UPDATE
The walk scheduled for Friday has been postponed due to an increase in active COVID-19 cases in the region.
Original Story:
ST. PAUL - The Mannawanis Native Friendship Centre Society will be creating awareness about a serious issue during its 'Walk to Remember' on Friday.
The event is being held to honour and raise awareness for Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls (MMIWG) in Canada.
"We will walk to remember our loved ones that have gone missing and murdered," says Gale Nahnepowisk, one of the event coordinators.
The walk will begin at the RCMP detachment at 10 a.m. on Friday, and participants will make their way to the park located on main street, next to The Foundry. At the end of the walk, people will be tying red ribbons to the tipi that is being set up at the park.
Nahnepowisk says the community can get involved in the cause by raising awareness about MMIWGs within their individual organizations.
"Safety precautions and distancing will be mandatory," during the event, says Nahnepowisk. Masks, sanitizing, and social distancing will be in effect.
A pipe ceremony is also being held, the day prior, at the Mannawanis NFCS. For more information about the event, contact the centre at 780-645-4630.
The event is taking place through a partnership with Champions for Change, the Capella Centre, and Tribal Chiefs Ventures Inc., and is sponsored by the Department for Women and Gender Equality.
Collection of items
And, as the snow begins to fall, and the temperatures drop further, the Mannawanis NFCS is now in the midst of collecting blankets and winter clothing for people in need.
Donations of warm blankets, winter clothing and footwear, can be dropped off at the Mannawanis NFCS from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., Monday through Friday.
"All donations will be placed in the clothing bank, where they can be distributed to people in need of items," says Nahnepowisk. All donations need to be washed.
If someone is in need of winter clothing, they can stop by the centre during the same time frame during the week and access the clothing bank.
