in finding missing 13-year-old boy
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jordy.cunningham@kelownacapnews.com
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