Merritt schools walk to honour missing Indigenous women and girls

MERRITT – Across Canada yesterday (October 4) vigils were held to honour Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women, Girls and Two-Spirit People (MMIWG2S).

“We are working across the country and across BC and uplifting this information so that everybody is aware so that this tragedy does not go on,” said Shelly Oppenheim-Lacerte, Director of Indigenous Education for School District 58.

Merritt Secondary School (MSS) in partnership with other schools in the city wore custom made red shirts and walked the neighbourhood to remember and honour those who are gone.

Oppenheim-Lacerte added that this type of event is very important to do for the students and the younger generation.

“For our young people, we think about their safety and providing skills and teachings so that they are aware and able to take care of themselves.”

“I haven’t seen this work, at this extent, in a school district throughout BC, so what we are seeing here in Merritt is something amazing,” said Melissa Moses, Women’s Representative Union of BC Indian Chiefs. “Including your high schools and your elementary schools, spreading the awareness and safety throughout the school district here it’s beautiful work. Its not just for indigenous woman and girls who are going missing and murdered, as Jacqueline McDermott has gone missing, we have to keep women like her in mind as well because that is very close to home.”

“We are allies, we stand with all women, all children, all families, who are impacted by this,” said Jane Kempston, Assistant Superintendent School District 58. “This is not the work of the Indigenous community to do on their own, we stand beside and we learn and we listen. This moment is really about empowerment of a community to say not our kids, not our families, not our community members, we stand together and we are strong and we are going to be safer because of it.”

Oppenheim-Lacerte said moving forward the education will continue as the RCMP and elders will be doing some sessions for the youth conference and teaching some of the classes.