Editor:
I was honoured to be able to participate in the first síshálh Nation March for Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls on May 5.
The community was invited to witness the ceremonies honouring Cheryl Ann Joe and all the other women who have been victims of violence and whose families and wider communities have been so deeply impacted by this ongoing tragedy.
We were asked to listen to the stories from families that have been affected by the loss of their loved ones.
We were taught about the ways the pain continues to accumulate in the wake of the search for justice in a colonial system designed by and for the ones in power.
One of the most powerful lines of the day was, “Incarceration does not equal justice.” The strength and determination of the families was a model to us all.
As the organizers, Cheryl Ann Joe’s son Calvin Joe-Mayes and his cousin Alfonso Salinas have said, they invite the community to listen, learn, participate and support in whatever ways possible going forward as the community heals together.
I was grateful to have been there for one very small part of a very large process.
For those who wish to see an absolutely stunning tribute to the day, check out the photos taken by Ken McCann that were posted on FYI Sechelt Facebook page.
Helen Halet
Roberts Creek
