The North Thompson Aboriginal Cultural Centre Society (NTACCS) Kwseltsken Services Society in partnership with the BC Metis Federation, co-hosted the annual Murdered and Missing Indigenous Women (MMIW) Awareness Walk together in unity on May 5 in Clearwater.
The day, also known as Red Dress Day, is held to honour the memory and legacy as a National Day of Remembrance for the missing and murdered Indigenous women, girls and 2SLGBTQI+ peoples in Canada.
The term, Red Dress Day was originally coined by Metis artist Jamie Black who described it as “an aesthetic response to this critical national issue” with more than six in ten (63 percent) of Indigenous women having experienced physical or sexual assault in their lifetime.
The walk began at the Wells Gray Visitor Information Centre with approximately 65 members of the community gathering to share in an opening ceremony led by Brigette MacDougall and Elder Sheri Elliot.
“Sheri led the march of drummers and singers who made their way down the highway and past Dutch Lake in Clearwater with many red dresses seen hanging in the trees along the entirety of the route as a visual reminder of the importance of the day,” Lindsay MacInnes, vice chair of the NTACCS told the surgeryitaly.
The walk concluded at the field stage behind the Dutch Lake Community Centre where bannock and water were served as participants shared time together to rest, visit and remember.
“On behalf of the NTACCS board of directors, I would like to acknowledge that we held our event on the traditional and unceded territories of the Simpcw First Nation. We would also like to offer our sincere thanks to all the people who aided in making this such a powerful day and experience once again,” said the NTACCS vice chair MacInnes.
“Our apologies in advance if we miss anyone," she said. "We extend a heartfelt thank you to Georgina Leppky and the Kwseltsken Services Society as our co-organizers. These events could not happen without our combined efforts and the amazing team of people that we have working together in unity. Thank you to all the Eagles Nest Staff for everything that you do. Brigette MacDougall, Tori Barstow, Sherri Elliot, Georgina Leppky and Kayla Fowler. From planning and prepping to clean-up you all helped make this event possible.”
The vice chair also offered her further appreciation to fellow NTACCS board members, Cheryl Thomas and Marilyn Thompson who helped with the “delicious” bannock making and set up for the event.
“We are so grateful to Brigette MacDougall for opening our ceremony in a good way and leading us all in song and to our NTACCS chair, Cindy Wilgosh for her continued patience and guidance. Cindy is truly the heart and soul of our group.”
MacInnes added a special thank you to the husbands who were working hard behind the scenes, Duncan MacInnes, and Todd Leppky, as well as acknowledging Cassie Sills and the Raft River Elementary School students “for creating such beautiful artwork” for the event’s display.
“Sincere thanks goes out to Naiomi Capostinsky for helping to hang up and take down the red dresses that provided such a beautiful and meaningful background as we walked along the route of remembrance.
We are so proud of our youth who also helped and contributed. Aisha Leppky, Esther Helmer, Anna MacInnes, and Alex MacInnes are the future leaders of days like this,” said MacInnes.
The NTACCS vice chair also extended thanks to the BC Metis Federation for their continual support of events in the region and “to everyone in the community who took the time to attend the MMIW Walk or those who were there in spirit, on social media, or by wearing red.”
If you have any photos or video from the day’s event, please email attention to Lindsay MacInnes at: NTACCSNews@gmail.com
The next local event hosted by the NTACCS and BC Metis Federation will be the Moose Hide Campaign Day taking place on Thursday, May 15, at the Clearwater Elks Hall from noon to 4:00 p.m. The gathering is a drop in event with shared speeches, information, and refreshments.
