9th Annual Memorial March and Vigil for Missing and Murdered Native Women
Montreal in its turn, held its ninth annual memorial march and vigil.
The march was organized by the organizations of Missing Justice, Centre for Gender Advocacy and Quebec Native Women.
According to Missing Justice’s statement of purpose, the vigil is held to honour the memories of missing and murdered indigenous women – whose cases rise up to 3000 – but also to condemn the systemic nature of the violence which is encouraged by the federal government, the legal system, the police forces and the media.
“I really wish we didn’t have this march and vigil,” said Maya Rolbin Ghanie, campaign coordinator at the Centre for Gender Advocacy and member of Missing Justice. “I really wish that this was the last one we would ever have, that I would never hear of another case of missing or murdered native woman, ever again.”
The opening of the vigil took place outside Berri Metro at 6 a.m. Despite the heavy rain, many people gathered for the event. Chad Diabo, singer of the Buffalo Hat Singers band, said the opening prayer. “Today we have the rain with us,” he said in order to encourage the attendees. “This rain is healing […] This rain is like tears when you cry when somebody is gone. […] You also cry when you are angry. […] The violence that comes towards our native women- we’re angry about that […].”
With the opening prayer, people were called to hope and thank all the people who fight for justice and equality.
After Diabo, the Buffalo Hat Singers performed their song “Too soon you go,” which was written specifically for the missing and murdered women. The song followed speeches by Isabelle Abenakise Paille, member of Missing Justice, Ellen Gabriel, Mohawk activist and artist, and Viviane Michel, president of Quebec Native Women. Most of the speakers, addressed the public in three languages- English, French and Iroquois.
Throughout the vigil, postcards were passed from person to person, in order to sign and send to Stephen Harper, demanding a national public inquiry.
“It makes being ashamed of being a Canadian citizen,” said Sabrina Leffet, student. “I believe that native people should be compensated for the land we stole from them. I believe that the government needs to launch a national objective inquiry in toll of all of the missing and murdered native women. I would like for them to issue public apologies.” The march started from Berri St. and carried northbound on St. Laurent Blvd. The leading banner was from Missing Justice, but others were held from organizations such as Amnesty International, Revolutionary Communist Party and Convergence de luttes anticapitalistes de Montreal. A brief stop was made on Ontario St. and St. Laurent, in front of a mural that was revealed on July 18th in memory of the missing women.
The march ended in a small park on St. Laurent. After candles were distributed and lit amongst the crowd, Franҫoise David from Quebec Solidaire spoke and Joey Shaw, a hip-hop singer, performed and animated the audience to shout “no one more.” The final prayer and the ending of the vigil, was conducted again by Chad Diabo. People were instructed to use a pinch of tobacco that was being held out and say a wish for the lost ones. During the prayer, the tobacco was placed on the drums which played their mourning tone, in memory but also hope for justice.
