BONNYVILLE – The Bonnyville Friendship Centre hosted their 5th Annual Sister in Spirit Vigil to honour the memories of over 1,200 missing and murdered Indigenous women and girls in Canada.
Over 200 people attended the event held at the Bonnyville and District Centennial Centre (C2) on Oct. 4 – a day recognized as a National Day of Action in Canada for Missing, Murdered, Exploited Indigenous Peoples.
Guests were greeted with a beautiful setting and dining tables and a free buffet, followed by a ceremony where they were given the opportunity to reflect on the violence experienced by Indigenous women, girls and gender diverse people in Canada. The ceremony also hoped to provide an opportunity for healing.
During the event many guest speakers gave presentations including Laura Grizzlypaws, Family Spirit Martial Arts, Traditional Dancers and Drummers, and Bernadette Iahtail, co-founder/ executive director of Creating Hope Society of Alberta.
“It was very touching and well presented, I felt good being here in attendance and new perspectives were given to me tonight,” one attendee shared with The Lakeland this Week.
“I feel as if I've been educated on issues I wasn't quite aware of before. I feel for these people and am glad our community takes the time to focus on these issues and embrace this,” said another attendee.
Multiple personal experiences were shared, letting everyone in attendance have a greater understanding of what some women and girls have endured. Stories, memories and remorse were shown for the women who never had the chance to return home.
The event concluded with a final traditional dance in the center of the room honouring those who have lost their lives and the Indigenous people who were mistreated.
