Merritt community marches for MMIGW2S awareness

Community members in the Nicola Valley gathered Friday afternoon (Feb. 14) for a march to honour and acknowledge missing and murdered Indigenous women, girls, and two-spirited people.

Starting at Rotary Park in Merritt, a visible presence marched through the city’s downtown, bringing awareness to the nation-wide crisis.

“There’s a high rate of Indigenous people that go missing, and get murdered, and we’re just here to spread awareness, and to gather as support for the families in the community.” explains organizer Mindy Garcia, “There’s a lot of healing that needs to be done.”

The National Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls found that Indigenous woman are four times more likely than non-Indigenous women to be victims of violence. Friday’s march also served as a formal acknowledgement of the pain that comes with unanswered disappearances.

“The turmoil that they go through and the exhaustive search that goes on. Not only the physical but the mental, and the emotional and the spiritual searches that go on for our communities and our families.” says Lower Nicola elder Doreen Sterling, “So being here is important today.”

For those with family members who have been killed, or gone missing, gathering to march holds a meaningful weight. Chelsea Bob took part, and told CFJC crews that bringing visibility to the issue was top of mind, having survived attempted abductions herself.

“One of my first introductions to death was actually Cherish Oppenheim. She was my cousin,” says Bob, “It just doesn’t matter to enough people out there, and bringing awareness is very important to our people. We need to be seen, and heard. We’re humans too.”

And by the end of the route, participants described a blend of emotions – mourning, solidarity, and a desire to repair and uplift their communities.

“Well today is a day of visibility but in our community it’s a lasting reality of the effects of genocide,” reiterates Natalie Sterling Moses, who is currently the Native Women’s Association of Canada’s western region youth representative.

“So while we’re going to be here today in order to truly honour the memories of the painful realities, it’s just the one day that we have here to tell everyone else, while we continue to do the work that we do.”

The National Inquiry has a 24/7 help line for anyone who requires support related to Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women, Girls and two-spirited people, at 1-844-413-6649.